Teen Library Volunteers Learn Leadership While Helping

When Alejandria Galarza needed help planning scavenger hunts and creating mental health book displays at Arlington Heights Memorial Library in Illinois, she turned to an unexpected workforce: middle schoolers and teens eager to make a difference.

Libraries nationwide are discovering that young volunteers bring fresh energy and ideas while learning valuable skills in the process. Galarza runs three volunteer groups that meet monthly to brainstorm programs, provide feedback, and tackle service projects like making placemats for Meals on Wheels.

Many teens join to earn National Honor Society credits, but Galarza says most are simply "driven to help." They've created programs like KPop Demon Hunters and Robot Wranglers while participating in Bridge Builders, where teens and seniors connect virtually to share stories across generations.

At Whiteland Community High School in Indiana, librarian Raenell Smith manages 2,000 students with zero library aides. Her volunteer program has become essential, with students shelving books, managing inventory, and creating displays based on their interests and strengths.

One volunteer asked to inventory every game in the library, check for missing pieces, and repair boxes. Smith said yes, and the student completed the entire project independently.

Why This Inspires

The transformation goes beyond practical help. Smith watches volunteers start viewing the library as "a living, breathing place that needs to be taken care of" rather than just another school room. This shift in perspective makes them better citizens.

For students, the rewards multiply. They learn project management, discover how to make things happen, and see their real impact on the community. Some find friends, others discover a love of books they didn't know existed, and at least one became a librarian herself.

Dione Mila, who wrote a book about student library volunteers at Indian Trace Elementary in Florida, started her program 20 years ago when faced with an overwhelming collection that needed weeding. Young helpers turned an impossible task into a manageable one.

The program benefits librarians too. Smith gains insights into current trends, movies, video games, and social media from comfortable volunteers who "drop all kinds of juicy little nuggets" that inspire new purchases and after-school programs.

Libraries prove that when you give young people meaningful work, everyone wins.