Johnny used to be just another teenager who lived in the neighborhood; now he was the guy behind the check-out counter at their favorite place.
On a sunny June day at Sumner Library, Johnny was high-fiving youth who dropped in for snacks and stories. Their eyes lit up at his attention. Johnny used to be just another teenager who lived in the neighborhood; now he was the guy behind the check-out counter at their favorite place. As the teen specialist at Sumner Library, Johnny spent his senior year developing workplace skills and meaningful insights about himself with the help of his staff mentor, Thomas.
Both Johnny and Thomas grew up in the Sumner Library neighborhood. Johnny recalls how he first set foot inside the library in 5th grade, when his mom suggested he walk over to look for his favorite comic book series. From there, his checkout history expanded to include fantasy series such as Percy Jackson and anime. Last year, shelving those titles was Johnny’s forte, a task he found immensely satisfying. He was also ‘your guy’ for help with computers, printing, scanning, finding books, and more. The computer questions and technology problem-solving needed in his role allowed Johnny to find his passion and shine. He has since gone on to study computer science in college this fall.
The Teen Specialist role is a great opportunity for youth to work in library spaces and earn a regular wage. Being able to offer this type of job, especially in communities facing deep disparities, is important.
Not all aspects of this role came easily. With previous work experience in a bakery, the hyper-independent Johnny liked solitary tasks that kept him in the zone. At the library, surrounded by people and their questions, he had to adapt to providing forward-facing service to patrons and communicating at a steady pace. His growth during this transition was visible even to his coworkers as he developed the confidence and language to eagerly interact with others, a change he says will benefit him throughout his life.
Supervisor Thomas shared, “The Teen Specialist role is a great opportunity for youth to work in library spaces and earn a regular wage. Being able to offer this type of job, especially in communities facing deep disparities, is important. There aren’t a lot of opportunities for youth employment in this neighborhood.”
