Teen Library Advisory Board (TLAB)
About TLAB
The City of Palo Alto Library's Teen Library Advisory Board (TLAB) empowers teens in grades 8–12 to partner with Library staff to strengthen teen services. TLAB members are library advocates who advise on teen collections, spaces, and service priorities. Members co-create and support teen programs through volunteer service and extend the Library's reach through outreach and peer engagement that connects teens to resources, learning opportunities, and community events.
Meetings and volunteering opportunities may take place citywide across Palo Alto Library locations and at approved City events.
- TLAB is open to teens in grades 8–12. Rising 8th graders are eligible to join during the summer.
- Applicants must live in Palo Alto, attend school in Palo Alto, or live or go to school in an adjoining city: Menlo Park, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Portola Valley, or East Palo Alto.
- The Library will consider reasonable accommodations and alternative participation methods (e.g., modified hours, flexible tasks) when feasible to reduce barriers to participation.
TLAB Throwbacks
Questions about TLAB?
FAQs
-
Any teen in grades 8–12 who lives in or attends school in Palo Alto or an adjoining city (Menlo Park, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Portola Valley, or East Palo Alto). Rising 8th graders are eligible during the summer.
-
To become a TLAB member, applicants must:
- Submit a TLAB Volunteer Application on Better Impact
- Complete an in-person, staff-led orientation
-
TLAB operates on three participation terms:
- Fall (September–December)
- Winter/Spring (January–May)
- Summer (June–August)
Dates may be adjusted annually to align with school calendars.
-
Each semester, members must complete at least one of the following:
- Participate on a program planning team and complete assigned tasks
- Submit two teen program ideas with basic details (audience, format, supplies needed)
- Prerequisite to presenting programs: approval of mentor, being a member in good standing for at least one semester
- Support one outreach community event
- Assist with one library program
- Create a staff-approved booklist (8-10 books recommended)
- Submit a brief reflection on learning and recommendations (ex. Library services, social media, purchase suggestions, streaming services)
-
Log all hours in Better Impact. Here are some instructions for recording your hours!
Note: Hours not recorded in Better Impact cannot be documented by the library.
