1. Research Proposal: Motivating Volunteers
Elizabeth Karges
LIS7050
December 18, 2014

2. Purpose of Study/Problem Statement
Library budgets are tight, volunteers are an invaluable resource
Volunteers add to the work librarians are able to do (Jacobson, 2010)
Purpose: By understanding the factors that motivate current library volunteers to donate their time and energy, librarians can more easily recruit and retain volunteers

3. Research Question & Hypotheses
RQ: What factors motivate people to volunteer at their library?
H1: Volunteers in the library are more likely to be autonomously motivated (in contrast to controlled motivation).
H2: Volunteers are motivated to participate in library programs due to their personal values (i.e. altruism, a desire to improve their community) and personal enhancement (i.e. psychological growth).

4. Literature Review: Volunteers in Libraries
Bernier (2009): addressed young adult participation rates in the Oakland Public Library system
YAs made up over half the volunteer hours contributed, with most hours contributed during the months of June, July and December
Curry (1996): Volunteer participation in unionized Canadian libraries
Smaller libraries utilize volunteers more frequently than larger libraries
Waters & Bortree (2012): Volunteer retention with regards to gender differences
Women felt more included in organizational peer groups
Men felt more included in management decisions

5. Literature Review: Motivation to Volunteer
Clary & Snyder (1999): Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI), 6 items:
Values
Understanding
Career
Protective
Social
Enhancement
“Matching Hypothesis:” messages tailored to the person’s motivation caused greater intent to volunteer

6. Literature Review: Motivation to Volunteer
Bidee et al (2013): volunteer motivation as it correlates to work effort
Self Determination Theory (SDT):
Autonomous motivation: volunteers are motivated by VFI factors
Controlled motivation: volunteers are obligated to contribute their time
Findings: Volunteers make a stronger work effort when motivated autonomously
Controlled motivation did not have a positive or negative effect on work effort

7. Literature Review: Motivation to Volunteer
Moore, Warta & Erichsen (2014): volunteer habits of college students as related to demographics, religiosity, personality, and motivation to volunteer
Sample displayed moderately religious behavior
Students who volunteered with religious or child/education organizations displayed higher religiosity
“Agreeableness” was the highest average personality trait among the sample size
Strongest motivation to volunteer was personal values, followed by understanding

8. Methodology: Sampling Procedures
Target population: current volunteers in the Hennepin County Library (HCL) system
Convenience Sampling: submit survey to department heads at HCL for distribution to their volunteers
Of those who respond, 20 will be randomly selected to participate in follow-up interviews
Compensation: none for completing the survey, $10 Dunn Bros. gift card for participating in interview

9. Methodology: Data Collection
Survey: three sections
Volunteer motivation via the Self Determination Theory:
Autonomous motivation vs. controlled motivation
Motivation to volunteer in library via the Volunteer Functions Inventory:
Values, understanding, career, protective, social, enhancement
Demographic information (age, gender, income, religious affiliation)
Interview:
In-depth discussion of motivations to volunteer
Explores motivation possibilities outside SDT/VFI
IRB: Expedited review required
Interviews would be recorded (confidentiality is assured)
Minimal risks to participants, no deception required

10. Methodology: Measurements
Independent Variables:
Type of motivation experienced by volunteer (autonomous, controlled)
If applicable, type of autonomous motivation experienced by volunteer (values, understanding, social, career, protection, enhancement)
Interview may uncover motivations to volunteer outside those listed here
Conceptualization: Survey items and subsequent interview questions
Dependent Variable:
Intention to volunteer in the library
Conceptualization of volunteering: planned work done without remuneration in the library

11. Conclusion
Studying the motivations of volunteers is not new, but the motivations of volunteers to participate in the library is an under-researched area. By studying the motivations of volunteers in the library, volunteer coordinators would be more able to understand how to recruit and retain volunteers.

12. Questions?

13. References
Bernier, A. (2009). Young Adult Volunteering in Public Libraries: Managerial Implications. Library Leadership & Management, 23(3),
Bidee, J., Vantilborgh, T., Pepermans, R., Huybrechts, G., Willems, J., Jegers, M., & Hofmans, J. (2013). Autonomous Motivation Stimulates Volunteers’ Work Effort: A Self-Determination Theory Approach to Volunteerism. Voluntas: International Journal Of Voluntary & Nonprofit Organizations, 24(1),
Clary, E. G., & Snyder, M. (1999). The Motivations to Volunteer: Theoretical and Practical Considerations. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 8(5),
Curry, A. (1996). Volunteers in Unionized Canadian Public Libraries: A Finely Tuned Partnership. Libraries & Culture, 31(1),
Hewitt, B., & Eve, J. (2012). The Use of Volunteers in Local Study Library Projects: A Case Study of the Walter Gardiner Photography Project. Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 7(1),

14. References
Moore, E. W., Warta, S., & Erichsen, K. (2014). College Students’ Volunteering: Factors Related to Current Volunteering, Volunteer Settings, and Motives for Volunteering. College Student Journal, 48(3), Retrieved from
Nicol, E. A., & Johnson, C. M. (2008). Volunteers in Libraries: Program Structure, Evaluation, and Theoretical Analysis. Reference and User Services Quarterly, 48(2),
Waters, R. D., & Bortree, D. S. (2012). Improving volunteer retention efforts in public library systems: how communication and inclusion impact female and male volunteers differently. International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing, 17, DOI: /nvsm.438
Zimmeck, M. (2000). The Right Stuff: New Ways of Thinking About Managing Volunteers. Institute for Volunteering Research. Retrieved from Resources/Documents/R/The_Right_Stuff.pdf.