Distance Learning Leadership for Teens
San Francisco Public Library, Calif.
Innovation Synopsis
San Francisco Public Library’s annual summer program for teens, Youth Engaged in Library Leadership (YELL) pivoted online during the pandemic but still brought deep library connections for 29 teens who created STEM learning videos for youth, assisted seniors navigating technology, built job readiness skills and strengthened teen social media reach.
Challenge/Opportunity
For four years, the library’s annual summer internship program engaged teens at our neighborhood branches. But the recruitment period, in Spring 2020, coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the city’s shelter-in-place closures. Teens, now stuck at home with distance learning, were still eager to be involved with their library. The program was rebuilt in the virtual world with online engagement for teens, creation of meaningful programs for young leaners and support for vulnerable seniors seeking assistance.
Key Elements of Innovation
- Online recruitment, interviews and onboarding process for teen interns. SFPL accepted all teens who wanted to participate this year.
- Zoom-based engagement and connections with the YELL cohort to create a mighty team of volunteers.
- Responsibilities included developing and filming STEM challenges for youth audiences for YouTube.
- Developed instructional skills to assist isolated seniors with technology help at senior centers.
- Expanded opportunities to maintain teen engagement beyond the summer.
Achieved Outcomes
SFPL staff developed and strengthened their own online video communication skills while paving the way for a cohort of 29 “digital natives” to create meaningful work experience through the summer. The resulting work product was 29 STEM challenge tutorials that are being shared via the SFPL YouTube channel, aimed at elementary school distance learning students. Additionally, strong connections with the Sequoia senior center are enabling students to continue offering tech help through the fall.
