We will have a semi-weekly session where volunteers may be asked to cut bookmarks, die cut shapes for upcoming programs such as the gratitude tree or for the teen conversation board. Other small projects may also be included. Volunteers may also be asked to assist with cleaning toys from the meadow, going through supplies to ensure they are still working/sharpened/etc, organizing, dusting or helping tidy the shelves of the library. This session may happen up to once a week, but will be scheduled based on the library’s needs.

• All volunteers in grades 8 and up are eligible for an hour session
• Volunteers in grades 6 and 7 must participate in at least three 30 minute Library Helpers Sessions prior to being eligible for this opportunity
• Volunteer hours will be credited based on hours worked

The library may need additional help cutting out shapes, smaller sheets of paper, bookmarks or doing die cuts. These opportunities are one time commitments a volunteer may claim at a specific time set by GPL staff.

• All volunteers in grades 8 and up are eligible
• Volunteers in grades 6 and 7 must participate in at least three 30 minute Library Helpers Sessions to be eligible for this opportunity
• Volunteer hours will be credited based on hours worked

The Mentor’s job will be to participate in Library Helping, but also to work with a younger volunteer as they learn the ropes of this volunteer opportunity. Mentor sessions will be available every other Library Helper time slot.

We will have a semi-weekly session where volunteers may be asked to cut bookmarks, die cut shapes for upcoming programs such as the gratitude tree or for the teen conversation board. Other small projects may also be included. Volunteers may also be asked to assist with cleaning toys from the meadow, going through supplies to ensure they are still working/sharpened/etc, organizing, dusting or helping tidy the shelves of the library. This session may happen up to once a week, but will be scheduled based on the library’s needs.

• Volunteers in grades 8 and up who are eligible for Tier 2
• Volunteer hours will be credited based on hours worked

The library may need additional help that requires counting a number of prepped supplies for a program, creating packets or kits, or making examples for a specific program.

• All volunteers in grades 8 and up who are eligible for Tier 2
• Volunteer hours will be credited based on hours worked

The library may need help hanging decorations, setting up a scavenger hunt or creating decorations for the library. If decoration helpers finish before the end of the session, they may be assigned additional tasks.

• All volunteers in grades 8 and up who are eligible for Tier 2
• Volunteer hours will be credited based on hours worked

Volunteers may help at programs run by the library. These may be drop in programming where a staff member may be in the general area, but the volunteer will act semi independently or it may be programs primarily run by a staff member and the volunteer will be assigned specific tasks during the program.

• All volunteers who are eligible for Tier 3
• Volunteer hours will be credited based on hours worked

Volunteers will be responsible for the Study Hall room to help participants sign in and out, assistance with the Brainfuse Tutor system and short brain breaks. For this opportunity volunteers must be present in the room and not focused on their own homework or electronics while other teens are in the space.

• All volunteers who are eligible for Tier 3
• Volunteer hours will be credited based on hours worked

If a volunteer has an idea for a program for the library that they are able to fully run themselves, they are able to submit that idea via form. Ideas must be fully fleshed out and approved by the a GPL staff member. A recent example of this kind of project is Drop In Origami Club. Please note a meeting with a staff member will be required.

• Requires a handwritten form from the library detailing your idea for a program
• Volunteer hours will be credited based on hours worked plus “prep time” as determined by the application.

If a volunteer is looking to conduct any larger scale projects, they will need to submit it through a handwritten form. All projects must be approved by a staff member.

• Requires a handwritten form from the library detailing your idea for a program
• Volunteer hours will be credited based on hours worked plus “prep time” as determined by the application.

Teens curate a playlist to be played during designated teen hours in the Foundry. Playlists must not contain any explicit material, be a minimum of 20 songs long and only contain a maximum of 2 songs per artist with no more than three artists with multiple songs. Please submit as a document containing exact phrasing of the song’s title and artist as it is listed on Spotify. You do not need to make it on Spotify.

• Volunteers will be credited 1 hour of volunteer credit with their submission
• Only one submission per volunteer per season.

In response to a book volunteers have read, they may curate a playlist to exist on the GPL Spotify Playlist. The library will use these by linking them via QR code on the shelf where the book lives in the library. These playlists should accurately reflect the book or characters in the book.

Please note submissions for this opportunity must be based on YA books that the Guilderland Public Library owns. Please check the library catalog to check prior to creating your playlist. We also only accept one playlist per book, so please confirm that we do not already have a playlist for the book you have chosen by checking this spreadsheet. Playlists must not contain any explicit material, be a minimum of 15 songs long and only contain a maximum of 1 song per artist. Please submit as a document containing exact phrasing of the song’s title and artist as it is listed on Spotify. You do not need to make it on Spotify.

