Youth Services: Teens
Welcome to the Teen Page
SOPL is open in our temporary locations! The main library on Scotland Road is closed for construction. You can learn more about the Building Construction Project here.
Programs & Events
Click Teen Programming to see activities for teens in grades 6 & up.
All programs and events will require registration (unless otherwise noted). Residency is not required to attend or participate in programs; however, under the library policy children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older.
Teen Programming
Library Policy: Unattended Youth
The mission of South Orange Public Library is to provide a welcoming space for everyone. Acceptable behavior in the library allows us to uphold the mission where patrons can learn and be creative in a safe environment. Click on the tab below to read the library policy in completion.
Library Policy on Unattended Children/YouthReading Recommendations for Teens
What’s your literary appetite?
Click the tab for reading recommendations curated by public and school librarians.
Recommendations for readers entering Middle School Grades 6-8
Recommendations for readers entering High School Grades 9-12
VolunTEENs a the South Orange Community Garden (2023)
Click image to read op-ed piece by Teen Library Advocate, published April 2024.
VolunTEENs at a Teen X Change Workshop (2023)
Teen Volunteer Opportunities
Summer Volunteering
Teens interested in volunteering over the summer months can participate in the annual VolunTEEN Program. This is held from the end of the South Orange-Maplewood district school year until mid-August, or 7-8 weeks. Started in 2009, this program has provided community service opportunities to students in middle school and high school, while equipping them with leadership and communication skills and building their confidence.
The application to volunteer during the summer months is now available. All of those interested should complete an application AND attend ONE orientation session to participate.
2026 VolunTEEN Application
Volunteering during the School Year
Students interested in continuing community service during the school year are encouraged to sign up to be a TEEN LIBRARY ADVOCATE (TLA), a teen advisory group that meets during the school year once a month.
TLA meets once a month, from October 2026 to May 2027. Volunteer opportunities are available for those TLA Advocates who have completed an application and attends at least (4) meetings this school year.
Questions?
Middle School Teen Picks
All the blues in the sky
Basket ball The story of the all-american game
Chris makes a friend
Confessions from the group chat
The Court of the Dead
A dangerous idea
Dreamslinger
How to free a jinn
It Found Us
The Moon Without Stars
Pearl
The School for Thieves
High School Teen Picks
You started it
Your blood, my bones
White House secrets
The forest demands its due
Winter white
Spacewalking with you
With the Fire on High
Everything Sad Is Untrue
Parachutes
Some Mistakes Were Made
Cemetery Boys
