Interested in volunteering? Fill out the Teen Volunteer Interest Form to receive email notifications when Teen Volunteer opportunities become available!
Check out the volunteer opportunity descriptions below.
Earn Certified Volunteer Hour CreditsÂ
Credit Verification:Â At the end of each month, one of our Teen Volunteer coordinators will automatically email all volunteers PDF certificates of any hours they completed that month. We can also verify hours via x2VOL using the email below. You can address the verification request to either Emily or Jacob.
If you need a signature in person, please email ahead of time to schedule an appointment with a Teen Volunteer Coordinator.Â
To contact one of our Teen Volunteer coordinators, email: teenvolunteers@guilderlandlibrary.org.
In-Person Volunteer Opportunities
Collection Volunteers
Collection Volunteers help Library staff with shelving our collection and finding materials put on request by Library patrons. We have limited openings for this task and volunteers must be in Grades 9-12. Â
Craft and Program Volunteers
Craft and Program Volunteers help Library staff with preparing crafts and decorations or work with Library staff to set-up and clean-up for programs usually during school break weeks. We have limited opportunities for this task and volunteers must be in Grades 8-12. Volunteers will be contacted when there is a program opportunity available.Â
Teen Advisory Community Outreach Group (TACOs)
Earn volunteer credit for attending teen advisory meetings! Work with GPL librarians and your peers to provide input on books, events, decorations, and more.
Formally divided by grade level, TACOs is now one group that is open to Grades 6-12. Check our tweens/teens events calendar to register for upcoming TACOs meetings.
Virtual Volunteer Opportunities
To earn volunteer hours for any and all of these virtual options fill out and submit the Google Form for each submission. Log-in with your Google or GCSD email to upload your videos and images directly or follow the instructions to email us your content instead. You must verify that you have parent/guardian permission for us to post your content. Virtual volunteers must be in Grades 8-12.
If you have another suggestion for how you would like to complete volunteer hours with the Guilderland Public Library, that may also be submitted on the form.
Book Talk - 4 Credit Hours
Record a short video where you “book talk” a book you’ve read and would recommend. Tell us the title, author, a short plot summary, and why you liked it. Keep it simple or make use of music, images, and text. The video should be between 1-3 minutes.
Any videos may be uploaded to the Library’s YouTube page. Remember when using music, graphics, images, or other media in your videos that they need to be copyright free. Creative Commons is a good resource for images. Music in your editing software program will suggest tracks that can be used royalty free.
Book Trailer - 4 Credit Hours
Record a short “book trailer” for a book you’d like to recommend. You can be creative with your book trailer and tease what it’s about and some favorite highlights like you would see in a movie trailer. The video should be between 1-3 minutes.
Any videos may be uploaded to the Library’s YouTube page. Remember when using music, graphics, images, or other media in your videos that they need to be copyright free. Creative Commons is a good resource for images. Music in your editing software program will suggest tracks that can be used royalty free.
Beanstack Review - 1 Credit Hour
Write a review on Beanstack, our online book tracker website and app. If you don’t have an account from past summers, create a new one. Add books you’ve read and write a review between 100-200 words. You don’t have to like the book to write a review. Include a link to your review on the Google Submission Form.
Book Bento Photo - 1 Credit Hour
Create and take a photo of a “Book Bento” for us to post to our Instagram. A Book Bento is inspired by Japanese bento boxes that serve different foods in separate sections. Create a Book Bento by including a tableaux with the book and objects that connect with the book that other readers will recognize. Visit this Instagram for inspiration: @bookbento  Your image should be sized 1080 x 1080px for posting to Instagram.
Book/Character Playlist - 1 Credit Hour
Gather 10 songs that represent a favorite book or character. Include the name of the song, the artist, the name of your playlist, and the book or character it is based on and we’ll add it to the Library’s Spotify! Do not include any songs marked “explicit”. Please submit this as a document and upload it to the submission Google Form.Â