The New York Public Library

Library Page - Teen Civics Ambassador Job at The New York Public Library in New

The New York Public Library, New York, NY, United States

Job Description

Description

The New York Public Library is looking for teens in the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade who are interested in at least one of the following:

Civics and community engagement
Engaging their peers in library programs & services
Exploring the world and work of libraries

The Teen Civics Ambassadors (TCA) position will be assigned to one of NYPL’s local branch libraries in the Bronx, Manhattan, or Staten Island, where they will create dynamic library events and resources for teen audiences at the library and encourage their peers to learn about and become active participants in their local community.

This will include hosting branch-based programs for teens, writing for NYPL’s blog about issues teens care about, creating social media graphics to engage teens digitally, and working on a Civic Action research project.

Pages will be provided with training and have the opportunity to attend special events, such as career panels, guest speakers, and library field trips.

Position hours are scheduled between January 22, 2025, and June 28, 2025. Those hours include:

Human Resources Orientation (week of January 6 ) — 1.5 hours
Orientation Camp (January 11 - January 17th) — up to 14 hours
Branch Placement (January 20 — June 13)
- Up to 8 hours/week
Spring Recess Civic Engagement Camp (Week of 14) — 14 hours
Special events and opportunities — up to 20 hours

Most hours will be scheduled after 3 PM on weekdays. A few weekend events will be scheduled. A program calendar will be provided during the interview process.

In the application, you will select up to 3 locations where you would be willing to work. You must be able to get to the locations you select by around 3 PM on weekdays (there are some exceptions and we can discuss your schedule during the interview). We recommend that you map your commute from school to the locations you choose to know how long it will take you to get there. If you are hired, you will be assigned to one location. Position locations include the following:

Bronx Branches

Bronx Library Center
High Bridge
Grand Concourse
Hunts Point
Parkchester
Wakefield
Woodstock

Manhattan Branches:

125th Library
Bloomingdale
Chatham Square
Harlem Library
Inwood Library
Macomb’s Bridge
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library
Stephen A. Schwarzman

Staten Island Branches:

St. George Library Center
West New Brighton

Key Responsibilities

Develop a Teen Engagement Plan for the branch to increase teen patron use of branch and system-wide services
Develop a Civics Action Project on a topic relevant to teens in the branch community and make a recommendation for taking action
Plan and implement programs for teens in partnership with Young Adult branch staff; some programs will have a civics focus
Create and maintain branch displays and self-directed programming area for teens; some displays will have a civics focus
Contribute to branch and system-wide social media and blogs to share a teen perspective on library services and civics/community issues
Participate in trainings and meetings on topics such as library resources, communication and marketing strategies, community history, local politics, and current issues
Support programs conducted by the Young Adult Librarian and other key staff

Required Education, Experience & Skills

Required Education & Experience

Current enrollment in 10th–12th grade in an NYC high school
Proper employment certificate for minors under 18 as required by NYS law

Required Skills

Demonstrated interest in and/or experience with civics, local government, and/or current issues impacting teens
Interest in libraries and librarianship
Experience with social media including knowledge of current trends
Strong written and communication skills
Commitment to inclusion, diversity, and creating a safe and welcoming environment for teens
Demonstrated reliability and punctuality
Ability to work as part of a team
Hardworking and willing to be flexible
Able to communicate through email and other electronic formats in a timely manner
Demonstrated integrity
Strong computer skills, including email, internet, and word processing; preference for the Google Suite

Core Values

Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues
Be Resourceful in solving problems
Be Curious in all aspects of your work
Be Welcoming and Inclusive

Physical Duties

Limited physical effort is required
Light lifting required
Lifting up to 40 lbs. required
May require travel within NYC

Physical Required?

Schedule

Up to 8 hours per week; most hours scheduled after 3pm on weekdays

This job description represents the types and levels of responsibilities that will be required of the position and shall not be construed as a declaration of all of the specific duties and responsibilities for the role. Job duties may change if Library priorities change. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description as needed.

At the Library, we believe that pay transparency and pay equity are important to ensuring we source the best candidates and keep the best employees. When making a determination as to the appropriate salary for a candidate, we consider a variety of factors such, including, but not limited to, the position requirements, the skills, prior experience, and educational background required or preferred for the job, the scope and impact of the role within the organization, internal peer equity, and the candidate's specific training, experience, education level, and skills. No single factor is conclusive; the Library reserves the right to consider any and all relevant factors and make a decision consistent with its policies.

Union Salaries are determined by collective bargaining agreement(s).