Scarlett Thiele grew up with her father taking her to the W. Clarke Swanson Branch after school. She would sit at a computer and play games or listen to music while her father sat nearby reading. It became a shared hobby for the two and has helped grow Thiele’s appreciation for libraries and reading. She is currently a high school sophomore and started volunteering with Omaha Public Library (OPL) in summer of 2025.
Most shifts, you can find her shelving books and tidying up the library. She finds the act of organizing relaxing, and it has taught her to appreciate the Dewey Decimal system more. One of her favorite memories volunteering was when a local teacher approached her and asked for help locating several books about different animals. As Thiele looked through books about meerkats, jaguars, and other animals, she even came across a book she used for a project when she was in kindergarten. She said it felt special to help the teacher find books for students to enjoy.
Outside of volunteering, Thiele loves to read, play video games, sew and express herself through her artwork. She not only draws, but also paints, animates and has even made a few sculptures. She hopes to turn art into a career one day and would like to study character design and animation in college.
She also discussed how she has been able to habit-stack her volunteering with a workout and how positive that has been. “I love volunteering. It gives me something to do on the weekends and makes sure I get up. After the library, I usually go to the gym. It’s really the motivation. I get to work out my mind and my body.”
When asked if she would recommend volunteering with OPL, Thiele says, “One hundred percent. The people are amazing. I’m really an advocate for taking care of third spaces because they are so rare these days. Get a library card, go to the library, do anything you can to support your local library because it is one of the best spaces.”
If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering at OPL, visit your neighborhood branch or omahalibrary.org/volunteer to apply.
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