• Volunteers will be credited 1 hour of volunteer credit with their submission

• Only two submissions per volunteer per season.

Volunteers curate a list of 15-20 books to match a theme and design an image with the covers. This will be used to create a visual “menu” to be displayed in the Foundry and suggest titles to other teens. Please note submissions for this opportunity must include only YA books that the Guilderland Public Library owns and include. Please check the library catalog to check prior to creating your Book Menu and include library call numbers. Volunteers may use Canva or another digital art software to create these displays.

• Volunteers will be credited 2 hours of volunteer credit with their submission
• Only two submissions per volunteer per season.

Volunteers will submit an idea for a book display in front of the teen room with a theme, a list of books and make a sign for that display. Book Display Creators will be responsible for the display for one week out of the month. This opportunity will be available for two months during 2026 (April and October). This opportunity will be is by google form application to ensure the volunteer has an idea for their display in mind prior to being assigned a week, but will still be first come first served as long as the mandatory criteria is met. Volunteers will be contacted during the month prior to the display month to confirm. Volunteers will be allowed a maximum of 1 Display per calendar year.

• Volunteers will be credited 1 credit hour for providing a list of 15-20 books on a specific theme chosen by the volunteer. The volunteer must also submit a description and title of what their theme is.
• Volunteers will be credited an additional hour if the volunteer also submits a design for a display sign created through Canva or another digital software.
• Volunteers will be credited a third hour of credit if the volunteer also schedules a time with the coordinator the day before to set the display themselves.

Volunteers may choose a topic that they feel they are an “expert” in and can teach others. They may record a video demonstrating or teaching how to do it or they may create a written document (potentially with photos) in order to teach how to do it. These documents and videos may be highlighted on the GPL website to teach others. Please double check out the Teen Tutorials page to ensure that we do not already have an accurate tutorial of what you would like to teach before filming or writing. If we already have a tutorial but it is outdated, please feel free to create a new one with updated information.

For videos, keep it simple or make use of music, images, and text. Any videos may also 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.

• Submissions will be evaluated by the Teen Librarian and volunteers will be credited between 1 and 3 hours of volunteer hours based on length and detail of the tutorial.
• Only two submissions per volunteer per season.

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 for posting to Instagram.

• Volunteers will be credited 1 hour of volunteer credit with their submission
• Only two submissions per volunteer per season.

Create and take a photo of a stack of books that create poetry using the spines. We will feature it on instagram. Spine poetry is a form of “found poetry” that allows the reader to find a story by connecting the titles in the order they are stacked. Find an aesthetic location in the library to take your photo or use books at home! Your image should be sized for posting to Instagram.

• Volunteers will be credited 1 hour of volunteer credit with their submission
• Only two submissions per volunteer per season.

Put together an outfit that matches the color scheme of a book’s cover or matches what a character wears in the story. Take a picture wearing the outfit and holding the book. Draw intrigue by thinking about a location that would best match your photo. Your image should be sized for posting to Instagram.

• Volunteers will be credited 1 hour of volunteer credit with their submission
• Only two submissions per volunteer per season.

Some programs will have an opportunity to be the photographer. Volunteers will take action shots of the program as well as a photo of any “final products” created at the program for our social media. Volunteers will be responsible for asking participants if it is ok if their photo is taken and photos must be approved by our marketing expert.

• All volunteers who are eligible for Tier 3
• Most of the time, this opportunity will result in 1 hour of volunteer credit, however some longer programs may result in more 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 or to Reels. 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.

• Volunteers will be credited 2 hours of volunteer credit with their submission
• Only two submissions per volunteer per season.

Record a short video as if you are making a movie trailer but for the story being told in a book. It should be interesting and informative for the person who is watching to determine if it is a book they would like to read. 

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 or to Reels. 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.

• Volunteers will be credited 2 hour of volunteer credit with their submission
• Only two submissions per volunteer per season.

These videos may be informative about something in the library such as a favorite spot to sit or an informational video about genre labels or it could be a funny video in the style of Library Tik Tok videos. If you choose to make a funny video, make sure it is kind and respectful of others in the library when you film.

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 or to Reels. 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.

• Volunteers will be credited 1 hour of volunteer credit with their submission
• Only two submissions per volunteer per season.

When the library has a specific idea of a video project to be worked on, they may reach out to active Tier 3 volunteers first. In the event that more volunteers are needed, Tier 2 volunteers may also be offered the opportunity.

• All volunteers who are eligible for Tier 3 and sometimes Tier 2
• Volunteer hours will be credited based on hours worked