This spring, the Massachusetts Library Series (MLS) is hosting three MLS Member Webinars! MLS member library staff will share their knowledge and expertise about their selected topics for their fellow library colleagues.
This season, we’re spotlighting the presenters by sharing how their backgrounds connect to their chosen topics.
In today’s blog, learn more about developing volunteer programs from Katie Nelson, head of teen services at the Beverly Public Library!
Be sure to also register for Katie’s webinar: Making Volunteer Programs Work for You (and Your Community)
What is your name and position, the name of your library, and the community/communities your library serve(s)?
Katie Nelson: Hello! I’m Katie Nelson, the head of teen services at the Beverly Public Library. Beverly is north of Boston and right next to the city of Salem. We have a thriving downtown arts community and a very “townie” culture for a city of 43,000. The library is located downtown and within walking distance of the beach!
What is your webinar about?
Nelson: My webinar is about the volunteering program that we developed and implemented over the last couple of years. We were able to increase the number of volunteer hours from 175 volunteer hours in fiscal year 2022 to 459 volunteer hours in fiscal year 2025 by creating more opportunities for volunteers while still considering how much staff time can be devoted to the volunteer program.
Hopefully, the audience will leave with ideas that they can implement in their own libraries.
What is your background in volunteering? Why are you passionate about it?
Nelson: I think it’s really important to have a volunteer program in our library. We have a very large number of former library volunteers that have returned to the library as employees, myself included.
I was a page at the library when I was in high school and eventually returned to the library after I completed my undergraduate degree and worked in retail for several years. Without this opportunity, I don’t think I would have considered working in libraries as a viable career.
I like being able to contribute to teens’ opportunities to give back to their community and gain valuable work experience.
Why did you decide to host an MLS member webinar?
Nelson: In October 2024, we began the process of revamping our volunteering program. We were getting more and more requests for volunteering opportunities, especially from teens. We had many more requests for volunteers than openings and the process that we did have in place was very unorganized and created expectations that we weren’t able to fulfill.
I wanted to share our process for developing a volunteer program because I think that it can be an intimidating and overwhelming process. It might make it easier for other libraries to develop their own volunteer program. It’s always helpful to see what other libraries do and how it can be implemented and scaled in your own library.
Do you have any advice to other library workers who may be interested in learning more about volunteering at libraries? Do you recommend any resources for further learning?
Nelson: The biggest advice that I would recommend is to snoop on what other libraries are doing. It’s a lot easier to take whatever ideas from other libraries and use what works for you and let go of the rest.
Felicia O’Keefe gave a webinar during YSS Lunch and Learn about Teen Volunteering which was recorded and is worth a watch!
