The Canton Public Library is looking for teen volunteers from Canton and surrounding towns to help run the 2022 Book Buddies program. Book Buddies at Canton Library is a 12-year tradition of library mentoring and fun, This summer in the library the cool Children’s Room will be alive with readers of all ages as teen Buddies share reading, camp songs, and hands-on activities with young children, ages 4-8.

After a training and orientation meeting on June 24, the Book Buddies volunteers will participate on Wednesday evenings (6:00-8:00 PM) and/or Thursday mornings (10:30 AM-12:30 pm) where they will be paired up with their young counterparts. The sessions will run for six weeks, from Wednesday and Thursday, July 6 and 7, through August 10 and 11, and will wrap up with a sizzling pizza party on the last day. The orientation will review how to select and share age-appropriate books with their pre-reader, early reader or developing reader, how to focus energetic children on reading, and safe ways to guide their charges while in the library. Since each week’s program finishes with one of several simple activities, how to engage children in post-reading activities will be discussed.

Volunteers should be prepared to be available for four of the six weeks of the program, so there will be continuity to encourage personal connections with the kids. Student volunteers must be entering the eighth grade in order to become one of the Book Buddies. Some past volunteers have been up to ages 19- 21, though the maximum age is no older than college age, since the experience we want to create is a mentoring relationship between young people. Baby sitting skills are a plus, as is other work with children, creative talents, and/or singing skills. Teens who wish to volunteer may either apply on our website, www.cantonpubliclibrary.org (click on TEENS on the green menu bar to find the link) or contact Teen Librarian Meghan Glasgow at [email protected] by June 20. After that date, volunteers will be accepted based on available space.

The Book Buddies program can be a truly rewarding experience for volunteers. The best evidence of that is the numerous teens who have participated for several consecutive years. Many use the hours they spend with the children to meet community service requirements, or make a request for a recommendation letter from our teen librarian, Canton Public Library is located at 40 Dyer Avenue in Canton. For more information please contact the library by phone, (860) 693-5800, email [email protected], or visit the library website.