Tuesday, March 12, 2024
The Library Services Team at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction awarded grants to six Wisconsin Public Libraries for a Teen Inclusive Internship Program. The federally funded grants are made possible because of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
The Teen Inclusive Internship Program provides funding for the chosen libraries to offer paid summer 2024 internships to recruit and hire teens reflecting the diversity of their communities. The grant will equip participating libraries with tools and resources supporting the recruitment and retention of teen interns, while allowing the interns to cultivate connections within their communities.
The teen interns will bring their skills, interests, and experiences to the library by working on a Connected Learning Project. Participating libraries will learn how to further engage and support teens while creating career pathways to increase diversity in the field of librarianship.
This summer’s participating libraries represent six Wisconsin Library Systems serving rural, suburban, and urban communities ranging from populations of 4,400 to 45,000:
- Fond du Lac Public Library - Winnefox Library System
- McIntosh Memorial Library (Viroqua) - Winding Rivers Library System
- Oconomowoc Public Library - Bridges Library System
- Platteville Public Library - Southwest Library System
- Shawano County Library - Nicolet Federated Library System
- W.J. Niederkorn Library (Port Washington) - Monarch Library System