Califa Group

The "Get Involved Collaborative: A Multi-State Approach to Increasing Volunteer Engagement" proposes to replicate the successful California State Library's trained volunteer initiative by using a scalable three-level matrix developed by the state libraries of California, Idaho, Arizona, and Texas via a 2014/15 IMLS National Leadership Grants for Libraries Planning Grant. This three-year continuing education initiative will change the perception of the use of volunteers, improve volunteer engagement practices, and teach new methods to recruit skilled volunteers by training over 360 librarians across Idaho, Arizona, and Texas. Skilled volunteers can provide support to libraries in areas such as topical expertise, marketing, fundraising, and succession planning, serving as a valuable resource to libraries that may be lacking financial and human resources.