It is hard to be a teenager in today’s world. They’re juggling school, home, and friends while facing the pressures of social media, planning their futures, and figuring themselves out! Luckily, the Aurora Public Library District (APLD) can be a great support system during this exciting and overwhelming time.
We are extremely lucky to have a team of passionate Teen Services Librarians leading the charge and serving our community. “I enjoy doing what I do because I get to do so much fun stuff,” said librarian Flannery Crump. “We have plenty of educational programs and services, but we have so many fun crafts, games, movie nights, video game streams, parties, and much more!” Recently the library offered a job fair where teens could connect with employers who demonstrate an inclusive culture and a presentation from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) about mental health conditions facing middle and high school students. To set them up for future academic success, we’re host to a career planning program for high schoolers Wednesday, May 8 with My College Planning Team. There they will outline the career planning process, explore how it can improve a student’s confidence, and provide an overview of the financial side of college planning.
That’s helpful and all, but what about the fun? There are always opportunities for fun at the library and librarian Cesar Ortega especially enjoys seeing the creative sides of his customers. “I have so much fun doing all these different programs and working with the other teen librarians” he said. “I think my favorite program we offer is the vinyl record painting. It always brings new people out and I love seeing what they create!”
An added benefit of having fun is the positive relationship that’s created between the Library and our teenage customers. “Teens who visit the library can expect to be treated with kindness and have their privacy respected. Their voices will be heard at the library,” adds Crump. The best way for teens to be heard is by joining the library’s Teen Advisory Board (TAB). TAB members work closely with the Teen Services Librarians to improve the Library by implementing new programs, resources, and services. We want to ensure that APLD is a place where teens can be themselves and have fun. Our goal is to create public spaces that are welcoming and inclusive for all, and young people are included in that! Not only do we create space for teens at the Library, but we also offer opportunities for them to learn and grow.
A huge opportunity that we offer for teens is volunteering at the Library during the Summer. Many middle and high school students have a service hour requirement that must be met in order to graduate. “During their volunteer time, teens can look forward to being an important part of the Summer reading program and helping customers of all ages,” said librarian Caitlin Backus. “This will help them learn responsibility through learning how to manage their time, learning their duties in the volunteer role, and helping customers on the daily.” To make applying to volunteer easier, this year we have removed the barrier of needing a letter of recommendation and made an online application available for those going into grades 6-12 in Fall 2024. If they have a large number of hours to complete, those hours can be best filled by volunteering at the Santori Library or West Branch, as they have the most slots still available. Teens are in control of their own schedules so it will be easy to work around other commitments during the summer. For those who love books and helping people, volunteering provides an opportunity to see if working in a Library may be something they’d enjoy in the future!
Teens who visit the Library have access to the free resources and opportunities that we offer to make their hectic lives easier. It’s a place where they can learn, grow, connect with others, and explore possibilities. To learn more about teen programs, TAB, and volunteering this Summer, please visit our website at or contact us at 630-264-4117.
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.