Santa Clarita Libraries Need Teen Volunteers This Summer

High schoolers in Santa Clarita have a chance to turn their summer into something meaningful while helping their community fall in love with reading.

The city's public libraries are recruiting teen volunteers aged 14 to 17 for their annual Summer Reading Program, which runs seven weeks from June 8 through July 24. This year's theme, "Unearth a Story," invites readers of all ages to explore new books and participate in creative activities throughout the summer.

Both the Old Town Newhall Library and Joanne Darcy Canyon Country Library need enthusiastic volunteers to make the program run smoothly. Teens will greet families, help sign them up for the reading challenge, hand out milestone prizes, and assist with special programs, crafts, games, and activities.

The commitment is manageable for busy summer schedules. Volunteers need to dedicate just two hours per week, totaling at least 20 hours across the entire program.

Sunny's Take

What makes this opportunity special goes beyond the community service hours. Teen volunteers become part of a child's reading journey, celebrating those small victories when a kindergartner finishes their first chapter book or a shy middle schooler discovers their favorite genre.

Libraries have always been gathering places where communities connect, and summer reading programs keep that magic alive during the long break from school. For the teens who volunteer, it's a chance to develop leadership skills, work alongside library staff, and remember why they fell in love with books in the first place.

Interested volunteers must attend a mandatory orientation on June 29. The Old Town Newhall Library session runs from 3 to 4:30 p.m., while the Canyon Country Library offers an evening option from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Teens can even volunteer at multiple library locations if they want to maximize their impact.

Getting started is simple: visit the Santa Clarita Volunteers website to sign up for either location and learn more about what the summer will bring.

The Ripple Effect

When teens volunteer at summer reading programs, everyone wins. Young children get positive role models who make reading feel cool and accessible. Parents get free programming that keeps their kids engaged and learning during summer break. And the volunteers themselves gain work experience, communication skills, and the satisfaction of knowing they helped shape young minds.

Twenty hours might not sound like much, but for a child struggling with reading, that encouraging smile from a teen volunteer could be the moment that changes everything.