The Oak Brook Public Library’s Teen Volunteer Program has been a win-win for both the library and the participants.
Open to those in 8th through 12th grades, teen volunteers have the options of helping with a variety of library work or being a helper for the library’s children’s program. There also is an opportunity to sign up for both options.
“Library volunteers help with library tasks, like pulling items for patron hold requests, sorting and shelving materials, retrieving and processing materials for withdrawal, or our annual book sale,” said Hubbell Hinkhouse, the library’s circulation services supervisor. “Volunteers also assist our librarians with children’s programs, like our STEAM Story Time, Crafternoons, Chess Club, Lego League, and other interactive children’s events.”
Hinkhouse said the program was expanded and overhauled in the summer of 2022 to meet the changing needs of participating students.
“More and more, students are required to complete service hours for scholastic or extracurricular obligations,” he said. “We created this program to provide that opportunity to our students in a friendly, educational, and professional space.”
There are three sessions per year, which correspond to the fall and spring school semesters and summer break, and students can pick from preexisting time slots online to find times that fit with their schedule, Hinkhouse said.
“We recognize that high school students are in need of volunteer hours for various extracurricular or scholastic obligations,” he said. “The program affords students an opportunity to complete these obligations, learn about librarianship and how a public library operates, and to interact with and give back to their community.”
Since the new program began in summer 2022, more than 70 students have signed up and have contributed over 700 hours of service time, Hinkhouse said.
“We have been impressed with the level of engagement from our student volunteers since the program began,” he said. “Many of our volunteers continue to give their time after meeting their required service hours, especially in assisting with our young children’s programming. It has been special to see both of these age groups interact with one another inside the community.”
Lauren Bilshausen, 14, said she signed up for the program las summer to get some experience as a volunteer as she was getting ready to begin high school.
“I have attended programming at the Oak Brook library since I was in preschool and have always participated in the summer reading programs, etc., so it seemed to make sense to start volunteering where I am comfortable and familiar,” she said.
Bilshausen said she spends most of her library volunteer time retrieving books that have been put on hold by patrons.
“I learned how to work efficiently and on time since my shifts are two hours long,” she said. “I like doing it because it makes me feel like I am being helpful, and accomplishing a task, and also it’s interesting to see the kinds of books and materials people check out and are interested in.”
Hana Razminia, 15, signed up for the program because she believed it was a great opportunity to gain valuable skills, such as organization, attention to detail, and communication.
“I’ve always had a strong passion for working with kids, and I saw that this program would give me the opportunity to help the librarians set up activities related to art and science for them,” Razminia said.
Through her shifts, Razminia has learned how to navigate informational resources, and has helped librarians in maintaining the organization of the library’s collection, she said.
“I’ve learned about the library’s categorization system, practiced paying attention to detail, and I’ve developed my organizational skills. “Overall I’ve had a great experience volunteering at the Oak Brook Public Library.”
Students interested in volunteering for the program should complete an application and a short alphabetization quiz which are available at the library or from its website, www.oak-brook.org/109/Oak-Brook-Public-Library. Applications are accepted year-round.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
