For immediate release | June 2, 2011

ALTAFF releases toolkit for Friends groups on attracting and keeping baby boomer volunteers

PHILADELPHIA - The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has made available to ALTAFF’s Friends and Foundation personal and group members a new toolkit titled “Tapping Into the Biggest and Most Active Group of Volunteers in Town – The Baby Boomers.”

This 13-page toolkit, by ALTAFF Executive Director Sally Gardner Reed, explains why Friends groups need new active members, how today’s volunteers are different and how these differences will affect future Friends groups. By changing the leadership structure of the Friends group, says Reed, Friends will be able to attract and engage a new generation of volunteers.

“The number one issue Friends face all across the country is the struggle to recruit new active members,” Reed said. “The good news is that the next generation of volunteers is just now retiring, and many more will be retiring over the next decade. If your Friends group understands and adapts to their new perspective, and choices, it can capture this great opportunity.”

ALTAFF’s Friend and Foundation personal and group members have online access to eight in-depth toolkits, along with three digital publications (including 101+ Great Ideas for Libraries and Friends), and current and archived issues of ALTAFF’s bimonthly newsletter The Voice for America’s Libraries. ALTAFF members may join as a group (Friends, Foundation, or Board of Trustees), or as an individual. For complete information on member benefits and how to join ALTAFF, visit http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/altaff/membership/mbrbenefits.cfm.

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ALTAFF is a division of the American Library Association that supports citizens who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries. ALTAFF brings together library Trustees, advocates, Friends, and Foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information, visit www.ala.org/altaff, or contact Jillian Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org

Contact:

Jillian Kalonick