The NY Times had an inspiring article in their November 11 issue on the creative use of volunteers. Given tight budgets and expanding needs, libraries everywhere are looking for more ways to use volunteers effectively and in a variety of roles.  If your library is one of these, you might find this an interesting read.

Here is a brief excerpt from the article:

THE recession dealt a double blow to many nonprofits. Just as it ratcheted up demand for their services, it also forced them to cut their budgets. So in times like these, volunteers are more valuable than ever.

But volunteer work can be plagued by inefficiency. Suppose a nonprofit manages to recruit a large group of people to help with a project. It’s not a given that they will have the right skills for the effort, or that the nonprofit will know how to mobilize them, said Michelle Nunn, chief executive of the Points of Light Institute, which helps organize volunteer efforts.

Sometimes, the nonprofits with the most need are those that don’t have the money to hire people to supervise volunteers, said Gary Bagley, executive director of New York Cares, which mobilizes volunteer projects citywide.

Read the entire article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/jobs/matching-volunteers-to-the-right-missions.html?_r=4&src=rechp