Kids giggle and shuffle through the aisles, asking their parents if they can get one more book. They point at the big, stuffed animal tiger sitting above the books, wanting to touch it. The library is a safe space for these children, and nostalgic for their parents.
But what about teenagers?
Teen services librarian Kate McMillen runs the Teen Advisory Board (TAB), which gets teens involved in the Library.
“TAB is a great way to get feedback on what library services and programs teens might enjoy while also creating volunteer opportunities for teens,” McMillen said. “Teens that are involved in TAB are great at telling other teens about all the services the library has to offer.”
The library is a special place for young kids, and TAB members want to keep it a special place for all ages.
“I grew up [loving] the library and going there all the time,” Kinsie Colbourn (‘25) said. “The opportunity to be a part of [the library] as a teen, and help it do all the programs I enjoyed as a kid is a really cool [opportunity].”
Colbourn recently joined the program and attended her first meeting this month.
Charlie Beaman (‘26) joined TAB three years ago and shares Colbourn’s interest in helping the public library.
“[I joined] because I really love the library,” Beaman said. “I wanted to help get more fun activities in the library.”
Members of TAB join for different reasons. Beaman and Colbourn joined to tap into their childhood, but some joined because they have a passion for helping the community.
“I like volunteering,” Janeen Simon (‘24) said. “I signed myself up for every single volunteer opportunity.”
Simon joined TAB about a year ago and has enjoyed it ever since. However, Beaman and Simon help the library in different ways.
“[I like] shelving [because] I’m not really much of a people person,” Beaman said.
Meanwhile, the opposite is true for Simon.
“I prefer [helping] with the kids because I get to have more [interpersonal] interactions,” Simon said.
Simon enjoys helping the kids do crafts but also loves to craft herself.
“I think packing seeds [is my favorite activity to take part in],” Simon said.
The packaged seeds help kids understand the importance of nature and provide instructions to help them build their own garden. The library believes very heavily in going green, even reusing old materials to get kids excited about building their very own garden.
“We made seed paper from recycled library applications, so the project was sustainable, and it also helped to promote the seed library here in Arroyo Grande,” McMillen said.
No matter what teens are doing in the library, it doesn’t go unseen.
“I know the children’s librarian really appreciates all the help the teens have been providing,” McMillen said.
These services might be put on hold in the coming months, due to the remodeling of the library, but McMillen prepares to keep TAB intact during this time.
“[Members of TAB] can still meet up on the first Saturday of the month at Oceano library,” McMillen said. “Oceano, Shell Beach, and Nipomo Libraries will still be open.”
Both members of TAB and McMillen urge teenagers to join TAB, even with the library’s temporary closing.
“[TAB provides teens with] work experience, community service credits, friendship, and fun,” McMillen said.
TAB provides people with an outlet to obtain new friendships, but there are many more benefits.