The Jericho Town Library Teen Advisory Board provides opportunities for teens in grades 7-12 to learn and practice leadership, citizenship, and life skills that empower them to live to their potential. TAB is centered around five elements:

Leadership Development. TABbers are presented with endless opportunities to learn what it means to be a leader through informal role modeling as well as formal discussions about leadership. TABbers are then able to apply and practice what they learn as they continue to grow into their own unique leadership style.

Team Building. TABbers learn the science of team-building and the value of teamwork.

Life Skills. TAB prepares teens for success in all they pursue, in and beyond school.

Community Service. Learning to live a life of service is incredibly rewarding. Just like random acts of kindness, when you volunteer, your energy and efforts affect the whole community in a positive way.

Learning about the nonprofit sector. Since the library is itself  a 501(c)3 teens can learn directly about the opportunities and challenges inherent of the nonprofit sector. TABbers learn to organize promote, and implement events, as well as write grants, fundraise, and create awareness about social issues. 

While teens enjoy being involved in TAB because of the immeasurable personal benefits...it is true that there are other benefits. (These should not, however,  be a TAB member’s primary motivation.)

· Meetings and events can count towards high school students’ mandatory community service hours.

· Involvement in programs like TAB is looked on very favorably by college admissions officers.

· Since the library is a “hub” for community, TAB members will invariably meet and form relationships with numerous diverse community members. Networking and growing one’s connections within the community is never bad—especially when it comes time to apply for a job or ask for a recommendation letter.

Meetings

TAB meets once a month. Most meetings consist of two parts. The first being the actual meeting where we can brainstorm, discuss, and plan events, fundraisers, grant proposals, and much more. The second part focuses on a special topic, such as leadership or team-building, and may involve a  guest presenter. (Future special topics could include any of the following plus more: Public Speaking, Goal Setting, Making Healthy Choices, Leading a Meeting, Body Language & Paralanguage, Soft Skills & Emotional Intelligence, Mentoring, Self-esteem & Self-concept, Psychology 101, First Impressions, Dressing to Impress & the Power of Color, Dining Etiquette, Small Talk, Financial Literacy, Stereotyping, Problem Solving, Stress, Scholarships & College, Resume Writing, Tips & Tricks for Interviews, "The 7 Habits of Highly effective People," and Myers-Briggs Personality Type Inventory)

Community Service

TAB members are constantly presented with opportunities to give back to their community. Whether it is serving soup at a soup sale fundraiser, performing a puppet show for a preschool storytime, or simply helping shelve books, TAB members are expected to help at the library  on an individual basis, as well as in a group setting. This in itself is an incredible learning opportunity. When teens serve their community, it is not only a personally rewarding experience, it is also a time to make connections within the community and to discover one’s natural talents and true strengths.