Teen Summer Internships
Kansas City Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
The Kansas City Public Library hired teen summer interns (ages 12 to 18) empowering them to make their voices heard for what programs and services the library has available for teens. For many interns, this is their first employment experience, where they learn how to apply, interview, and maintain a job in a warm and welcoming environment that will set them up for success later in life.
Challenge/Opportunity
Giving teens the experience of applying and interviewing for a job, many for the first time.
Paying teens for their hard work which allows them to have some financial independence.
Allowing teen librarians to mentor teens and create lasting relationships that will continue throughout the school year.
Helping teens learn about 21st century skills (leadership, teamwork, communication, etc.) and how to talk about these skills when applying for jobs or colleges.
Reaching those teens that visit the library often during the summer and helping them find a more productive use for their time than playing computer games.
Key Elements of Innovation
Teens had the option to do two different opportunities.
TAGs: Teens applied through an online application for positions at six branches. They attended meetings, completed projects, and designed programs for other teens.
Teen Projects: A shorter option for teens where they create a proposal for a 5-hour long project, complete it with feedback from the teen librarian, and reflect on the 21st century skills they used.
Between these two options, teens created book displays, educational posters, book lists, social media posts, and teen programs. One teen created a program to encourage others to become more artistic by planning, promoting, problem solving, and presenting the program. Another teen recruited friends to become actors for a “The Office” style video about the day in the life of a TAG member.
This innovative program allows teens to gain workplace experience while earning money. Teens also learned more about the library field and some were interested in becoming librarians.
Achieved Outcomes
Teens reported feeling more confident and better able to describe their communication, leadership, and teamwork skills when asked in a reflection form.
Teen librarians at the branches have noted a stronger relationship with participating teens that continue throughout the school year, even when the teens aren’t being paid to attend library programs.
Many of the teen interns continue to volunteer and have gone on to work for the library as summer assistants, AmeriCorps VISTAs, or part-time employees.
Many patrons and staff have had positive things to say about the teen interns, which has led to partnerships with community organizations such as KC Cultivate, where teens volunteered during the school year.
