Every summer TAB plays a key role in the library summer programs. The goal is to have at least two TAB members photograph and help facilitate at each of the programs. This summer TAB had over 40 programs offered at the library! TAB held programs on everything from rocket-building to water-color to rock-painting to basket-weaving to Ukrainian egg painting. TAB members are there to help children, assist the presenter, to handle any problems that might arise, and to photograph. TAB teens also help at the end-of-summer party by setting-up, photographing, scooping ice cream, face-painting, cleaning up, etc.

In 2009, the summer program registration differed from previous years. Tracy Campbell Pearson organized a Poetry Trail on the green and read her new book “My Brother Bert” (which TAB helped run smoothly). After Tracy’s program, registration for the summer programs began...and parents stormed the registration tables! The library did not expect such an incredible demand for the summer programs. But, fortunately, the TAB teens were there and they were able to handle the chaotic registration process with patience and a friendly attitude.

In an effort to promote the 2008 Library Summer Program, “Catch the reading Bug @ your Library,” the TAB teens teamed up with the preschool storytime children to dress-up like bugs and carry a banner in the Memorial Day Parade. 

TAB applied for and received a $1500 grant from the Winnie Belle Learned Fund. With the money, TAB invited Anna Dewdney (author of Llama Llama Red Pajama) to visit the library. In the morning, TAB had a preschool aged book reading, held a raffle, provided llama-shaped cookies, and even had LIVE llamas on the green for the children! In the afternoon, TAB held a middle school and high school aged writing/illustrating workshop with Anna which involved drawing a lot of interesting pictures and writing a lot of silly poems! Overall TAB had nearly one hundred people attend her author visit—It was a huge success!

Although TAB is organized through the library, TAB is not as much about “books” as it is about “people” and “building community.” TAB allows teens a chance to connect with their community, meet new friends of all ages, take on leadership roles, learn organizational skills, and, furthermore, learn about the challenges and opportunities inherent with the non-profit sector. TAB teens have taken a hands-on approach to learning all of what is involved with fundraising, writing grant proposals, and planning and running events on a tight financial budget. And the best part of it all is that TABbers don’t even realize that they are learning all of these crucial skills—they are too busy having fun! TAB organized a Fudge for Funds fundraiser through Snowflake Chocolates in March and went door to door selling fudge with the intent of using the profits to enhance the library and the services it offers the community.

In February, the library hosted a birthday celebration for William “Snowflake” Bentley. Devon, a TAB alumni, was the guest-of-honor dressed as Bentley and he talked to the children about his life and his determination to find a way to photograph snowflakes (a discovery that made him famous). Elaine Salsbury from the Historical Society gave a presentation on the science of snowflakes. After, TAB members helped the children as they visited different craft stations that all involved snow and snowflakes.

The Jericho Town Library has a manual card catalog system and is currently being automated. All materials will now be cataloged with the KOHA library system for easy checks on what is available, what is out, and what patrons have checked out. This is important because in 2009, checkout of materials was up 10% and patron visits to the library was up 20% over 2008 levels. TAB organized a 24-hour “Automation Domination” project where we bar-coded the entire library collection (of over 7,000 volumes and 400 DVDs!) in an effort to help the library become computerized. TAB stayed up all night, ate way too many double-stuffed Oreos, and filled the library with loud music! TAB members have continued to volunteer individual basis as well to help the automation process.

It has become a TAB tradition to perform a puppet show at storytime in November. TAB even had Grace Greene visit our group to give us a lesson on proper puppeteer-ing. In 2008, TAB performed “The Frog Prince.” The kids LOVED it! They met the puppets after the show, and we helped the children make glittery crowns. It was a great opportunity for the teens to connect with children in their community and to serve as incredible role models.

As it turns out, JTL TAB is one of the largest TAB groups in the state. For this reason, the Vermont Department of Libraries Head Children’s Librarian, Grace Greene, asked TAB to present at a workshop about starting and maintaining Teen Advisory Boards for librarians from all over Vermont! TAB created an instructional pamphlet titled “The Art of TABbing: JTL Style” and filmed “TAB: The Movie” which can be found on youtube.com. “TAB: The Movie” could not have been created without the talent and dedication of Scott Chrisman (who packed up his camera and moved to Los Angeles where he now resides and continues to film).