VolunTEENs are teenage volunteers who assist the Ames Free Library Youth Services department with the children’s Summer Reading Program!
AFL’s Summer Reading Program (SRP) is for all members of the Easton community. VolunTEENs will be working specifically with the Read & Bead program for children up to age 12. Readers use our online platform (READsquared) to register, log minutes, select prizes, and earn special badges. Prizes for the youth summer reading program are a necklace and beads which kids earn for the minutes they log. Kids can also earn raffle tickets to put towards a symbolic animal adoption and plush from the World Wildlife Fund.
VolunTEENs may assist families in registering for the program, logging their reading, and selecting their beads, as well as actually handing out the beads that children have already selected.
Interested volunteers must be between the ages of 13 and 18 by the end of the summer (on or before August 31, 2024). This generally includes students entering grades 8 - 12. Teens and their parents must read and sign our program expectations at the time of application. Applications can be printed below or picked up in Youth Services starting on Friday, April 19, 2024 and are due by Tuesday, May 20, 2024.
Application to the VolunTEEN program does not guarantee acceptance. When you submit your application, your availability and your ability to commit may affect placement. Youth Services staff will attempt to schedule you a shift from your top three choices. If those are already full, we will contact you about alternative options. Every applicant will be notified either of their shift assignment(s) or if we are unable to fit you into a shift this summer.
All VolunTEENs scheduled for the program will be expected to attend one orientation & training session prior to June 7. VolunTEENs will receive a link to a short training video, which must be watched before attending orientation.
At orientation you will:
-
- meet Youth Services staff who will be supervising each shift
- learn where to sign in/out; each VolunTEEN is responsible for tracking their own hours. The final number of recorded hours will be reported in your service hours letter.
- become familiar with the Summer Reading software system (READSquared). This includes: registering patrons, logging minutes read, redeeming points for prizes, and awarding beads as prizes.
After orientation, we will confirm your shift assignment and see you on your first day! We’re looking forward to a successful summer of collaboration with you!
At the end of the summer, you will receive one letter certifying the hours you volunteered with us over the summer. If you find that you need a letter in the future, we will keep a record of your hours on file for a period of four years.
Still have more questions? Check out our Q&A page!