Newport News Public Library is one of 20 libraries nationwide awarded the 2018 Summer Teen Intern Grant by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). The grant will allow Pearl Bailey Library staff to hire teen interns to assist in the implementation of their summer reading programs, while also helping teens gain real world work experience and develop professional skills. Each grant is worth $1,000. The grant is made possible by The Dollar General Literacy Foundation.

Pearl Bailey Library’s summer interns will help register students for summer reading programs, help coordinate and staff events during summer reading, assist staff with outreach events throughout the summer and help maintain the library’s children’s and young adult collections.

Additionally, teen interns will attend workshops for resume building, writing cover letters, and career exploration. This service is offered in partnership with the Wickham Avenue Alliance (WAA), made up of Pearl Bailey Library, YWCA Virginia Peninsula, Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center, Doris Miller Community Center, and the C. Waldo Scott Center for H.O.P.E.

The summer internship is open to students who live in the 23607 zip code and are ages 14 to 16 by May 11, 2018.  Applications can be picked up at any of the WAA sites beginning the last week of March and are due by Monday, May 7, 2018. 

To find out more information on programs and events happening at any of the four public libraries in Newport News, visit NNLibrary.