What is Teen Advisory Board (TAB)?

Scottsdale Public Library’s Teen Advisory Board is a group of teen advocates who meet regularly with a library TAB facilitator. TAB offers input on library services, co-design library programs, conduct community outreach, and facilitate communication/creations that represent the community of teens at the Scottsdale Public Library, allowing them to share their diverse ideas, interests and voices. TAB participants are library ambassadors who help us connect with teens in the community. Teens can earn hours of service towards their junior high and high school community service hour requirements.

Requirements/Qualifications:

1. Must be a middle or high school student between the ages of 12 and 18.
2. Must have parent/guardian permission to participate.
3. TAB participants must complete a TAB Application form that is signed by them as well as their parent/guardian.
4. Must be able to commit to the meeting schedule.
5. Have enthusiasm about providing ideas for teen programming/services.
6. Have a willingness to participate on a creative team.

Attendance:

• Meetings are held monthly September through May and your attendance, participation, and assistance in those meetings is imperative to the whole group’s success.
• Please keep your TAB Facilitator informed of any absences.
• There is an email account set up for each branch for teen communication.
• TAB meetings will require each member to sign in to document participation.
• TAB participants must commit to attending the majority of the meetings throughout the school year. More than two unexcused absences will result in removal from the TAB roster for that school year.

What skills can be gained by participating in TAB?

1. Teens will learn skills to support them as they move into adulthood including creativity, collaboration, communication, leadership, and social skills.
2. An understanding of the library’s mission and values and how the library works with the community.
3. How to become invested in your community to create positive change.
4. TAB facilitators will work with teens to develop leadership and teamwork skills, activism, mentorship, empowerment, how to work with the community, and teen development through training/workshop opportunities.