The Main Library will be closed on Monday, February 16 for Presidents' Day

Want to help your community and earn volunteer hours? Join the Fletcher Free Library Teen Volunteer Program! You'll meet other teens, help in the Teen area, and assist staff with important tasks. It's a fun way to get experience that looks good on a college application or resume! If your school or club requires community service hours, volunteering at the Library could help you meet your goals.

What do teen volunteers do at the library?

  • Great question! Teen volunteers perform a variety of tasks. Rather than having everyone do the same thing, the Teen Volunteer Program hopes to provide opportunities for you to use your unique passion and skills to support the library and the Teen Space! Scroll to the bottom of this page to read about the various Teen Volunteer Roles available.

What you need to know

  • To volunteer, you must be 14+.
  • You need to want to volunteer (not because your parents are making you do it)!
  • You must be dependable and show up for your shifts. Make sure you have a ride worked out!
  • Ask your parents or guardian for permission.
  • Make sure you can commit to at least 6 months of volunteering 1-4 hours per week
  • Contact the Teen/Tween Services Librarian for questions about the application and Teen Volunteer Program

Necessary Skills

  • You must show maturity and a positive attitude
  • Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions
  • Ability to learn routine library tasks and work independently after training
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with library employees
  • Ability to adhere to a specific schedule and to arrive promptly at the time scheduled
  • Ability to talk and communicate with the public

Times when volunteers are needed:

  • TUESDAYS: Anytime between 3:30-8:00pm.
  • WEDNESDAYS: Anytime between 3:30-6:00pm.
  • THURSDAYS: Anytime between 3:00-6:00pm.

If this sounds like you, fill out a volunteer application today! Keep in mind that filling out an application doesn’t guarantee acceptance into the Teen Volunteer Program. We often receive more applications than we have positions. 

For questions, contact Teen/Tween Services Librarian Miriasha Borsykowsky FFLTeens@burlingtonvt.gov.

Fill out a Volunteer Form HERE.

 

Teen Volunteer Roles:

Do you look at a pile of craft supplies and see an exciting new project? Become a:

Teen Craft Volunteer!

Requirement: Able to break down a craft project into each small step and explain it in a way beginners can understand

Tasks include:

  • Working with Teen/Tween Services Librarian to design crafts for programs, take-and-make boxes, outreach visits, and more 
  • Working with Teen/Tween Services Librarian to identify what supplies are needed for each project 
  • Preparing craft supplies for use in program, separation into individual take-and-make boxes, or kit for outreach 
  • (Optional) Attending craft programs and assisting Teen/Tween Services Librarian in helping participants make the craft 
Are you passionate about books, especially Young Adult books, and have any favorite genres (manga, graphic novels, enemies to lovers romance, epic fantasy, etc)? Become a:

Teen Lit. Specialist!

Requirement: Read 5+ YA books every year

Tasks include

  • Working with Teen/Tween Services Librarian to identify a book category they want to highlight within the YA section
  • Working with Teen/Tween Services Librarian to decide how to highlight category (ie display, bookmark, pamphlet, social media post, online list, shelf-talker)
  • Choosing the books to highlight, and working with Teen/Tween Services Librarian to put them on display, design product in Canva, etc.
  • Working with Teen/Tween Services Librarian to learn about upcoming releases and provide input on purchase decisions 
Are you looking for the classic library volunteer experience? Do you enjoy singing the alphabet to yourself on repeat? Do you like organizing things so that everything is in its right place? Become a:

Teen Shelver!

  • Requirement: Attention to detail

  • Tasks include:

    • Moving recently returned books from behind the circulation desk to the teen area

    • Shelving returned YA books in their correct locations- we have almost twenty mini-sections in YA, so this is an important task!

    • Gathering books for a display or for collection evaluation by Teen/Tween Services Librarian 

 

Do you like order, organization, and making sure everything is in its place?  

Teen Space Steward! 

Requirement: Attention to detail.

Tasks include:

  • Shelf-reading (carefully looking at each shelf top to bottom to make sure books are in the correct order and place)

  • Shelf-cleaning (removing all books from one shelf, dusting and wiping down the shelf, allowing to dry, then putting books back in their correct order) 

  • Checking teen board games for all components

  • Wiping down teen tables & chairs

  • Working with Teen/Tween Services Librarian to update or restock supplies (coloring pencils, flyers, etc.) 

For outgoing, extroverted teens who enjoy being the first to know about something and 

Teen Promotion Partner 

Tasks include:

  • Suggesting platforms that we should be promoting to- if closed spaces (students only, etc) sharing information themselves or helping Miriasha pass along info in some way 
  • Putting up posters in their school or community
  • Designing Canva flyers or social media posts highlighting library resources
  • Taking photos or videos, creating memes of our about library programs, resources, etc. 
Do you have another volunteer idea you’d like to propose? 

The Wild Card 

 

Fill out a Volunteer Form HERE.