Talking Teen Services: Working with Teen Volunteers Panel
Interested in launching or improving your teen volunteer programs? Join us for a panel discussion about working with teen volunteers in public libraries. Panelists from three very different Colorado libraries will share their experiences, why they created teen volunteer programs at their libraries, strategies for managing the program, and the integration of workforce skill development into their programs.
This panel discussion is part of the Colorado State Library’s Talking Teen Services series and will be recorded. The 75 minute program and will include time for you to ask the panelists your own questions towards the end of the discussion.
About the panelists
Caroline McIntyre is the Assistant Manager in charge of daily operations at the Eaton Public Library. She has a background in Youth and Outreach Services, but her true passion lies in promoting literacy at all ages. Caroline holds a B.A. in History and Environmental Studies from Indiana University and an M.L.I.S. from San Jose State University. In her free time, she rock climbs, skis, hikes, and spoils her golden retriever rotten. She’s also a writer and avid reader who enjoys all things fantasy and western, especially when they’re both happening at the same time.
Andrea Hamilton has been working in libraries in some shape, way, or form for 15 years, and the last 4 have been as the Teen Services Librarian at Mesa County Libraries in Grand Junction, CO. A former library teen volunteer myself, she loves getting to help create an environment where teens can grow and learn, or just simply be for a bit. Andrea also serve as one of the resident Dungeon Masters and chief puppet coordinator in conjunction with my Youth Services coworkers. She loves getting to work in a field where she can be silly and creative, and my greatest library win is when she can get a teen to forget to be quite so serious and grown up for a little bit and just enjoy being a kid for a little while longer.
Christina Chambers grew up in the library districts of the Colorado Front Range – from High Plains, to Poudre River, to JeffCo, and Denver Public. She graduated from Metropolitan State University in Denver with a Bachelors of English with the goal of “someday” working at a library. A few years later, in 2021, Christina was hired as a Library Teen Programming Technician for the Summit County North Branch. Even though there were very few programs due to COVID-19, and none for teens at the time, she built and established teen leadership groups, a tween book club, and other fun teen programs. Recently, Christina has taken the position of Branch Manager for the South Branch Library in Breckenridge. When not working or reading, Christina can be found hiking around the mountains with her dog, Duke, making different soups, or traveling.