Kitsap teen volunteer program returns, logs hundreds of hours and focuses on workforce readiness

The Kitsap Regional Library Board of Trustees heard a mission moment April 22 about the system’s revived teen volunteer program, which library staff say emphasizes workforce readiness and interest-based learning while reconnecting teens with library services.

Library leaders told trustees the program, relaunched about a year ago, aims to prepare teens for employment through an application and interview process, orientation and safety tours, and regular schedules with supervising teen services librarians.

"We pulled this together to incorporate employment readiness from the application process all the way through to scheduling expectations," said Jim Sutton, teen services librarian (Bainbridge Island). "These all directly support our strategic plan priority area, workforce readiness and development, and they really help them to prep for regular everyday work life."

Shannon Peterson, deputy director of public services, said staff worked with teens to redesign the program during the pandemic slowdown and that the project returned because of strong community demand for teen volunteer hours. "This program is really one of our core workforce readiness programs with youth," Peterson said.

Program structure and activities

Teen librarians described a program that starts with an online application and interview, followed by a safety tour and orientation before volunteers begin regular schedules with branch teen librarians. Librarians said they try to align volunteer tasks with individual interests: arts-minded volunteers help create signage and displays; others sort Perler beads, prepare craft supplies, or run the button maker for outreach events.

"If it matters to them, it really matters to me as well," said Jim Sutton, describing the one-on-one mentorship volunteers receive. "These interactions really build trust with our teens."

Participation and numbers

Kayla O'Connor, teen librarian at the Silverdale branch, reported volunteer-hour totals to the board: "Throughout the whole of 2024, we had 314.5 volunteer hours with our teens," she said, while noting the agency aggregates monthly counts and that some volunteers are counted multiple months. "Just in the first two months of 2025, we've already had 103.25 volunteer hours with our teens." The librarians characterized that growth as a sign of strong ongoing interest.

Age range and recruitment

Trustees asked about eligibility. "So 13 through 18 is our cutoff. Just for safety reasons, they gotta be 13. And then 18 or when they age out of high school is when they go," O'Connor said. Recruitment is handled via the library website’s volunteer link and occasional advertisements; librarians also rely on word-of-mouth.

Local branches and staffing

Presenters at the meeting included Casey Smith (teen services librarian, Poulsbo), Jim Sutton (Bainbridge Island), Wayne Holder (Port Orchard), Jacqueline Keating (Sylvan Way), and Kayla O'Connor (Silverdale). Trustees and staff said the program supports the system’s broader goals for youth engagement and may help funnel volunteers into future library employment.

Trustees praised the program during Q&A, calling it a strong resume-builder and a way for teens to feel a sense of belonging in the library system.

The board received the presentation; no formal action was required or taken on the teen volunteer program at this meeting.