The Sooke and Port Renfrew branches of the Vancouver Island Regional Library are looking for a few good teens to help guide the libraries into the future.
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Actually, they want a whole lot of teens to sign on to the fledgling Teen Advisory Groups at the libraries.
“I go out to schools and the young people will ask me who owns the stuff in the library,” said Nathalie Jones, the customer services librarian for children and youth.
“Sometimes they’re surprised when I tell them that it belongs to them – the people of Sooke and Port Renfrew – and that they have a stake in what goes on there.”
The idea behind the Teen Advisory Groups is to engage teens in a variety of activities that include acting as reading buddies for reluctant young readers (grades 1 to 3) or as tech tutors who will help seniors, one on one, with technology challenges in an ever-changing tech environment.
“It’s a way for those teens to engage in relationship-building activities in their community,” Jones said.
The teens can also take an on an active role in designing library services and in the development of the library collections.
“If we can get teens engaged and instill the value of a library while they are young, the chances are that they’ll become life-long supporters of the library in their community and help to shape those libraries to meet their needs.”
The VIRL is currently advertising the opportunity to become part of the library family through posters and on the library’s Facebook page. They are also doing some school visitations to promote the concept.
Any teen who is interested in becoming part of the TAG groups is invited to contact their local branch or call the VIRL at 250-642-0358.
https://www.sookenewsmirror.com/news/shovels-in-the-ground-for-sooke-library-by-2019/