Cannock Library Ambassador Program My Library, My Space, My Life – Making libraries relevant for children and young people Cannock Library Ambassador Program Kerry Hutchings – Stock, Service and Activities Officer Staffordshire Libraries

What is the Library Ambassador Program? Benefits of a Library Ambassador Program? How to create a Library Ambassador Program Outcomes

What is the Library Ambassador Program In January 2017, Cannock Chase High School and Cannock Library partnered to create an initiative that would give young people the opportunity to become involved in both their school and public library. Students; aged 11 to 18 years, are encouraged to apply for a role in their school library. Students are expected to fill in an application form and attend an interview. Students who are successful at interview are then asked to attend training sessions in order to ready them for their new roles. Once in role, students are expected to be ambassadors for both their school and public library. They are encouraged to work to a time table and support events and activities in both locations. The school offer a rewards system for participation.

Benefits of the Library Ambassador Program For the School: Students take part in a real life job application and interview process - this supports student career progression Contributes to the schools extra-curricular activities schedule – taking the burden off teachers to provide sessions. Helps young people develop confidence and self-control. Case studies show that students behaviour and focus has increased. Provides young people with a sense of community– helps them build relationships outside of their immediate friends group. Supports wellbeing - building a friends network for more vulnerable children. Increases the schools profile in the local community.

Benefits of the Library Ambassador Program: For the Public Library: The Ambassador Program allows us to train young people; via the school library, during term time. When they then volunteer in the public library they have a good working knowledge of how libraries work, saving staffing time and allowing them to get the most out of the experience. Builds a partnership with the school – enabling the public library to become move involved in school events and giving access to a wider audience of young people and parents. Builds a bond between library staff and young people. The young people associate the school library as their space – this bond now means they associate the public library as an extension of the school library. Creates an audience for events and projects. Evidence of young people’s participation in the program supports our applications for funding.

Outcomes of the Library Ambassador Program in Cannock Over the course of two years we have interviewed 46 students for library assistant and ambassador roles We have a pool of 39 students who volunteer at both the school and public library. 45 young people aged between 11 and 18 attend the public library on Tuesday evenings for arts workshops 20 young people have attained Bronze Arts Award, via Cannock Library and are now moving onto silver. Young people have been successful recipients of Reading Hack bids and appeared in Reading Agency promotional videos. Cannock Library has secured funding from our local Arts Council Bridge organisations; in the West and East Midlands, to deliver arts projects from 2017 through 2021 due to evidence of young peoples participation. And most importantly of all…….

We are supporting young people’s love of reading…

How to create a Library Ambassador Program Top Tips. Get in contact with your local school librarian, visit their library and become friends – you’ll be working together a lot. Have an offer for the school’s wider leadership team Build up trust with the school’s wider leadership team Build up a bond with the students Have something for the students to do in your library Make sure you enjoy it – teenagers know when you’re not having fun.