This newest addition to The Teen Librarian Bookshelf talks about getting real, as in real-world, career-oriented internships. After providing insightful background information on the many ways teen internships benefit both young adults and potential employers (and giving practitioners ammunition to bolster proposals to administrators and library boards) this helpful manual gets right to work. Detailed, step-by-step directions are given for every aspect of internships, from determining goals to creating applications, wooing applicants, interviewing, writing manuals, and providing orientation, training, evaluation, and appreciation (or, conversely, termination). There are individual profiles of over two dozen successful teen internship programs from various types of libraries, along with reproducible forms and feedback from both librarians and teens. The book goes far beyond tasks and activities, and readers will find useful tips for starting new initiatives or updating and expanding existing opportunities. This inspiring, comprehensive, and above all empathetic introduction to teen library internships will enhance professional collections and help libraries improve young adult programs in general.

Booklist

Tuccillo’s Teen Library Internship Handbook inverts conventional views of YA volunteer contributions for libraries into a wide range of highly valuable program offerings for YAs. It excavates new opportunities in which YAs become familiar with direct public service and builds social capital with young people in a rapidly changing world of work.

Anthony Bernier, Associate Professor, San Jose State University

Tucillo's in-depth look at internships for teens is an essential tool for library staff who want to start an internship program at their public library. She provides the reasonsbehind why this is so important to teen development and the examples of how to get a program up and running at your library. Highly recommended.

Renee McGrath, manager of youth services, Nassau Library System