By Jennifer Kohlhepp, Managing Editor
The library offers teens who are too old for camp but too young to work a fun and responsible way to spend their summer vacation.
Teens that volunteer for Service and Achievement in the Library (SAIL) learn about the library, organize and work with kids in the children’s programs, prepare book displays, take care of the bulletin boards, pull books for hold lists, conduct scavenger hunts and help inspire people to read during the summer.
”Volcanoes are coming up and we made candy cars yesterday,” SAIL volunteer Mary Grace Roach, 13, of New Egypt, said. “It’s just really fun helping the kids, stacking books and helping out. I love my job. It’s just really, really fun.”
This year, SAIL has 27 volunteers, with between four and 13 teens working at the library on any given day.
Librarian Chris Zahn said the volunteers gain valuable job experience.
”It’s like getting a job, volunteering with us,” she said. “We hope they gain job experience like following instructions, being on time and learning to make a commitment.”
Lauren Stevens, the SAIL coordinator for the past six years, said she volunteered for SAIL as a kid and the program has added benefits.
”One thing you notice is that the volunteers make a lot of new friends here, and then they come back for TAB (Teen Advisory Board), our other volunteer program, during the school year.”
Before the summer ends, the Plumsted branch will celebrate teens with “Teen Jeopardy” on Aug. 20. Participants will be split into teams, answer jeopardy questions and have refreshments.
SAIL is offered to Ocean County teens that have completed seventh grade. Many of the 20 branches of the Ocean County Library participate in SAIL. Each branch has its own unique program.
For more information on SAIL, visit http://theoceancountylibrary.org/teens/sail.htm.
Students in grades 7-12 who would like to find out more about the Plumsted branch’s Teen Advisory Board can attend the next meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 7:30.
The Plumsted branch is located at 119 Evergreen Road in New Egypt and is open Monday and Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information, call the library at 609-758-7888 or visit theoceancountylibrary.org/Branches/PL/pl.htm.