The use of volunteers in special libraries is advocated in this report, which cites positive reasons for including volunteers among the library staff. (Bringing on volunteers during a budget crunch is not considered to be a positive reason.) The special library's relationship with the larger organization's volunteer department is mentioned as a key factor in creating a positive framework and solving organizational problems. Topics to discuss during an interview are suggested to help address mutual expectations before the volunteer assignment begins, and resources to make available to new volunteers are described--e.g., annual reports, department's procedure manual, articles on the history of the library. Some of the tasks highlighted as appropriate for volunteers include writing, collection development, and working with microcomputers. The levels of responsibility for regular staff and volunteers are differentiated, and other aspects of the relationship between staff and volunteers are explored. It is concluded that volunteers have been underutilized in libraries due to lack of expectations and limited vision of staff, and that volunteers may be one key to strengthening the library's commitment to the user. (6 references) (SD)