Resources for Teen Services Librarians

Over 100 enthusiastic library staff members from all over Massachusetts gathered at the Leominster Public Library on April 28 for the first statewide Teen Librarian Summit. A committee of teen librarians, representing all six Regional Library Systems, spent several months planning the daylong event.

The day started with a panel discussion on teen behavior, presented by Donna Johns of Natick High School and Alissa Lauzon & Bernie McCann of the Haverhill Public Library. They all shared strategies and philosophies they use to encourage positive behavior in teenagers, and the consequences they employ when any patron’s behavior violates the library’s code of conduct.

Breakout sessions were presented by teen librarians from all over the state. Topics included school/public library collaboration, teen summer reading programs, and teen programs on a shoestring. Presenters representing NMRLS libraries were Amy Lannon and Susan Beauregard (Reading), Kira McGann (Westford), Liz Manning (Beverly), and Tricia Horan (Chelmsford)

The final session of the day was a session on bullying and cyberbullying, presented by Ellen Miller of the Worcester County District Attorney’s office and Shawn Weld, School Adjustment Counselor at Sky View Middle School, Leominster. They gave an overview of what’s really happening in schools and communities, including harassment, “exclusion” of kids from social groups and friendships, “sexting”, and other virtual forms of bullying. Since many of these activities are not easily observed by parents and teachers, it can be difficult to intervene. The panelists urged librarians to be the “trusted adult” for teens who might be victims, and do what we can to make our libraries safe places for everyone.

The organizers also made sure that the event was open to librarians who couldn’t participate in person. Audience members were invited to use Twitter to share thoughts and ideas. To see the full list of “tweets” from the event, go to: http://search.twitter.com/ and search #teenlib09. Photos are being shared on Flickr as well, in the MA Teen Librarian Summit 2009 group at: http://www.flickr.com/groups/teenlib09/.

Scott Nicholson, associate professor at Syracuse University’s School
of Information Studies, will be teaching a video-based course on the
basics of gaming in libraries.  Every day during the month of June,
participants will be able to view a new video exploring some concept
of games or how libraries can integrate games into their programs.
The class will cover games appropriate for all age groups in many
types of library settings.

Throughout the month of June, Scott Nicholson will teach IST 600
Gaming in Libraries in three online spaces, two of which are freely
available to anyone:

• The Syracuse University YouTube channel, where video lectures
  and guest speakers will be posted, and where students enrolled in the
  class will be required to post weekly video responses.
• American Library Association (ALA) Connect , a social
  networking site for the ALA that will host the discussion of students,
  speakers, librarians, and other participants from the general public.
• The iSchool’s online learning management system, a private
  space for enrolled students to ask questions and submit their
  assignments.

[Read more →]

Starting with Fiscal Year 2009, The Institute of Museum and Library
Services recently asked the State Aid Unit to provide the *number of
Young Adult Programs* and *Young Adult Program Attendance* at libraries
across Massachusetts.

The ARIS form that will be sent out this summer will have Additional
Information Survey questions concerning Young Adult Services. Two of
those questions will ask for the number of YA programs during FY 2009 as
well as total attendance at those programs. Data taken from these survey
questions will provide useful information concerning the implementation
of library services geared toward Young Adults across Massachusetts.
[Read more →]

Help us “tweet” the event—share ideas, quotes, and snippets of conversation
—with others in the “twitterverse”. Here’s how:

Sign up for a free Twitter account
Using your laptop or cell phone, enter your updates, up to 140 characters at a time. 
(Cell phone users can text updates to 40404; standard texting rates apply)

Include the “hash tag” #teenlib09 at the end of each update.

During the event, if you are present or not, you can view “tweets” 
from other Twitter users by going to   http://search.twitter.com/   and searching #teenlib09

I went to a Summit on Northeast Youth yesterday. Sponsored by the Executive Office of Labor, the DOE, and Workforce Investment Boards, the goal was to introduce a regional initiative to enhance community-wide dropout prevention and career options for youth. Present were lots of school folks as well as other agency individuals who work with youth. And 3 of us in the library world!

One presentation particularly struck me. Laurie Jo Wallace from BEST/the Medical Foundation talked about her organization’s “youth development approach”. In brief, youth development looks at youth as resources not recipients, has as a goal not to fix but develop youth, tries to work proactively, and tries to ensure that youth are a part of the decision-making process. Developmental assets such as self-worth, responsibility, and self-awareness guide this process to positive outcomes.

I sat there and said to myself – this sounds familiar! And this is why! YALSA’s vision includes similar values which if implemented results in successful outcomes.

So we’re already doing a youth development approach! We just call it a little differently – a “teen-centered” approach to service!