Author Archives: Marge Inalia
Summer Reading 2023: Find your Voice
Are you looking for a fun and productive way to spend some time this summer? Consider our SUMMER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEENS!
The Library will be accepting VolunTeen applications for our summer volunteering session. Teens will be volunteering inside the main library as well as at programs held in our DDL Annex space.
To be a VolunTeen:
- You must have completed 6th grade
- You must be available to work a minimum of 2 hours per week
- You must fill out, print, have a parent or guardian sign, and return the application
- You must want to help out and have fun!
NOTE: Teen volunteers are no longer required to obtain a work permit from their school.
Important Dates for VolunTeens:
- Friday, May 26th-VolunTeen Application Deadline
- Friday, June 2nd-VounTeen Orientation Meeting @ 4pm
- Saturday, June 10th-Summer Reading Kick-Off
- Thursday, August 3rd-VolunTeen Appreciation Party @ 3pm
Attendance at the orientation meeting is mandatory for anyone interested in becoming a VolunTeen. In addition to learning about the Summer Reading Program, you will be signing up for your shifts for the summer. Most of the shifts will be two hours. These hours may be served on the teen desk or helping with a library program. Please come prepared with a list of dates that you will NOT be available, including scheduled vacations, camps, etc.
If you have any questions or are unable to attend the orientation meeting, please contact Jacqueline at JThompson@dewittlibrary.org or 517-669-3156.
Summer 2022 VolunTeens: Read Beyond the Beaten Path
Are you looking for a fun and productive way to spend some time this summer? Consider our SUMMER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEENS!
The Library will be accepting VolunTeen applications for our summer volunteering session. Teens will be volunteering inside the main library as well as at programs held in our DDL Annex space.
To be a VolunTeen:
- You must have completed 6th grade
- You must be available to work a minimum of 2 hours per week
- You must fill out, print, have a parent or guardian sign it, and return the application (linked here and below)
- You must want to help out and have fun!
NOTE: Teen volunteers are no longer required to obtain a work permit from their school.
Important Dates for VolunTeens:
- Friday, May 27th-VolunTeen Application Deadline
- Friday, June 3rd-VounTeen Orientation Meeting @ 4pm
- Saturday, June 11th-Summer Reading Kick-Off @ 11am-2pm
- Thursday, August 4th-VolunTeen Appreciation Party @ 3pm
Attendance at the orientation meeting is mandatory for anyone interested in becoming a VolunTeen. In addition to learning about the Summer Reading Program, you will be signing up for your shifts for the summer. Most of the shifts will be two hours. These hours may be served on the teen desk or helping with a library program. Please come prepared with a list of dates that you will NOT be available, including scheduled vacations, camps, etc.
If you have any questions or are unable to attend the orientation meeting, please contact Jacqueline at JThompson@dewittlibrary.org or 517-669-3156.
Summer Reading 2021: Reading Colors Your World
Summer Reading is on the horizon and we are so excited about this year’s theme! Our theme this year is Reading Colors Your World and we have been working hard to make sure that it is going to be a great summer. If you are interested in volunteering for the library this year I would encourage you to do so, but we will not be holding in person volunteer hours. All volunteer activities will be done at home or virtually this summer in order to keep you safe.
Here’s how it will work:
1) Fill out and have a parent or guardian sign your volunteen application. It is important that you and your parent/guardian are aware that since this year’s summer reading program will be virtual, pictures and videos that are submitted may be posted on the library’s social media pages. If you are not comfortable with that you don’t need to complete those activities. If you return the form with a signature and send me pictures/video, I will be reviewing them and posting them.
2) Sign up for summer reading! You can sign up and participate virtually with the library’s Beanstack challenge (I’ll send out the link once it’s live). Paper logs will also be available to print off if you would like to use that.
3) Complete Virtual VolunTEEN activities! This year the VolunTEEN activities are part of your summer reading challenge and you can earn a ticket for completing the badge. If you would like to receive credit for your activity that you complete, send me an email and I will keep track for you. You may repeat activities, again just email me to let me know. You will receive the time credited for the activity.
Activities include:
- Record your own booktalk (2 hrs)
- Pick up Litter (use gloves and sanitizer (based on the time spent completing the activity)
- Write positive messages outside; chalk your driveway, make a sign to hang in your window (2 hrs.)
- Reshare content from the Library’s social media pages (1 hr.)
- Hoopla Review: check out something from Hoopla (book/audiobook/music/movie/tv show) and write a review of it. (2 hrs)
- Meme Yourself: Take a funny meme and make it library/book/summer reading related (2 hrs.)
- Read to Someone Else (1 hr)
- Create a YA Booklist based on the theme Reading Colors Your World (2 hrs)
2020 Summer Reading and VolunTEENS!
- Record your own booktalk (2 hrs)
- Write questions for our teen book club (2hrs)
- Pick up Litter (use gloves and sanitizer (based on the time spent completing the activity)
- Fill out the Teen Survey (30 mins)
- Write positive messages outside; chalk your driveway, make a sign to hang in your window (2 hrs.)
- Social Distance Selfie: take a picture of yourself observing social distance guidelines this summer (2 hrs.)
- Hoopla Review: check out something from Hoopla (book/audiobook/music/movie/tv show) and write a review of it. (2 hrs)
- Meme Yourself: Take a funny meme and make it library/book/summer reading related (2 hrs.)
