Hedberg Public Library was awarded a grant from The Dollar General Literacy Foundation and YALSA to hire teen interns during the library's summer learning program. This generous grant provided a unique opportunity to implement the practice of building programs and services around the concept of for and with teens.
Type: Active
Age: High school
Optimal size: <5
Estimated cost: $100+
Planning time: 5+ hours
Frequency: Weekly
Learning outcomes
Teen interns learned that the library and community value teens and want to provide rewarding experiences on their path to success. Teens gained important career and workforce development skills during the application, interview and training process.
Teens were able to plan and carry out activities in their own space at our library for the first time. This helped fulfill the goal of providing programs and services around the concept of for and with teens. Teens were given leadership roles and increased student engagement by creating programs and displays, carrying out the teen summer learning program at the teen desk and through mentoring of teen volunteers.
Teens connected their high interest in the recent solar eclipse with a fun learning project by creating a Sci-Fi book display and Lucky Stars origami project in the teen area. Teen interns gained confidence by leading their peers and working alongside staff at a Battle of the Books practice session and at the teen volunteer/intern reception where they helped teens make homemade ice cream shakes in large zip-lock bags.
Our teen interns increased youth involvement in our library’s decision making. They created a teen survey for use in our Transformation Project which involves a remodel of the adult area and relocation and doubling of the teen space. They also calculated current and proposed shelving needs and plan to advocate for their new space when they return to school in fall. They provided valuable teen perspective for an upcoming Growth Mindset display for teens and adults about building resilience in the face of failure.
Teen interns increased use of technology by sharing their expertise about robots, 3D printers and other gadgets at a Senior Moments Tech Day. Communication and media literacy skills were demonstrated by writing a script and creating a movie about the internship.
Instructions
The application, review and interview process followed existing library procedures for hiring student shelvers who must be completing their second year of high school. The Head of Youth Services and Young Adult Librarian reviewed applications and set up in-person interviews. Teen Advisory Board (TAB) participation or library volunteer experience was preferred but not required. Sample interview questions included:
- Can you tell us about your work and/or volunteer experience? How could the skills you’ve learned be used at the library?
- How would your teachers describe you?
- When you have a school assignment how do you go about getting it done?
- You may be working with volunteers who are just a year or two younger than you. Have you worked or volunteered in a similar situation and how did you handle it?
- Do you have reliable transportation?
- What is your summer schedule like?
Two teens were hired to work an average of four hours per week during the summer learning program. Payments were made through two stipends paid over the summer.
Interns took part in the summer learning and summer lunch program intern/volunteer training sessions. Additional training for interns covered basic library policies and procedures, safety and emergency guidelines, a full tour of the library and detailed instructions for the teen summer learning program. Following training, interns assisted teens as they registered and completed check in for the teen summer learning program at iPad kiosks in our teen area. They also distributed prizes and mentored peer volunteers working with the baby/toddler and school-age programs in the children’s area.
Evaluation
Comments on a survey completed by interns at the end of the program showed that some of their favorite moments were helping kids and teens by sharing their love of reading and getting to know the other people who work and volunteer at the library. Our interns are interested in continuing or joining TAB or becoming employed as shelvers by the library. Interns and library staff sincerely thank Dollar General and YALSA for providing the funding and support for the Teen Summer Internship program.
Other resources
http://www.pbs.org/parents/fetch/activities/act/act-icecreamshake.html