Volunteer Spotlight

Born and raised in Omaha, attending youth programming at OPL is not unusual for 11-year-old Isaac Davidson, but becoming a volunteer and Teen Advisory Board (TAB) member has been an exciting behind-the-scenes adventure.

Davidson started volunteering in 2022 during the OPL Summer Reading Program. His school librarian jokingly suggested that he start shelving books because of the amount of time he spent in his school’s collection. This sparked Davidson’s interest in learning more about library systems and venturing past the checkout desk at OPL.

Davidson applied to volunteer at Millard Branch and is currently a member of the OPL and Millard Branch TAB groups. He also volunteered to be the costume character, Curious George, at the 2022 Storybook Land program.

“Isaac is a great volunteer that you can count on to do whatever you need. Whether it’s help setting up a room for a program, shelving books, or wearing a costume for storytime, I know I can count on Isaac to be there,” said Kris Cram, youth services specialist at Millard Branch.

During his time as a volunteer, Davidson has brainstormed ideas to make the teen space more accessible and fun. He has also made props for youth programs, such as the teen escape rooms. These projects offer a glimpse into his busy schedule. Involved in everything from debate, yearbook and violin at the Omaha Area Youth Orchestras, to tennis lessons, Davidson is always on the lookout for his next adventure. “Volunteering at OPL helps you get teamwork skills and time-management skills, like planning when and where you can volunteer. It’s really fun and the staff are an amazing team to work with,” said Davidson.

If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering at OPL, visit your neighborhood branch or omahalibrary.org/volunteer to apply.