Volunteering at the Aurora Public Library facilities provides numerous benefits for teenagers. It allows them to give back to their community by helping others and promoting literacy through our Summer Reading Adventure. It provides an opportunity for them to gain work experience and develop skills such as communication, organization, and problem-solving. Volunteering is a great way for teenagers to meet new people, make friends, and build their social skills. For the last three years, teen volunteers have been absent from the Library due to the pandemic, but this year the Aurora Public Library District (APLD) is proud to reintroduce the service!
Until 2020, the success of the Library’s Summer reading program relied heavily on the help of volunteers. Teen volunteers signed customers up for the program, redeemed prizes for participants, and entered information into our online record keeper, Beanstack. Sometimes they were even called upon to prepare crafts or assist in programs. The constant excitement of the Summer Reading Adventure makes June and July the Library’s busiest months of the year! Afterall, the Library is one of the few free places for families to beat the heat, while providing access to books, computers, and educational programs.
If your teen is looking for an excuse to avoid the Summer sun, volunteering at the Library is an excellent way to give back to our community and gain valuable experience. Teens will have the opportunity to meet new people and learn new skills that can help in the future. Librarian Caitlin describes what awaits potential volunteers. “They will learn how to interact with our diverse population, learn responsibility as a representative of the Library, and earn volunteer credit and experience they can use on resumes and college applications! And the best part is that they get to pick their own schedule that works for them.” Whether they need to fulfill a volunteer credit requirement or not, we are thrilled to welcome teen volunteers back to the Library this Summer!
If you know a young person interested in volunteering at the library, the first step is to visit us at any of the three Library locations and pick up an application! To meet the age requirement, they must be going into grades six through 12 in Fall 2024. Applicants will need to supply a letter of recommendation from an adult that is not a family member who could be a teacher, coach, counselor, or religious leader. Completed applications and recommendation letters are due back to the Library by May 1 for staff member review.
The Aurora Public Library District is excited to provide this unique opportunity for teens to make a positive impact on our community while supporting the Summer Reading Adventure. This year’s Summer Reading Adventure, theme is Find Your Voice, runs from June 1 through July 31. We hope all involved will walk away in August having gained real-world experience and valuable skills, while having a little bit of fun along the way! For more information, please contact teens@aurorapubliclibrary.org.
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.