Hillsborough Library Teen Volunteer Accepted To Princeton

As our Summer Reading Club draws near, this is a great time to remember how the library plays such an important role in developing literacy, fostering social skills, and creating community connections. 

For our young patrons, this is a place where they grow up. The children that attend our library storytimes and programs grow up with an appreciation for this special place. Many of them go on to become our teen volunteers and staff members. 

One such patron, Bertha Wang, had such a memorable experience that she chose to write about the Hillsborough Public Library in her college application essay. We are thrilled to announce that she has been accepted to Princeton University! Read her story below:

"When I was a child, the Hillsborough Public Library was my second home. In the summertime almost everyday, I would shyly (and a little awkwardly) say hello to the nice librarians in the children's department, read, then play outside in the famous Hillsborough playground with my brothers. I went to as many programs as I could.

Some of my fondest memories are the book discussions the library used to have, between the former teen librarian and the few regulars. No matter how few of us there were, she would continue to organize these discussions and we would have a lot of fun. Volunteering with the library, including through Teen Advisory Board, as I grew older taught me a new-found gratitude for the thought and work that goes into the programs, and the circulation and maintenance of the books and media.

I want to thank all of the individuals who have worked or volunteered with the library to make every part of it run smoothly. I wrote about the library in my college application because it played an important role in my childhood development and defined me as a person who loves learning.

I spent many of my summer days at the library, whether they were through programs, volunteering, or just enjoying a good book. Without the library, I would not have discovered the extent of creativity and imagination, and the appreciation for hard work that I have today."

Thank you so much for sharing your story, Bertha! Good luck at Princeton University!