Reading Buddies Sharing a Book

What's a Big Buddy?

Big Buddies are students who will be in grades 7-12 in the fall who become a mentor to a younger child (their Little Buddy), meeting once a week to read together and play reading-related games. 

(Students in 6th grade are invited to apply to be Big-Buddies-in-Training.)

Big Buddies:

• Are reliable, creative, kind students who love books.
• Enjoy spending time with younger children.
• Take turns reading aloud with their Little Buddies.
• Play games and do activities with their Little Buddies.
• Show their Little Buddies reading is fun and rewarding!

What do Big Buddies get out of this experience?

• A great volunteer experience that you can put on your resume and college applications.
• The joy of helping a younger child read and succeed.
• The opportunity to work with other teen volunteers in carrying out games and other fun activities.
• A chance to develop your leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills.

But that's not all!  You'll also receive incentives such as free t-shirts, free meals at the trainings, parties with food and door prizes, a detailed Reading Buddies handbook in a binder, and rewards for taking on additional tasks.

How does Reading Buddies work?

You will be paired with one student in first, second, or third grade (your "Little Buddy").  The two of you will meet once a week at the same time for shared reading, literacy-related games, and group activities.

The first meeting consists of a mandatory three-hour training session where you will learn techniques for sharing and interacting with books; familiarize yourself with the books and materials in our collection; and get to know the other Big Buddies. 

During the second meeting, you will meet all the Little Buddies and do some icebreakers, group activities, and reading out loud.  At the end of this meeting, you will choose the Little Buddy you'd like to work with one-on-one.

The subsequent meetings will be spent reading with your Little Buddy one-on-one or in small groups for 45 minutes and then coming together as a group for 15 minutes to do fun literacy enrichment activities.   

At the final meeting, all Buddies will receive certificates of participation and free books!  Big Buddies also receive free Reading Buddies t-shirts after completing the training.  (Additional shirts for family members can be purchased for $10.)

The Reading Buddies program also offers leadership opportunities!  For each program, one or two experienced Big Buddies will serve as the Assistant Coordinator.  These volunteers will take on additional tasks, including mentoring and helping train new volunteers, planning activities, creating materials, and subbing for absent Big Buddies.  

Assistant Coordinators are also required to help plan and carry out one training session as well as attend a brainstorming meeting with the other ACs.  ACs must be available to arrive 30 minutes early and stay 15 minutes late to set up and clean up.

What about the new Writing Buddies program?

During summer vacation, we offer a creative writing program at the library for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders who enjoy writing.  Their Big Buddies will take turns leading the group in various writing activities and then work with a small group of students for discussion, brainstorming, pre-writing, and editing.

Teen mentors for Writing Buddies need to be high school students who have already successfully served as Big Buddies.  They attend a separate training/planning session.

To sign up to be a Writing Buddies Big Buddy, use the regular Big Buddy application, but attach one or two paragraphs explaining why you are interested in WB and what you can bring to the program.  Six to eight Big Buddies will be selected.

I’m interested in volunteering. What do I  have to do?

*Select a session:

• Mondays at Sanchez Elementary, 6/11 through 7/9, 12:15-2:45 (you will work with two different students, each for one hour) 
• Tuesdays at Lafayette Public Library, 6/5 through 7/31, 4:00-5:15 (no meeting on 7/3)
• Thursdays at Lafayette Public Library, 6/7 through 8/2, 6:00-7:15 (no meeting on 7/5)
• Writing Buddies: Thursdays at Lafayette Public Library, 6/7 through 8/2, 6:00-7:15 (no meeting on 7/5) 

*Fill out the application (available online and at the library) and submit it by May 11.  (Late applications will be accepted if space remains.) 

*Attend a mandatory 10-minute interview (new BBs only) between May 10 and May 15.

*Attend a mandatory training (new BBs only) on Tuesday, May 22, 4:00-7:00 or Thursday, May 31, 4:00-7:00 (dinner provided)

*Commit to attending every week and arriving on time, unless the Reading Buddies coordinator and your Little Buddy are notified in advance.  Please do not sign up if your summer travel, camp, or work plans would cause you to miss more than two meetings.

Questions? 
Please email the Reading Buddies Coordinator, Sarah, or call 303-665-5200 x3813.

Ready to apply? 
Applications are available online and at the children's desk.