
Teen Advisory Board
We always need more teens willing to share ideas and suggestions on how to make the library a better place for teens.
There are many benefits to being a part of the T.A.B. group at St. Thomas Public Library including:
- Meeting and interacting with other teens
- Fun activities and parties
- Earning volunteer hours
- Developing leadership and teamwork skills
- Making a difference in your community!
T.A.B. involvement looks great on college and university applications!
Participants are expected to attend 1 hour-long meeting each month plus special programs or events. Participation is evaluated on an ongoing basis and is supervised by the Children and Teens Services Librarians.
If you are interested in becoming a T.A.B. member, please fill out an application form. All applicants will be contacted.You can pick up an application at the Children's and Teens' Services Department. Bring it to Heather or Cindy at the Children's and Teens' Services Desk.
What would you like to see your Teen Advisory Board do in 2011/2012? Let us know by emailing mwilkinson@st-thomas.library.on.ca or in person. We'd love to hear from you!
Here's a message from a former T.A.B. member; 250 Words - What I gained and learned from TAB experiences
I joined the St. Thomas-Elgin Library’s Teen Advisory Board - TAB for short - as I entered grade eleven. I feel that TAB has really helped me grow as an individual.
As a member, I worked with many other teens with both similar and dissimilar interests, opinions, and beliefs; which I feel really improved my social skills and interaction with all kinds of different people from various backgrounds.
It also really encourages team spirit, partnership, and working well in groups - very important qualities. Volunteering with the Teen Advisory Board has also taught me a little about the rather complex inner workings of the library; and I will never take a library’s hard-working employees for granted again.
The library staff trust us to make good choices for the teen lounge, book selections, and other important youth-orientated factors in the library structure.
A job well done is satisfying, not to mention that it’s great to be trusted by adults in this day and age, when many misconceptions about teens exist and we are sometimes judged.
I am sure that lending my services to the library and helping out has and will have a positive effect on me. It has taught me to take initiative, to work hard, and the foundations required to take on a part-time job, and eventually, a full-time career when I’m older.
The TAB group has been an awesome opportunity for me, helping me work with others, acquire life skills, and work for a great cause.
Thanks for giving us a chance to shine!

