Features

Summer Library Volunteering

Vaishnaavi Bhaskar, Staff Writer • June 2, 2026

South Windsor Public Library, open to student volunteers over the summer and through out the year.

On Tuesday May 26th, Librarian Bella and other staff from the South Windsor Public Library visited South Windsor High School to inform students about summer Library volunteering opportunities.

Sitting in front of the cafeteria for all 4 lunch waves, they told curious students about the things they would be expected to do if they decided to sign up. These tasks include: wiping the windows and tables down, dusting shelves, organizing the catalog, skimming the building for trash, etc. Opportunities for volunteering are available all days of the week, aside from Sunday. Signing up entails filling out a google form with your name and what days you are available.

Volunteering over the summer is a great opportunity to rank in volunteer hours. Just volunteering for 2 hours twice a week would allow you to receive over 60 hours throughout the summer. Not to mention, it is a great opportunity to get to know the South Windsor Library community and connect with other students who are passionate about aiding the library staff.

Students who have volunteered in the past for at least one summer are eligible to sign up for the library’s ‘TAG’ Teams, which is essentially a group of students who aid the librarians in coordinating activities for other students or younger children. TAG Team member Levina Sylvester talks about her experience and the benefits of volunteering, telling The Prowl “Volunteering at the library over the summer and being part of the Teen Advisory Group showed me how much a library can bring people together. I got to meet new people, help out in my community, and be part of creating programs that make the library a more welcoming place for everyone”

Librarian Nick also talks about the benefits of summer volunteering “for one, it counts for volunteer hours at the school. So if it’s a requirement for graduation, you can get them done here. If you’re good enough at your job, you might get put into a selection for when we’re hiring pages for you to eventually work here if you so choose.” They tell The Prowl, “ It’s also just a good way to get your summer reading done here when there’s no projects to work on. You can just sit at the desk and read whatever book you have assigned or any book you want.”

The library’s student volunteering program is a very important aspect of the library ecosystem, not to mention, it serves as a cornerstone for student engagement in the literary department.

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About the Contributors

Vaishnaavi Bhaskar, Staff Writer

Vaishnaavi Bhaskar is a Staff Writer for The Bobcat Prowl. She enjoys covering local stories, and bringing perspective to smaller yet important stories. Outside writing for The Prowl, Vaishnaavi enjoys competitive writing, where she has won numerous local competitions. She is an active member of the Debate Team, Mock Trial Team, and Model UN. She also volunteers at the South Windsor Library through Interact. In her free time, Vaishnaavi loves painting, reading, and journaling. After high school, she hopes to pursue a career in Journalism.

Eliza Blanchfield, Editor in Chief

Eliza Blanchfield is the Editor in Chief of South Windsor High School’s award-winning newspaper, The Bobcat Prowl. During her senior year Eliza is determined to maintain a high quality news site while teaching her writers the art of journalism. Outside of journalism, Eliza is committed to serving others and creating connections within the community. She is SWHS’s Student Council president and consistently volunteers at various non-profit organizations year round. After high school, Eliza wishes to attend college and pursue a career involving neuropsychology.