Neuse Regional Libraries: Programming of the Year Award
By Melanie Morgan
Neuse Regional Libraries (NRL) is excited to announce that it has been awarded the 2025 North Carolina Public Library Directors Association (NCPLDA) Programming Award for the Teens Lead program. It is an honor to be recognized at the state level for providing innovative programming to the citizens of Lenoir, Jones, and Greene Counties. The Library will accept the award at the NCPLDA Award Ceremony on December 11, 2026.
Project Overview
Public libraries have well-documented the challenge of ensuring that staff reflect the community they serve; this disparity is especially pronounced in rural communities. As a three-county regional library system serving a rural area facing significant economic challenges, Neuse Regional Libraries (NRL) researched and developed the Teens Lead program, which provides paid learning opportunities with an emphasis on opening doors to positive learning experiences in the field of librarianship for diverse individuals and those from a wide array of socioeconomic backgrounds. The Teens Lead internship program focuses on developing life skills and immersing teens in real-life work experiences through community volunteering initiatives in partnership with our local public school systems.
The Teens Lead initiative is a workforce development program for teens entering 11th or 12th grade. As part of the internship, participants are required to complete a capstone literacy project that exemplifies the library and promotes lifelong learning in the community. Each internship program offers information sessions on librarianship career pathways through professional guest speakers in the academic, public, and school library fields; financial literacy education; leadership development training; entrepreneurship workshops; and work etiquette instruction using a toolkit platform. Students who complete the program receive a monetary stipend and earn a Career and Technical Education (CTE) credit in conjunction with participating public schools. The Teens Lead program has opened the door for young adults in our communities to gain positive learning experiences, thus building a more sustainable future for libraries.
Neuse Regional Libraries are grateful to be recognized by the NCPLDA for our part in creating a bright and sustainable future for Lenoir, Jones, and Greene Counties in the field of librarianship. However, we know we could not do it without the support of our communities and the strong leadership of our local government entities and library board members. Thanks to each of you for your support and advocacy of the Neuse Regional Libraries. To learn more about the Neuse Regional Libraries, visit the NRL website at neuselibrary.org or call 252-527-7066.
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