Description
Between school work, outside jobs, and extracurricular activities teens are over scheduled often struggling to find time to complete volunteer hours. Virtual volunteer opportunities assist in giving teens the opportunity to volunteer on their own time. The Ocean County Library turned their popular 8-week summer volunteer program into a highly successful virtual program. The session will provide information on the format used, technology needed, activities, and how hours were awarded. Librarians will also share insight received from the program, including survey responses, program ideas, and how they continue to offer digital volunteering in the future.
Presenter(s)
Cecilia PasqualicchioCecilia Pasqualicchio is a librarian of five years in Youth Services. She loves working with teens especially promoting their love for all things nerdy such as manga, anime, and gaming. She graduated with a BA in English/Film & Media Studies from Rider University and has her MLIS from Kent State University. She currently works as a Teen Librarian at the Ocean County Library.
Kel Rowan
Kel Rowan (they/them) is a Teen Services Librarian for the Ocean County Library. Kel was inspired to become a librarian by the librarians who supported them in their youth. Prior to becoming a librarian they ran a summer volunteer program at the library, which they insist to this day is the world’s best job. They have now been a librarian for 3 years and have enjoyed all their time spent with teens and even the challenges of programming through a pandemic. Kel aims to create safer spaces for LGBTQ Youth in libraries. When they’re not at work, they enjoy a good cup of coffee and long walks through the forest with their pup.