Lewes library welcomes summer youth ambassadors

The Lewes Public Library has welcomed its first class of summer youth ambassadors. The program gives local students who have finished sixth, seventh or eighth grade an opportunity to gain work experience along with firsthand knowledge of libraries and the information field.

Seven middle school students from the Lewes/Rehoboth area have joined the ambassador program. They volunteer at least two hours a week, helping with a variety of library tasks. Participants will receive at least 28 service hours, which are a school requirement for many.

“The age minimum to volunteer at the library is 14,” said Jennifer Noonan, children’s librarian and director of the youth ambassador program. “But we know there are lots of 12- and 13-year-old kids who are very capable, willing and interested in volunteering at the library, and who are able to serve the library and its patrons well.”

The program was designed to be a training ground for future work experience, requiring an application and interview process, and references. Participants commit to three training sessions starting in May, and two hours of service per week for eight weeks in the summer.

“This is the real deal,” said Noonan. “Our ambassadors are required to commit and show up, be responsible and professional, and communicate with the library or me should problems arise. And so far, this first year’s group is doing a fantastic job.”

The 2019 Lewes library summer youth ambassadors are Dylan Baker, Neely Burris, Bella Howard, Rose Lee, Ava Lenz, Sierra Walters and Cailan Wilkinson. “This program is serving several needs,” said Noonan. “The library is extremely busy during the summer, with kids out of school and a large volume of tourist visitors. We need extra hands to help maintain the kids’ wing, which sees an explosion in use. But we also know that school libraries are in crisis in the state of Delaware.”

There is currently only one certified librarian in the Cape District, at Cape Henlopen High School. The elementary and middle school libraries are staffed by paraprofessionals.

Noonan said, “Once kids get into middle school, they are not using the school library as they did in grade school, and their library and information skills drop off and are easily forgotten. By the time they get to college, they are ill-equipped and may feel uncomfortable using the library or asking for help there, simply due to a lack of exposure and education.”

The students in the program are getting very familiar with library services and what’s available to all patrons through the Delaware Division of Libraries. They are practicing the Dewey Decimal System as they shelve books. They are helping with programs, and learning about library service standards just by being in the library, and interacting with patrons and staff.

“It’s early in the program, but I can already tell this is going to be a big success for both the library and for the participants,” said Noonan. “We are already working on plans for next year’s youth ambassador program.”

This year’s application process started in March, with interviews taking place in April and May. Final selections were made in mid-May, and training began the week after Memorial Day. The library plans to use the same general timeline for 2020. Anyone interested in applying for the program should visit the library or its website for information next March. For more information, contact Jennifer Noonan at the Lewes Public Library by calling 302-645-2733.