Editor's DeskOne of the most difficult yet equally rewarding experiences I had in the public library was working with teens of all ages, particularly when I managed a branch located in a middle school. Though it was a middle school library during school hours, it became a public library in the evenings and on weekends.
Many of the students stayed after school to socialize and pick up books (and even occasionally do homework). The upside of these appearances? We loved that kids were in the library using our resources. The downside? They frequently forgot that it was no longer their school library. Hey! They were in the library without the school librarian or any teachers. They could do whatever they wanted!
There was definitely a tendency towards the outrageous on occasion. The memory of one young man vaulting a baby stroller -- thankfully without the baby on board -- still makes me twitch.
With these kinds of experiences (as well as those less hair-raising) in mind, we are dedicating this month’s issue of RA News to working with teen library patrons. You can also use some of the ideas presented to reach out to teens who haven’t yet discovered your resources.
Those who find that working with teens is well outside of their comfort zone, take heart. Audrey Barbakoff provides some tried-and-true techniques for adult services staff who work with teens. Jen McConnel follows up with some recommendations for reaching reluctant teen readers.
Next we have some teen fiction recommendations. Autumn Winters highlights several titles that your Maker teens – those who love to create using any and all mediums – might enjoy. And Molly Wetta suggests a variety of titles that combine love stories and dystopian settings.
Enjoy!
