Making the Most of Teen Library Volunteers

Energizing and Engaging Community

Becca Boland

• Publisher: Libraries Unlimited
• Year: 2020
• eBook ISBN: 9798216113829
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Library & Information Science
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

When teens volunteer at the library, they gain new skills, make connections, and build their resumes, while libraries benefit from a new generation of advocates. This guide shows librarians how to establish or develop a teen volunteer program. Advocating a flexible approach, this book speaks to every library, including both public and school libraries. From small libraries with no budget to large libraries with seemingly endless budgets and everything in between, all of the concepts covered can be scaled up or down to meet the needs of the community being served. The book begins with the big picture, discussing benefits to teens, libraries, and communities; it then reviews volunteer types and volunteer possibilities for teens, including the traditional roles of shelving and programming as well as passion-led projects, programming opportunities, and special initiatives and drives. Specific volunteer roles are described in depth, with instructions for practical applications, and concrete examples and experiences from various types of libraries illustrate principles discussed. Readers will also learn how to establish volunteer partnerships within and outside of the library. The book ends with a discussion of methods for evaluation and assessment.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Series Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Series Foreword
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• 1. The Volunteers
• 2. Volunteering Implementation and Types
• 3. Volunteer Possibilities
• 4. Volunteer Possibilities—The Classics
• 5. Volunteer Possibilities in Schools and Beyond
• 6. Volunteer Partnerships
• 7. Proof Positive Is Positive Proof
• Bibliography
• Index