Teen Volunteers

The Placentia Library District welcomes teens between the ages of 12 – 17 to complete community service hours for school credit. In order to begin volunteering, teens must fill out the volunteer application and complete the virtual orientation. The volunteer application can be found here: https://www.placentialibrary.org/volunteer-at-the-placentia-library

Volunteer Opportunities

• Sorting and Shelving
  • Positions are scheduled once a week for 2-hour shifts, with a commitment of 2-3 months. All volunteers who sign up for shelving must first complete shelving training.
  • Shifts must be scheduled by the volunteer coordinator. Availability is limited.
  • If shelving spots are full, volunteers must complete the volunteer orientation to be added to the waitlist.
• Teen Review Crew
  • Available for high school students only.
  • Volunteers can read books and write reviews to receive 4 service hours per book, up to 5 books/20 hours per calendar year.
  • Teens are not required to create a volunteer account to receive volunteer hours (though it is recommended). Community service hour verification forms may be submitted after a completed review is approved. o Please visit https://placentialibrary.org/teen-review-crew for more information.
• PTAC (Placentia Teen Advisory Council)
  • Meetings are on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the meeting room.
  • Guests are welcome to attend any meeting. If they would like to sign up to be a PTAC member, they will get volunteer hours for attending meetings. A volunteer account is not required to attend as a guest but is required to accrue volunteer hours.
  • Various activities will be available during meetings and PTAC members will have first access to other volunteer opportunities.
  • Visit placentialibrary.org/ptac to learn more.
• General Library Assistant
  • Opportunities are posted to our volunteer system on an individual basis and active volunteers are notified by email.
  • Tasks include helping prepare for various programs at the library and assisting with other library duties. These opportunities are available on an as-needed basis and are determined by library staff.
  • Volunteers are responsible for signing up for these positions using their Vicnet account. Spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Community Service Verification Forms

• Volunteers may have their community service verification forms verified by the Teen Volunteer Coordinator once they have accumulated at least 10 hours of service with the Placentia Library. If a volunteer has completed multiple volunteer assignments with us, please list all dates on a single form.
• Forms can be dropped off at the information desk during the library’s open hours. The top portion of the form must be completed in its entirety before the volunteer coordinator can sign off. Blank forms will be returned to the volunteer unsigned.
• Turnaround time for receiving a completed verification form is 2 weeks. Forms cannot be completed on the spot and cannot be signed by any staff member aside from the volunteer coordinator. Volunteers are responsible for submitting their community service verification forms in advance of any deadlines required by their school.
• Completed verification forms can be collected from staff at the information desk.

Please email volunteers@placentialibrary.org with any questions pertaining to teen volunteers.

Resources

Homework help links:

• Brainfuse HelpNow
• California's K-12 Online Resources Program
•  Catalog Reference Videos
• Information about Congress

Sources for book recommendations:

• Epic Reads
• Book Riot
• YALSA Teens' Top Ten
• Goodreads

Hotlines and Websites for Teens:

• The Trevor Project: 866-4-U-TREVOR - The Trevor Project operates the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. The Trevor Helpline is available as a resource to parents, family members and friends of young people as well. Visit www.TheTrevorProject.org for more information and resources for young people.
• Love Is Respect: www.loveisrespect.org 1-866-331-9474 Provides information and resources on healthy teen relationships.
• National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC): 1-877-739-3895 www.nsvrc.org This organization provides information, support, and help for teen victims of sexual violence.
• National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
  Both toll-free, 24-hour, confidential hotlines which connect you to a trained counselor at the nearest suicide crisis center.
• LGBTQ Center Orange County: The LGBTQ Center OC’s mission is to advocate on behalf of the Orange County Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer/Questioning communities and provide services that ensure its well-being and positive identity. (714) 953-LGBTQ (5428) or info@lgbtcenteroc.org
• Self-Harm Prevention: Crisis Text Line is a free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. Text 741741 from anywhere in the US to text with a trained Crisis Counselor.
• Quit smoking or vaping: 877-44U-QUIT (877-448-7848) The National Cancer Institute’s trained counselors provide information and support for quitting in English and Spanish. Call Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern time.

Teen Services Programs