On the first Thursday of each month, an advisory board meets at Washington District Library to discuss and plan events, express opinions in selecting new library material and make its voice heard. This board has a great impact on the library, but one detail sets them apart from the typical advisory board. This board is made up of teenagers.
Washington High School freshman, Sierra Moreno, 14, said she has been involved with the Washington Advisory Board of Teens for more than a year.
“A lot of the adults at the library don’t know what teens like to do and what we’re into,” Moreno said. “It’s nice to be heard.”
Moreno said WABoT helps in planning the summer reading program.
“We brainstorm ideas according to our theme,” she said. “This year, our theme is ‘Scare Up a Good Book,’ so we’re having a ghost hunter come in.”
The board has also planned a Dance Dance Revolution night, Chinese New Year party and activities for the library’s ANIME club.
“The library has a PS3 and a Wii, so we plan a lot of game nights,” Moreno said. “We hang posters and fliers at the high school and grade schools to get more teens involved in the events.”
Steven Trueblood, a 17-year-old Washington junior, has been a part of the advisory board for two years.
“I think it’s good because we get to hang out with friends and make decisions for the library,” he said. “Everybody gets to have their own perspective.”
Emily Hunt, the library’s young adult librarian, has been in charge of the group since February 2007. She said the advisory board has been around since 2005.
Student attendance varies at each meeting, Hunt said, but there are about nine or 10 teenagers from grades six through 12 involved in WABoT.
Hunt said she enjoys having the contact with the teenagers.
“Their help and input is invaluable in planning events at the library,” Hunt said. “If they’re not the ones making these decisions and getting excited about events at the library, they’re not going to come.”
Hunt said that when teens are a part of the planning, they are also more apt to bring friends and family to the library.
“Being involved gives them a sense of ownership,” Hunt said. “It also gives them a bit of a leadership role. It’s great for kids getting ready for high school and it’s great to put on college applications.”
