Overview
The New York Public Library is looking for teens in the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade who are interested in at least one of the following:
- Working with children
- Exploring a career in education, literacy, librarianship, and/or youth services
- Exploring the world and work of libraries
The Teen Reading Ambassadors (TRA) position will be assigned to one of NYPL’s drop-in After School homework help and enrichment programs at local library branches in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island. Teen Reading Ambassadors will be provided with pre-work and ongoing training that will allow them to serve as high-quality academic tutors at their site, with a focus on developing literacy skills and a love of reading in children ages 6–12. Ambassadors will also have the opportunity to support the production of Portal, a literary magazine for younger children.
Position hours are scheduled between September 25, 2026, and June 3, 2027. Those hours include:
- Kick-off training on:
- Saturday, October 3
- Friday, October 9
- Additional Training on Saturday, November 14
- 32 weeks of work at your assigned library branch (starting the week of Oct. 5)
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Up to 7 hours per week, working either Mon & Wed or Tues & Thurs for 3-3.5 hours each day after school
- Special events and opportunities
Most hours will be scheduled starting around 3 PM on weekdays. A few weekend events will be scheduled. Teen Reading Ambassadors will not work during regularly scheduled NYC School breaks or holidays. A program calendar will be provided if the candidate is selected to go through the interview process.
In the application, you will select the locations where you would be willing to work. You must be able to get to the locations you select by around 3 PM on weekdays (there are some exceptions, and we can discuss your schedule during the interview). We recommend that you map your commute from school to the location(s) you choose to know how long it will take you to get there while considering your school’s dismissal time. If you are hired, you will be assigned to one location. Branch locations will be confirmed during the interview process.
Expected position locations include the following:
Bronx Branches
- Allerton
- Clason’s Point
- Edenwald
- Grand Concourse
- High Bridge
- Kingsbridge
- Melrose
- Morrisania
- Morris Park
- Mott Haven
- Parkchester
- Tremont
- Van Cortlandt
- Wakefield
- Westchester Square
Manhattan Branches:
- 115th Street
- Bloomingdale
- Chatham Square
- Columbus
- Hamilton Grange
- Harlem
- Inwood
- Macomb’s Bridge
- Riverside
- Roosevelt Island
- Seward Park
- Washington Heights
Staten Island Branches:
- Port Richmond
- Richmondtown
- St. George Library Center
- Todt-Hill Westerleigh
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Support the set-up and clean-up of the After School program
- Help students with their homework
- Serve as a literacy tutor to children ages 6–12
- Develop and lead literacy-focused enrichment activities
- Participate in trainings and meetings to develop best practices in tutoring, with a focus on literacy
- Support programs conducted by the Children’s Librarian and other key staff
- Be role models for elementary school children and model exemplary behavior
- Collaborate and work with the Tutor(s) and/or other Teen Reading Ambassadors to create an enriching and fun environment for children
- Optional: Support the production of the Teen Reading Ambassadors’ literary magazine, Portal
Required Education & Experience
- Current enrollment in 10th–12th grade in an NYC high school
- Proper employment certificate for minors under 18 as required by NYS law
- A resume is required for this position. You can find a guide to writing your resume here.
Required Skills
- Demonstrated interest in and/or experience working with children
- Interest in reading, writing, and/or libraries
- Strong communication skills and ability to interact with a diverse group of people
- Demonstrated reliability and punctuality
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Hardworking and willing to be flexible
- Able to communicate through email and other electronic formats in a timely manner
- Demonstrated integrity
- Basic computer skills, including email, internet, and word processing
Core Values
- Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues
- Be Resourceful in solving problems
- Be Curious in all aspects of your work
- Be Welcoming and Inclusive
Physical Duties
- Limited physical effort is required
- Light lifting required
- Lifting up to 20 lbs. required
- May require travel within NYC
Schedule
-
6-7 hours per week; scheduled for 3-3.5 hours each day on either Monday & Wednesday or Tuesday & Thursday with additional orientation, training, and special opportunity hours to be scheduled
The New York Public Library is a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars, and has seen record numbers of attendance and circulation in recent years. The New York Public Library serves more than 18 million patrons who come through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org.
