About the Program
Work of Work for Teens ("WoW") is a partnership between Queens Public Library and Touro University to engage teens in a meaningful summer learning experience and provide them with a foundation for long-term success within the workplace.
The six-week program offers twenty-five (25) rising high school sophomores, juniors, and graduating seniors the opportunity to earn two (2) college credits and twelve (12) service hours by attending group learning sessions held twice a week for two-hours each day.
Applicants must be registered at a recognized New York City public, private, charter, or parochial high school. The program runs July 9th though August 15th. Sessions are held every Tuesday and Thursday from 11:00am - 1:00pm.
New for Summer 2024
Unique Hybrid Experience (Updated 4.5.24)
This year, the program offers a hybrid experience with students attending the course online on Tuesdays and workshops held in-person on Thursdays at the new Long Island City Library Teen Center, located at 37-44 21st Street, Long Island City, NY.
Media Literacy/Service Learning
As part of the Summer 2024 program, students participate in a service-learning project, tasked with using the information gathered from both the course and workshops to “turnkey” their knowledge to help their peers. At the end of the program, they will create a series of public service announcement posters offering tips to help other teens understand and navigate their first entry into the workplace.
Metrocards
Students are provided with weekly Metrocards to assist with transportation to and from the Thursday workshops.
About the College Course
Touro University conducts an introductory course on the Psychology of the Workplace. Students engage in group discussions and exercises that explore related topics such as how companies use psychological methods for selecting and training employees, morale in the workplace, and how workers improve relationships with management and co-workers. Students are expected to attend all sessions, participate in and complete class and at-home assignments to receive the college credits.
All college credits may be transferred to any higher education institution based on its evaluation criteria and standards.
Professional Development Workshops
Queens Public Library offers professional development workshops covering career preparation, college readiness, and financial literacy. These sessions allow students to ask questions, explore scenarios and build skills to better inform their decisions during their high school and college years...and beyond.
Previous topics include: resume and cover letter writing, understanding college financial aid, completing a college application, basic banking, and budgeting 101.
The program has featured workshops conducted by partners including, Bank of America, Cents Ability, and Citibank.
Award Winning Program
Work of Work for Teens is the recipient of the 2023 Urban Libraries Council Top Innovation Program in the category of "Education: Children and Adults".
ULC’s annual Innovations awards recognize transformative programs from ULC’s member library systems across the U.S and Canada that enhance the library field to further advocacy, anti-racism, digital equity, democracy, education, health and wellness, and workforce development. Expert judges selected World of Work for Teens from over 150 submissions in eight categories.
Previous participants have reported increased comprehension of basic financial literacy, college planning, and career readiness and gained more confidence about the future. A number of students have even found employment because of the skills they developed in the program.
About Touro University
Touro University (formerly Touro College) is America’s largest not-for-profit independent institution of higher and professional education under Jewish auspices. Students are pursuing graduate and professional degrees in such fields as medicine, law, dentistry, business, education, Jewish studies, and other health science areas and disciplines.
The school has approximately 19,000 students, including 6,400 undergraduates, studying at over 35 colleges, mostly in New York but also in California, Illinois, and Nevada, as well as overseas in Jerusalem, Berlin and Moscow.
Touro University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), an agency recognized by the United States Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
