Teen Volunteering

1. Be a rising 8-12th grader (2023-2024 school year).
2. 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.
   
3. Complete an application, including a signed reference form.
4. Be accepted & volunteer for at least 10 hours!
5. Sign up for and complete Teen Summer Reading: read for 20 days over the summer and log it.

To participate in TSV, you must first complete the application by 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 16 regarding acceptance into the program.

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, design interactive bulletin boards, and participate in craft-and-chat groups. Sessions run weekly on Mondays (2-4 p.m.) and Thursday (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: July 11-14, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
  • Camp 2: July 18-21, 1:30-4 p.m.
  • Camp 3: August 1-4, 1:30-4 p.m.

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.

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.