"While many young adults want to help their community in some way, many are unsure of where to start. This book empowers teenagers to take action by providing information on how to get started, be successful, and make a difference. First-hand accounts from teenagers provide additional insight from those who have gone through the process themselves"--

Most young people in the United States today are willing to give something back to their communities. A recent report showed that each year an estimated 13 million teenagers donate more than 2.4 billion hours of their time to charitable causes, and the Gallup Youth Survey has found that roughly one-third of all teens participate in volunteer work. This volume examines the opportunities young people have for volunteering, and explores the issue of school-mandated community service.

Community service is increasingly recognized as an important vehicle for promoting positive development among adolescents. This book provides teenagers, parents, teachers, professionals, and concerned adults with current and useful information. Included are resources for middle school, high school, and college students. Those organizing and running programs will find a wealth of material for development and improvement, including: • An examination of the characteristics of effective programs, the young people who engage in service, and those who benefit • Practical strategies for those looking to start programs • A look at current controversies, such as mandatory service A chronology provides the historical context for understanding the current status of community service, completing this practical and accessible guide to understanding and implementing good community service programs.

Aimed at both experienced and new volunteer managers, this guide offers practical advice about starting and maintaining effective teen volunteer programs in school and public libraries. With sensitivity for teens' special needs and their lack of experience in the workplace, it covers the basics of interviewing, training, and supervising. Included are profiles of several library volunteer programs with sample forms and promotional materials, lively anecdotes from the library world, and tips from successful managers of teen volunteers.

The volume is a collection of articles from scholars who pay particular attention to children and/or adolescents' voices, interpretations, perspectives, and experiences within specific social and cultural contexts. Contributions include research stemming from a broad spectrum of methodological and theoretical orientations.

When teens volunteer at the library, they gain new skills, make connections, and build their resumes, while libraries benefit from a new generation of advocates. This guide shows librarians how to establish or develop a teen volunteer program. Advocating a flexible approach, this book speaks to every library, including both public and school libraries. From small libraries with no budget to large libraries with seemingly endless budgets and everything in between, all of the concepts covered can be scaled up or down to meet the needs of the community being served. The book begins with the big picture, discussing benefits to teens, libraries, and communities; it then reviews volunteer types and volunteer possibilities for teens, including the traditional roles of shelving and programming as well as passion-led projects, programming opportunities, and special initiatives and drives. Specific volunteer roles are described in depth, with instructions for practical applications, and concrete examples and experiences from various types of libraries illustrate principles discussed. Readers will also learn how to establish volunteer partnerships within and outside of the library. The book ends with a discussion of methods for evaluation and assessment.