Rebecca Franklin, 16, of Dowagiac, volunteered over the summer with the Dowagiac District Library. Library officials said she has been a dedicated and cheerful volunteer.

How did you get involved with library?

I started [volunteering at the library] because I just wanted to be able to give back to my community a little bit, and I had never done that before, so I wanted to give that a shot. Plus, I always have wanted to work with little kids a bit, so I thought this was a good opportunity for me to start doing that.

What do you do when you volunteer?

When I get some free time, I help organize Messy Time Fridays, which is when we take kids outside of the library, rather than inside, for about an hour. We do things outside, like chalk art or rubber ducky races and things like that.

What do you like about volunteering?

I like being able to help others. I like to be able to help Melissa [Phillips, youth services coordinator at the library]. We became very close through this. I had never had a job before this, so I think this was a good starting point. That is why I chose this.

Why do you think volunteering with the youth at the library is important?

I think it is important because a lot of these kids aren’t in school yet, and it is good start for learning and for kids to get out and meet others. There is a lot of bonding I saw between children, and I thought that was really great.

How would you encourage others to volunteer?

I would encourage them by saying it is a lot of fun. I am never bored at the library; I’m always doing something, and there is always something to be done. If you enjoy interactions between people, it’s a great way to do that. The library is also a great starting point if you have never volunteered or had a job before.