Library Features: What's New @ The Library
Spotlight on Library Volunteers: Teen Library Connection Volunteers Summer 2008
Every summer Library staff looks forward to The Library’s annual influx of teen volunteers who participate in the Teen Library Connection volunteer program. This summer, just like every other for the past thirty plus years, we enjoyed their smiling faces, their boundless enthusiasm, and of course, their invaluable assistance in performing jobs all around The Library.
Better known as TLC, The Library's summer volunteer program for teens is open to East Brunswick residents entering grades 8, 9, or 10 the September following their volunteer service. Because of the popularity of the program and the overwhelming number of applications received, volunteer selection is by lottery. Selected applicants work in two consecutive week stints, Monday through Friday, from 9:30 until noon over the course of 7 weeks.
This year, forty-nine East Brunswick teens contributed over 1000 hours of community service under the direction of Coordinator Jennifer Foung and Assistant Coordinator Ayesha Rizvi. Easily recognizable in their bright green shirts, you may have seen TLCers around the library during July and August shifting books, organizing DVD displays, assisting with the Summer Reading Club, and performing behind-the-scenes projects as needed. They even tutored seniors at the Senior Center on their new Wii system. The teens especially reveled in working with young children in such summer programs as Lego Mania, the Summer Carnival, and the annual Pet Parade. “A tremendous help,” “Just fabulous,” “Great kids,” and “We love having them here every summer” are just a few of the comments from the staff members who have become East Brunswick teens biggest fans.
Volunteering is good citizenship and the Teen Library Connection offers East Brunswick’s young people one of their first opportunities to put this philosophy into practice. Many of them stay on as library volunteers during the rest of the year. Others participate in the Teen Advisory Board, where they advise on books, games and music selection for teens at The Library, share ideas about programs they would like to see offered, and offer suggestions for improving the teen space at The Library. And a few, such as Youth Services Librarian Suzanne Klein, have followed a path from Teen Library Connection activism to a career in library service.
We will remember this summer’s wonderful crop of East Brunswick teen volunteers fondly and miss their helping hands. We will also take comfort in the fact that there appears to be no shortage of like-minded good citizens and will look forward to another superb group of East Brunswick teens next summer.
Our thanks to our TLC volunteers.
Volunteer Resources
Volunteer Opportunities with Local Organizations –- from our Community Clubs and Organizations Database
Volunteer at The Library -- Library Volunteer Application Form
Volunteer/Join the Friends -- Friends Application Form
Did you know that Librarians at the Public Library are Weaving Magic Every Day???
Abracadabra and ALACAZAM, and Welcome back to school from the East Brunswick Public Library. Just like magicians – we can pull just about any answer out of a hat. Librarians can do a lot to help you with those tough research projects.
So don’t get frustrated on your own. You can stop by the Information Desks to meet with a librarian, phone us at 732-390-6767, or visit us here on our website to search our databases.
So don’t forget the library as a MAGICAL PLACE FOR ANSWERS –On behalf of the East Brunswick Public Library, we wish you all a wonderful and magical school year filled with smiles, new friends, and learning to new and challenging heights. And don’t forget that the public library is always here to help.