Library Volunteer Appreciation Ideas

Duties for a library volunteer can include managing inventory.

The work that library volunteers perform should be recognized. Volunteers help everything run smoothly and stock inventory, check out books, check in books and other materials, answer phones and plan special events. In some cases, unpaid volunteers could make up majority of the staff at a library.

Serve Food

Show your library volunteers you appreciate their work by feeding them. The food depends on the scope of the event. Choose to have breakfast or lunch catered one day. You can also host an evening volunteer appreciation dinner at the library or a reception hall. While planning the menu, survey of volunteers to find out what types of foods and drinks they prefer and if they have any food allergies.

Give Gifts

Buy each volunteer a gift to show them that you appreciate them. Buy everyone the same gift at the same price, so there is no sense of favoritism. Give the volunteers gifts that they can use while helping out at the library and also at home in their free times. Pen and pencil sets, calculators, notebooks and other office supplies would come in handy for library volunteers. Books, magazines or gift certificates to bookstores are also good.

Awards

Hold an awards ceremony where you recognize each library volunteer for her work. Develop different categories, such as most energetic library volunteer, top library volunteer fundraiser and best costumer service exhibitor, to recognize the volunteers. Award the volunteers with either trophies, plaques, or certificates in each category. Have the name of the library, the volunteer's name and the date the award was issued, engraved on it. In addition to the category winners, give everyone an award just for volunteering.

Pamper Day

Volunteering at a library can sometimes be stressful. Volunteers could occasionally benefit from a break to recharge their batteries. Pamper your library volunteers for a day to show them that you appreciate everything that they do to contribute. In an office or conference room at the library, set up a temporary spa. Bring in professionals to give your library volunteers back and foot massages, manicures and pedicures.

Resources

• Energize Inc: Ongoing and Informal Ways to Thank Volunteers