Library - Berryessa Branch

This opportunity is for teens who want to take a more active role in how programs and services are delivered to teens and the general public. This is also a great way to meet other teens who are volunteering at the library.

Expected Duties

Effect change through proposing Teens Reach Meeting and Program content that aligns with theme set forth by officers for that academic year.

Make decisions regarding how Teens Reach Officers' expectations, selection, and administrative structure.

Collaborate with Teens Reach Officers to implement their theme for meetings during the academic year.

Plan Meetings that align with the theme that officers have set forth for the academic year.

Expected Commitment

Teens Reach Members are required to attend meetings once per month. If you cannot make it, please reach out to the Teens Reach Coordinator Shih Fa Kao or one of your officers if you feel more comfortable with that.

Requirements

1. Review the Volunteer Handbook, which will be emailed to you, and be aware of the following branch-specific policies.
   1. In some instances, you hours will be logged for you, but it is still your responsibility to make sure that all hours that you have volunteered will be credited to you.
   2. The volunteer handbook says to contact your Coordinator of Volunteer Engagement if you will be late or absent, however, as you are a teen volunteer, I am you onsite supervisor, so you will contact me if you are going to be late or absent from a shift you sign up for.
   3. Avoid using electronic devices if they will interfere with completing your assigned volunteer tasks.
   4. Avoid visiting with friends who are not volunteering with you, and please avoid inviting friends who are not volunteering to hang out with you while you volunteer.
   5. Avoid eating or drinking on the public floor (bottled water is permissible). You may take a break to eat if volunteering for 4 hours or more in a day. Please inform me when you are taking a break.
   6. Avoid bringing a child/sibling you must supervise.
   7. While we will allow you to use onsite lockers to store valuables, please make sure to bring your own lock, and the library cannot be held responsible for lost or stolen items.
2. Sign and submit the volunteer signature form.
3. Additionally, you will be required to attend an in-person orientation. 

Other Volunteer Opportunities

As volunteers are needed for other programs and services, we will email all volunteers. Please check your email regularly.

Policy for References and Letters of Recommendation

This opportunity is designed for teens who are interested in developing leadership and teamwork skills, but it will require being proactive to accomplish your goals.

Accomplishments will vary, requests for letters of recommendation will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis at the sole discretion of the Teens Reach Coordinator: Shih Fa Kao.

As volunteers in this program will not receive a regular schedule, professional reference requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis; however, please note that this opportunity is not designed to give you professional work experience. For that, please apply for our Semester/Summer Teen Library Services Volunteer Opportunity if it is available.

What's Next?

Please wait for an email from Shih Fa Kao, Berryessa Branch's Teens Reach Coordinator, and make sure that "Teens Reach" has been added to the custom field: "Which volunteer activity interests you?" Teens Reach Applications are processed once a month after the date for the next Teens Reach Meeting is decided. If you have any questions, please reach out to Shih Fa at shih.kao@sjlibrary.org.

Thank you for your patience during this process. If you are not getting a response after a month, please check your SPAM folder for emails sent from message@volunteer2mail.com and unmark them as SPAM. If you still cannot find them, please send me an email at shih.kao@sjlibrary.org.