If your middle- or high-schooler has ever said "the library should do this," the Naperville Public Library is ready to listen.

Applications for the Teen Pitch Program open Saturday, August 1, and the library will hand winning teams the keys to build their idea into a real program next summer.

The program is open to groups of two to five students in grades 7 through 12. It's free, no prior event-planning experience is required, and applications run through Wednesday, September 30, on the library's Teen Pitch page.

What past winners built

Two teen-designed programs ran at the library in spring and summer 2026. One, called "Float Your Boat," let kids explore the science of buoyancy and test their own boat creations. The other, "AstroThink: Space and A.I. Adventure," was the second winning program from that cycle.

Those programs were conceived, pitched, and executed by Naperville teens who went through the same process opening Saturday.

How it works

Teams submit an application online describing their program idea. The library is looking for something different from what it already offers, and the program must be open to children, teens, or adults.

The top three to five teams will be contacted in mid-October and invited to present a live pitch to library staff. Winners get full planning support and all materials provided at no cost. The winning programs will run in summer 2027.

The library describes the experience as a way for teens to gain real-world skills in developing an idea, building a pitch, and troubleshooting problems that come up when turning a concept into something real, as reported by NCTV17.

What's not allowed

Programs can't be religious, political, or medical in nature. Teens also can't use their program to sell, market, or promote a product or service.

How to apply

Applications are available Saturday, August 1, through Wednesday, September 30, on the library's Teen Pitch page. Any Naperville-area student in grades 7 through 12 can apply with a group of two to five people. The library has three branches: Nichols Library at 200 W. Jefferson Ave. downtown, the 95th Street Library at 3015 Cedar Glade Dr., and the Naper Blvd. Library at 2035 S. Naper Blvd.

We'll follow up in mid-October when the library announces which teams advance to live pitches.