Teen Volunteering

Volunteering for Teens

Volunteering can be a satisfying way to invest your time and energy and use your special skills. The library has volunteer opportunities for teens in grades eight through 12. Email teens@princetonlibrary.org for more information.

#tsv

Teen Summer Volunteer

The Teen Summer Volunteer program is for rising eighth- through 12th-graders. Coordinated with summer reading activities, the program runs from June 15 to Aug. 15. In addition to supporting summer reading, volunteers are library ambassadors who help us connect with teens in the community. Volunteer activities also promote teen literacy and the library’s mission of advancing knowledge, encouraging dialogue and providing opportunities for discovery and joy.

What are the requirements to participate?

• Be a rising 8-12th grader (2024-2025 school year).
• Have an active Princeton Public Library card in your own name. Library cards that are expired or belong to a family member will not be accepted.
• Complete an application, including a signed reference form.
• Be accepted & volunteer for at least 10 hours.
• Sign up for and complete Teen Summer Reading: read for 20 days over the summer and log it.

How can I apply?

To participate in TSV, you must first complete the application. Applications are accepted from April 15 to June 5. You’ll need your library card number on hand. You’ll also need to complete a signed reference form. Applications are not complete without an active library card number and signed reference form.

Applicants will hear back on June 13 at 5 p.m. regarding acceptance into the program.

How do I earn volunteer hours?

There are three ways to volunteer at the library during the summer. You can apply to be a Literacy Advocate, Maker Assistant or Program Intern. Each position requires a commitment to a minimum 10 hours of volunteering.

Maker Assistant and Program Intern openings are limited. Your volunteer placement will be according to availability and preference. Should interest exceed capacity, participants to the program will be selected by random lottery. We cannot guarantee a spot.

• Literacy Advocate: You will earn volunteer hours for reviewing books and creating digital content that promotes books and reading for the library’s teen Instagram, TikTok, and Spotify accounts. This position is self-paced and work can be completed according to your own availability and schedule.
• Maker Assistant: Work in small groups to make take-home craft projects and create interactive activities for the Teen Center. Sessions run weekly on Mondays (2-4 p.m.) and Wednesdays (10 a.m.-12 p.m.), and you must commit to attending at least five sessions during the summer.
• Program Intern: You’ll volunteer for 10 hours over the course of four consecutive days (Tuesday-Friday) to plan and execute a large-scale library program for children. Alongside a small group of peers and with the support of library staff, you’ll create activities, games and crafts for an event you will staff. Assignments to the camps will be according to availability and preference and are not guaranteed.
‣ Camp 1: Tuesday, July 9 to Friday, July 12 from 1:30-4 p.m.
‣ Camp 2: Tuesday, July 23 to Friday, July 26 from 1:30-4 p.m.
‣ Camp 3: Tuesday, August 6 to Friday, August 9 from 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Will TSV fulfill a service requirement?

As volunteer service requirements vary from organization to organization, we can not guarantee that TSV fulfills your program’s requirements. It’s important to contact your organization to make sure the hours count toward your service requirements.

How do I get my hours verified?

Participants will receive a letter in early fall verifying their volunteer hours. If you have additional verification forms you would like us to complete, you may send them to teens@princetonlibrary.org. If you have not met the requirements of completing Teen Summer Reading and the minimum 10 hours of volunteering, your service hours will not be verified.

Submit an Application from April 15 to June 5, 6 p.m.

#instructor

Program Instructor

Many youth events are led by teen volunteers and school clubs, including coding and other technology classes, STEAM workshops and discussion groups. If there is a subject you are passionate about or you have a skill you’d like to teach or share with others, please submit an Event Proposal.

Submit an Event Proposal

#advocate

Literacy Advocate

You may earn up to two volunteer hours per month by reviewing books and creating digital content promoting books and reading for the library’s teen Instagram, TikTok and Spotify accounts.

This virtual position runs from October through May and is self-paced with work completed according to your personal availability and schedule. Applications are reviewed as received on a rolling basis.

Submit an Application

#tab

Teen Advisory Board

The mission of the Princeton Public Library Teen Advisory Board (TAB) is to strengthen the bridge between the teen community and the library, to encourage teen participation and to share the diverse ideas, interests and voices of teens.

TAB is an opportunity for high school students in Princeton to develop valuable leadership skills while contributing to the library and the Princeton community. TAB members are active, creative, passionate advocates of the library and dedicate considerable time and energy to creating and executing projects that support its mission.

TAB runs from October to June, and members are selected at the start of the school year.

What are the eligibility requirements to apply for TAB?

You must:
• Be in grades 9-12 (2023-2024 school year).
• Be a Princeton resident or attend a high school in Princeton.
• Have an active Princeton Public Library card in your own name. Library cards that are expired or belong to a family member will not be accepted.

What is the application process?

You must first complete the application by September 28. You’ll need your library card number on hand. You’ll also need to submit a signed reference form by the deadline date. Applications are not complete without an active library card number and signed reference form.

You will be contacted for an interview in September or early October. All applicants will hear back by October 16 regarding admission into the program.

Please note that while we encourage all student engagement at the library, the Teen Advisory Board membership has limited capacity, and we aim to ensure that the Board is a diverse, balanced representation of the Princeton teen community.

What are the requirements of a TAB member?

As a TAB member, you are required to:
• Support teen literacy initiatives. All TAB members are required to create at least one “Teen Book Tuesday,” a short social media video that promotes a YA book in the library’s collection. Members also commit to participating and completing Teen Summer Reading 2024.
• Participate in bi-monthly planning meetings. TAB meets twice a month on the first and third Tuesdays at 7 p.m. from October 2023 to June 2024. Meetings last one hour. TAB members are expected to attend every meeting.
• Contribute 10 hours of volunteering with the library over the course of the school year. TAB members will be provided with volunteer opportunities, and they are also welcome to suggest others.
• Collaborate with your peers and library staff to plan and execute teen programs, including “I Read This Book,” our annual teen literacy event.

What kind of projects does TAB do?

In support of the library’s mission and vision, TAB’s various projects focus on:
• Teen literacy – You will support initiatives that promote books and reading to teens.
• Programs and engagement – You will brainstorm, plan and execute dynamic small and large-scale library programs for teens.
• Teen space and services – You will be assisting with services and projects to make a Teen Center that is welcoming and exciting for all teens.
• Social media outreach – You will create digital content that promotes the library’s teen initiatives to the wider teen community through the library’s teen social media accounts, including Instagram, TikTok, and Spotify.

Will TAB fulfill a service requirement?

As volunteer service requirements vary from organization to organization, we can not guarantee that TAB fulfills your program’s requirements. It’s important to contact your organization to make sure the hours count toward your service requirements.

Please Note

APPLICATIONS CLOSED

Thanks for your interest in TAB. Applications for 2024-2025 TAB will open in July 2024.