The TNRD Board voted at their March 25 regular Board of Directors meeting to approve an application to the Indigenous Skills Employment and Training Program, which would facilitate the hiring of two Youth in Residence at the Thompson Nicola Regional Library (TNRL).
“It’s designed to provide some youth with meaningful work experience and giving them the opportunity to see what it’s like working in the library, and what the different jobs and roles are,” said Margo Schiller, Manager of Kamloops Libraries and Engagement.
“There’ll be some opportunities for mentorship and job shadowing as well as working on some specific tasks.”
The two positions at the Kamloops libraries will be filled by high school students, and will run through July and August of this year.
“We’re very excited, and it’s not so much about extra help as having a really great opportunity to do some more engagement with youth and indigenous youth,” said Schiller.
“Bringing them into our library is a good opportunity for them to have a great summer job and also be learning about public libraries, and maybe it might plant a seed that this might be something to think about for a future career as well.”
The two Youth in Residence will have the opportunity to engage with other young people who use the Kamloops library by being involved in the Summer Reading Club and other teen and young adult initiatives.
“We’re crossing our fingers that we’ll get funding for this,” concluded Schiller.
