The Austin Public Library invites local teens to help shape the future of their libraries through a new paid fellowship program aimed at civic engagement, advocacy, and youth leadership.
The program envisions a future where teens are key collaborators in shapping how libraries serve their communities.
Funded with $25,000 from The Library Foundation, the Teen Library Fellowship will employ 10 teens from Central Texas in a nine-month program focused on improving teen services, exploring library careers, and increasing awareness of library-related issues. Fellows, ages 15 to 17, will earn $21 per hour for up to 10 hours of work each month.
“The Library Foundation is proud to underwrite such an innovative investment in our next generation of community leaders,” said Tim Staley, Library Foundation executive director.
Kathleen Houlihan, teen librarian at Austin Central Library, said the fellowship is designed to tap into the creativity and insight of young people at a time when libraries are adapting to rapid change.
“This program offers teens an opportunity to find new ways to leverage their public libraries for positive change in their communities,” Houlihan said. “Their creative ideas will help the library stay relevant in a time of massive change, while also inviting the next generation to wield the power of public libraries.”
The fellowship project is the most recent iteration of several different paid teen internship opportunities that Austin Public Library offers, including the Save the Books Project, also underwritten by The Library Foundation.
Applications for the first cohort are now open through June 30.
