Working with teen volunteers is a valuable part of what we do in youth services librarianship. It can be rewarding to have teens, who were children in your programs, become a part of the magic in their own way. However, it can be challenging to provide the right work or even find the right teens that meet your needs, as well as meet their needs. In this post, I will provide some tips I’ve learned along the way while working with teen volunteers in the children’s department.
Keeping it Simple is Okay!
In my research for writing this post, I was so impressed with the amount of libraries that utilize teen volunteers in a unique way. From having teens put on children’s performances as a theater club to Adopt-A-Shelf programs, there are so many amazing ways to have teen volunteers contribute greatly to your department. BUT, do not feel the pressure to build programs specifically for your teen volunteers! Simple tasks like straightening shelves, cutting out crafts, even handing out egg shakers during storytime works just fine for teen volunteers. These kinds of tasks are important too and it takes pressure off your volunteers as well.
Get to Know Your Volunteers
Sadly, not every teen that comes in wants to be a librarian one day. However, that does not mean that you can’t motivate your teen volunteers. Getting to know your teens can be helpful for both needs to be met. For example, I had a teen volunteer that just needed community service hours completed for school and she wanted them done quickly because she wanted to get to her main passion: art. After learning she was passionate about art, I had her prep crafts for my program. Not only was she able to complete her hours, but she was excited to help kids hone in on their artistic abilities. It’s nice to be able to assign tasks that align with your volunteers’ interests when you can.
Be Flexible and Understanding
Between school, extracurricular activities, and family obligations, teens have a lot on their plate. Keep in mind your volunteer may have schedule changes and that’s ok! If you are relying on teen volunteers for a big event, overestimate how many volunteers you may need, in case some do not show up. Otherwise, provide assignments that can be done at other times, so it is not the end of the world when the volunteer cannot come in.
Having teen volunteers in your department can be a great resource and way to connect with the teens in your community. Tell us about your experience working with teen volunteers in your children’s department!
This post addresses ALSC Core Competency VI: Administrative and Management Skills.