part #1

November 2011

Beyond attendance or circulation numbers Participation and collaboration with teens

from passive to active

QUESTION #1:
Who is out there?
you:
I work primarily with teens I do it all including work w teens I am a school librarian Im the Director of the library Im the lucky person designated to work with teens I am a Library Science Student I am in a room full of people interested in teen services!

Which best describes

Teens want to be involved at their library

This week
Foundation
Teen participation Why teen participation & libraries Ladder of Teen Participation

Teens in your community

Librarys reach

Programming
teen involvement in program development and implementation discovering and fostering communities of interest Teen Advisory Boards and groups volunteers formal/ casual/ off-site opportunities

What??

Teen Participation
is the involving of youth in

responsible, challenging action

that meets genuine needs, with opportunities for planning and/or decisionmaking affecting others in an activity whose impact or consequence is extended to others...
--The National Commission on Resources for Youth in the United States, 1975

Teen collaboration* may be something you have to for.

advocate

http://www.amarillomagonline.com/article/239

* or basic service

Teen Services
Becoming core in the traditional library landscape Entitlement Possibilities Expectations Necessities

Why?

Why is teen/library collaboration important? for libraries for teens

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4815206453_4565d99438.jpg

Why is teen/library collaboration important? for teens

Gain: developmental assets cultural & social competencies meaningful participation Play decision making roles Take ownership of the library Valued & respected by community Civic engagement

Why is teen/library collaboration important? for libraries

Useful, relevant, and appealing to teens Teens take ownership Less inward more outward focused Community of asset builders Legitimately involve teens Opportunities to build greater organizational capacity & credibility

Developmental Assets Framework

Language Established Partners Use

Youth Participation Model

Express Evaluate Articulate

http://www .f

lickr.com/p hotos/victo riapubliclib rary

Assess how your library is doing now and help set goals for the future.

Roger Hart created a model for thinking about youth participation as a continuum of activities.

Rung #3 adult initiated action; shared decisions with youth

initiated by adults but the decision making is shared with young people

Rung #2 youth initiated and directed actions

young people initiate and direct a project or program. Adults are involved only in a supportive role

Rung #1 youth initiated actions, shared decisions with adults

initiated by young people and decision making is shared between young people and adults.

Whats your impression?

Most teen related services/activities at your library are currently #1 youth initiated actions, shared decisions with adults #2 youth initiated and directed actions #3 adult initiated action; shared decisions with youth #4 youth are consulted and informed #5 youth are assigned but informed #6 tokenism #7 decoration

Possible indicators of teen/ library collaboration NOT!

http://tametheweb.com/2008/08/28/library-fail/

QUESTION #2:
Have you ever planned a library program for teens and no one showed up?? (I have.)

How do I get teens to show up for programs at the library?

from the web.

from the web.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyndipix/2850529664/in/photostream/

Know the teens you serve and not just the teens you see Know the community you serve

gaining teen participation

teens you see every day school groups outreach homeschool groups school counselors school librarians comic book store

This is all stuff you may suspect (know!) already

Questions to ask yourself... how does your library currently engage teens? how does your library approach attracting teens to the location? what do teen find when they visit your library?

participation to collaboration
TAGs Regulars Communities of Interest Volunteers

Questions? Questions?