The Hennepin County Library is interested in expanding opportunities for teens throughout Hennepin County by providing year-round employment, expanding our current efforts to employ teens during the summer and exploring a variety of new options. Many of the opportunities are supported through funding from the Friends of HCL.

Key elements include:

Teen Public Service Assistants

• We will hire teens to work year-round handling all borrowed/returned library materials and helping customers apply for library cards and pay fines.

Christo Rey High School partnership

• Pilot a partnership with their Corporate Work Study Program which allows students who cannot afford a college preparatory education to get it through its unique work-study program.

Teen Spanish Bilingual Early Literacy Assistants

• Hire eight bilingual early literacy assistants to help Librarians plan and implement developmentally appropriate learning activities for 4-5 year old Latino children.

Teen Tech Squad

• Hire nine teens to help facilitate creative learning experiences in digital media with kids and teens (grades 4-12) using technology for creative expression in science, math, music, video, writing, spoken word and visual art.

Step-Up Program

• Hire 11 students to participate in this program which places low-income youth, ages 16-21, in paid summer jobs.

Teen Job Fair

• Plan/host this event where teens have the opportunity to connect with businesses/organizations (some of which serve specific ethnic and diverse populations) for information about jobs, employment training, internships and volunteer opportunities.
• Teens can attend a "Get a Job Now" workshop for tips on how to find/land a job, and a "Who We Hire" panel where managers describe what they look for in employees.

Teen Job Workshops

• We will provide informal workshops for teens to get help creating a résumé, search/apply for jobs online and practice interview skills.

Teen Volunteers

• HCL supports more than 800 teen volunteers per year in building job readiness skills.
• Participate in the Transition Plus Program where groups of students with disabilities come to HCL with job coaches to work.

Through these experiences the Hennepin County Library provides opportunities for teens to acquire valuable work experience and marketable job skills in the field. The students develop skills that broaden his/her horizons, enhance a level of confidence toward finding independent employment and encourage each of them to seek a better future. Hennepin County Library strives to support healthy, positive youth development by offering a chance for the teens to engage with their peers and their community, to explore new technologies and build skills for the future.