Our Teen Advisory Board

Christopher Combates, 16, New Jersey
Taylor Tobias, 17, Florida
Jeff Abrams, 19, New York
Samantha Black, 14, California
Kris Lynn, 13, Nevada
Connor Youngs, 19, Iowa
Mary Burt, 16, Indiana
Alicia Logan, 17, Redondo Beach, CA

Here’s how YOU can get involved:

  • Join our board!
  • Learn all you can about ways to be a leader in your community.
  • Plan summer reading programs, social programs and independent programs for teens.
  • Book discussions about what everyone has been reading and a quick look at what's new at each meeting.
  • Perform reader's theatre.
  • Help with the annual book fairs sponsored by your local Friends of the Library group.
  • Encourage teens planning teen activities.
  • Serve as a representative in an advisory capacity on your town’s committees, planning for teen and citywide events.
  • Act as an advocate for teens.
  • Foster a greater involvement of youth in municipal government and civic affairs.
  • Study problems, activities and concerns of youth, especially as they relate to municipal programs or projects in your town.

Teen Talk

"Hi! My name is Justina Jasper. I met Dr. Youngs at Borders Books & Music in Mesa, Arizona, some years back. I wrote two stories for her. The first was called "I'm Recording a CD," and the second was called "Walking a Day Without God." My first story was published at 16 years old in the book A Taste Berry Teen's Guide to Setting & Achieving Goals. My second story was published when I was 17 years old. I'm 24 years old now and I just wanted to say thank you for allowing me to write two stories for you and thank you so much for publishing them in your books. It changed my life. I just wanted you to know!
Thanks Again, Justina.