- Read to Someone Else (1 hr)
- Create a Fantasy YA Booklist (2 hrs)
Teen Lit Kits!
Introducing: Monthly Lit Kits!
Perfect for teens (6th -12th grade)! Each month we will be offering a different themed bag of goodies for teens to check out and take home to enjoy. These bags include one or two books (depending on availability), a pin, and a craft all set around the theme for the month. You keep the items and return the book when you are finished reading. Sign up each month for a different themed read! Sign up begins on the 1st of the month and closes on the 7th or once all the spots are filled. Each bag will be available for pickup on the 14th of the month.
January’s Theme: Winter Magic!
Escape into a world of wintery magic and adventure with a great book this month, hand selected just for you! Each kit will include a fantasy read and snowy craft.
Calling all Summer VolunTeens 2019!
Our Summer Reading Session is quickly approaching! Are you looking for a fun and productive way to spend some time this summer? Consider our SUMMER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES!
The Library will be accepting VolunTeen applications for our summer volunteering session.
To be a Volunteen:
- You must have completed 6th grade
- You must be available to work a minimum of 2 hours per week
- You must fill out, print and return the application (link below)
- You must want to help and have fun!
NOTE: Teen volunteers are no longer required to obtain a work permit from their school.
As a VolunTeen, you may:
- Register families for summer reading
- Check reading logs & pass out prizes
- Help at Library programs and special events
- Work on special library projects
Important Dates for VolunTeens:
Friday, May 31 VolunTeen Application Deadline
Thursday, June 6 VolunTeen Orientation Meeting @ 4 pm
Saturday, June 8 Summer Reading Kick-Off @ 12 pm – 2 pm
Thursday, August 1 VolunTeen Appreciation Party @ 3 pm
Attendance at the Orientation Meeting is mandatory for anyone interested in becoming a VolunTeen. In addition to learning about the Summer Reading Program, you will be signing up for your shifts for the summer. Most of the shifts will be two hours. Please come prepared with a list of dates that you will NOT be available, including scheduled vacations, camps, etc.
If you have any questions or are unable to attend the Orientation, please contact Jacqueline Thompson at jthompson@dewittlibrary.org or 517-669-3156
Summer VolunTeen Application
Summer Volunteering!
Our Summer Reading Session is quickly approaching! Are you looking for a fun and productive way to spend some time this summer? Consider our SUMMER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES!
The Library will be accepting VolunTeen applications for our summer volunteering session.
To be a Volunteen:
- You must have completed 6th grade
- You must be available to work a minimum of 2 hours per week
- You must fill out, print and return the application (link below)
- You must want to help and have fun!
NOTE: Teen volunteers are no longer required to obtain a work permit from their school.
As a VolunTeen, you may:
- Register families for summer reading
- Check reading logs & pass out prizes
- Help at Library programs and special events
- Work on special library projects
Important Dates for VolunTeens:
Friday, June 1 VolunTeen Application Deadline
Thursday, June 7 VolunTeen Orientation Meeting @ 4 pm
Saturday, June 9 Summer Reading Kick-Off @ 11 am – 2 pm
Thursday, August 2 VolunTeen Appreciation Party @ 3 pm
Attendance at the Orientation Meeting is mandatory for anyone interested in becoming a VolunTeen. In addition to learning about the Summer Reading Program, you will be signing up for your shifts for the summer. Most of the shifts will be two hours. Please come prepared with a list of dates that you will NOT be available, including scheduled vacations, camps, etc.
If you have any questions or are unable to attend the Orientation, please contact Jacqueline Thompson at jthompson@dewittlibrary.org or 517-669-3156
Teen Summer Volunteer Application
Teen Time: Anger Management Session
We’re partnering up with Abby Cudney from MSU extension to give a session on Teens and Anger Management. Abby says that “Getting angry is an everyday occurrence. Everyone gets angry at some time during each day. What you do with that feeling is what makes the difference. During Teen Time, using the RELAX: Alternatives to Anger curriculum, we will learn the definition of anger, we will learn about stress and how it affects you, and ways to calm down through interactive discussion and fun activities.” Abby always pairs important information with interesting and exciting activities to help teens learn more about their emotions. One of the big activities we will doing is making our own calming jars! Come join us and learn about different ways to embrace and express your emotions.
Teen Time: Yoga with the YMCA
The snow is still falling, but it seems like spring is right around the corner. Nice weather always puts me in the mindset to get healthy! Time to stretch out those tired winter muscles and get moving! What better way to wake up your body then a little yoga? We are offering a teen Yoga class with an instructor from the DeWitt YMCA! We are very excited to welcome the Y to the library for this special program. If you plan on attending swing by the library beforehand to fill out a fitness waiver required for all fitness activities held at the library. The class will run from 3:30-4:30 followed by pizza for all participants! Join us for this fun, active session! 
Teen Time: Crafting for Charity!
Show your love for less fortunate animals! We are spending the afternoon tomorrow, Thursday March 1st making dog toys out of old denim jeans and donating the completed toys to Capital Area Human Society. Want to give back to the community, get rid of some old clothes, and have a blast making something useful and fun? This is the perfect opportunity! We have some old denim scraps but feel free to bring more. The more materials we have the more toys we can create for the dogs. You can also bring one home for your favorite pooch!
DDL Teens 