Learn More About the Library from Teens!
Hear from Teen Civics Ambassadors about how they use the library.
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Explore Art and Climate Change with the Teen Civics Ambassadors
ReadHear from Elvis Prempeh and other Teen Civics Ambassadors about their visit to the COAL + ICE exhibition at the Asia Society, and what it taught them about the climate crisis.
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Libraries: A Home Away from Home
ReadLibraries provide safe places for teens to explore their interests, discover new passions, learn about opportunities, and connect with others. Go on a journey through art and poetry with the Teen Civics Ambassadors to learn more about why the teen spaces at their home library branches are so important.
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Reading Recommendations from the Teen Civics Ambassadors
Explore books for teens recommended by the Teen Civics Ambassadors!
Other Online Resources for Teens about Civics
- Protect the freedom to read by joining NYPL’s Teen Banned Book Club and finding other ways to take action (NYPL)
- Register or pre-register to vote (NYC Votes)
- Find out who represents you (CUNY Graduate Center)
- Read up on your rights as a New Yorker and specifically your health care rights (ACLU of New York)
- Read up on your rights as a student (ACLU)
- Help decide how NYC spends its money with participatory budgeting (NYC Civic Engagement Commission)
- Join a civics-focused youth program or fellowship (YVote)
- Listen to The Round Table, a civics-focused podcast by teens and for teens (Next Gen Politics)
- Join a student-led organization working for educational equity in NYC (Teens Take Charge)
- Explore issues like environmental racism, gentrification, and mental health and wellness in NYPL’s archives through the #SchomburgSyllabus (Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture)
- Visit the Activist New York exhibit (Museum of the City of New York)
- Explore NYC's Youth Civic Hub (Youth Civic Hub)
- Learn about your local community board (NYC Community Affairs Unit)
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Civics at The New York Public Library
Learn MoreThe New York Public Library plays a leading role in fostering civic engagement and community participation. By enabling community members of all backgrounds to engage with ideas, and with each other, NYPL’s shared community spaces, programs, and collections bring the principle of “We the People” to vibrant life.
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More for Teens at the Library
Learn MoreDiscover all that the Library has to offer, including free one-on-one homework help, events and programs, volunteer and paid opportunities, book recommendations, free resources, and more just for teens.
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Teen Voices
Learn MoreAt The New York Public Library, we believe that what you have to say matters. Our magazine Teen Voices is written by teens for teens. Read it online now—and look out for copies in your local branch!
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Teen Reading Ambassadors
Learn MoreTeen Reading Ambassadors act as leaders and role models to younger kids, ambassadors for the Library's mission to inspire a lifelong love of reading and learning, and writers and editors of their very own magazine.
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College & Career Pathways
Learn MoreWhether you're working on college applications or trying to figure out what career is best for you, The New York Public Library is here for you with resources, individual counseling, college and career prep workshops, and programs to help you take the next big step.
The Teen Civics Ambassadors program is made possible by the generous support of The Gottesman Fund.
These programs and initiatives are part of the Library’s Tisch Youth Education Programs, led by the Merryl and James Tisch Director of Branch Libraries and Education. Major support for educational programming is provided by Merryl H. and James S. Tisch.
Major support for children's and young adult programming is provided by the Andreas C. Dracopoulos Family Endowment for Young Audiences.
Lead support for Teens 360º is provided by the City of New York.
Additional support is provided by Arthur W. Koenig, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), the Best Buy Foundation and the Joly Family Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Evan R. Chesler, Google.org, and Michael ByungJu Kim and the MBK Educational Foundation.
College & Career Pathways has been made possible thanks to the generous support of The Helen Gurley Brown Foundation.