Live Oak Library, a local library located at 22 W Live Oak Ave., Arcadia, is offering an opportunity for students to practice their leadership skills, voice their opinions, and have some fun while building their portfolio and experience. To benefit both high school students and the library, the library is opening their very own Teen Advisory Board and are inviting participants to join the board.
A Teen Advisory Board is a group of young volunteers from 12 to 17-years-old who attend meetings to discuss the making of new programs and services while focusing on what the library needs. The program aims to connect and empower teens to take initiative in the library community and make a difference.
“I’m very excited for the opportunity to experience this because it allows me to explore and develop my abilities in a more meaningful and hands-on way,” said junior Kourtney Konner. “Experiences like this go beyond the classroom and provide a chance to apply creativity, curiosity, and personal initiative in real situations.”
So what exactly does a member of the Teen Advisory Board do?
Erika Morris, Live Oak Library’s librarian and manager of the Teen Advisory Board, explained that “teens will be able to provide input and ideas on what type of programs they want to see in the library.”
This allows for students to take initiative in the programs that they want to see in the library. One possible activity includes suggesting new books to add to its collection. This is a perfect chance for book lovers to share their favorite books and authors with the community.
The first meeting will take place on Thursday, Mar. 26, from 4:00-5:00 p.m. The meeting will be an introduction to get to know fellow board members and the Live Oak Library. Attendees will discuss upcoming projects and ideas to build within the library. The meetings are planned to be held monthly, most likely on Thursday at the end of the month, depending on how many people are interested.
There are many benefits of joining the Teen Advisory Board. For instance, doing this would also count for volunteering hours with the purpose of giving back to the community, developing new skills, and gaining valuable experiences. These skills are very helpful for college applications and job applications as colleges wish to see a student’s leadership skills. However, students who want volunteering hours will have to fill in a volunteer application to get them. Overall, being involved in making a difference and earning volunteering hours allows for compelling transcripts and portfolios.
As Konner said, “A portfolio developed outside of school not only showcases skills and dedication, but also demonstrates a willingness to learn, experiment, and improve beyond
required coursework. It becomes a record of personal progress and passion, which I believe is incredibly valuable for future opportunities.”
However, students have the option to show up to provide inputs for fun and enjoy social connections with their peers.
“I think [the Teen Advisory Board] is important [not only] for volunteering, but also socialization, networking, [and] making new friends,” Morris continued. “Being involved can help you find people with similar interests.”
In summation, being involved in the community provides a chance for self-growth and self-expression in building something with your own ideas with the help of teamwork. As the saying goes, growth starts with taking that first step and thriving from there. From the start of one person, it can always grow into something bigger.
“I’m looking forward to grow [the Teen Advisory Board], and see what happens,” said Morris.
