TEEN VOLUNTEERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT SAN DIEGO COUNTY LIBRARY
April 6, 2012
San Diego County Library (SDCL) is celebrating Library Month throughout April by telling the story of the essential services that libraries provide and the people who make it possible. SDCL supports the successes of youth, and hosts an award-winning Service Learning program that aims to provide teens with work experience. Last fiscal year, 1,578 teens took part in the program, volunteering nearing 32,000 hours of time at County Library branches.
The Moschetti family frequents the El Cajon branch of SDCL, and all three daughters are currently Service Learners. Seventeen-year-old Mariah was the library's first Service Learner and, since the program began in 2008, has racked up over 600 volunteer hours at the library. From shelving and checking in books, to homework tutoring and doing clerical work for the library's literacy program, Mariah has done it all and earned valuable work experience in the process. Fifteen-year-old Meagan started taking art classes at the library years ago, and is now an aspiring graphic designer who spends her volunteer time painting a mural surrounding the library's teen area. Twelve-year-old Grace is a new Service Learner, and enjoys helping out with teen events.
Their mother, Jannine, has always brought her daughters to libraries, starting with baby storytime at a local library in Alaska where the family lived until 2006.
"Libraries represent humanity," said Jannine Moschetti. "The El Cajon Library staff has become our family. Librarians are the gatekeepers of knowledge."
For more information or to sign up for the Service Learner program at SDCL, visit www.sdcl.org or contact your local library.