Apply to Be a Teen Reading Ambassador
Applications are open now through 11:59 PM on Thursday, August 25.
Teen Reading Ambassadors:
- Work at NYPL branches tutoring younger children and helping them with reading.
- Attend training and other special opportunities.
- Write, edit, and design Portal, the Library’s magazine for kids.
- Get paid!
To apply, you must:
- Be enrolled in the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade at a New York City high school for the 2022–23 school year.
- Have the proper employment certificate for minors under 18 as required by NYS law.
- Be able to arrive at a library branch by 3 PM on weekdays (see list of available branches in job posting).
Apply Now!
Discover Portal, Our New Magazine for Kids!
Portal is a magazine for kids aged 6–12 written, designed, and edited by NYPL’s Teen Reading Ambassadors! Find stories, fun facts, comics, activities, and more in our first issue, produced by the cohort of spring 2021.
The word “portal” means a "doorway or an entrance to somewhere new." The cohort of spring 2021 chose this name for the magazine to reflect the role books and libraries play as portals to exciting new worlds. This first issue celebrates New York City and its diverse communities!

Book Recommendations and Downloadables for Kids by Teens!
Read book recommendations for kids and download posters to hang on your wall—all written and designed by the Teen Reading Ambassadors!
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More from NYPL for Teens
Discover free one-on-one homework help, college and career counseling, volunteer opportunities, book recommendations, free resources, and more that the Library has to offer teens.
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Free Programs for Kids & Teens
From book discussion groups and trivia to art workshops and gaming, there’s something for everyone at the Library. Discover free events at a branch near you.
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Resources for Kids & Teens
Discover what the Library offers in terms of e-books, academic support, and STEAM resources.
Thank You
Funding provided by NYC Department of Youth & Community Development.

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.
Major support for youth education is provided by Arthur W. Koenig; Stavros Niarchos Foundation; Mr. and Mrs. Timothy R. Barakett Endowment for Children’s and Young Adult Programs and Services; The Gottesman Fund; the Bok Family Foundation; Lisa and Jeff Blau; The Hearst Foundation, Inc.; Verizon Foundation; The Joseph H. Flom Foundation; Good Samaritan, Inc.; New York Life Foundation; and the E.H.A. Foundation.