Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Up on my soapbox again
This is an issue that I did not realize how strongly I felt about it, until I was asked recently to fill out a survey on library services for teens...
In many ways, teenagers are still an "afterthought" at the library. We don't know how to deal with their behavior, or meet their developmental needs.
When we do invest in teenagers, it is in programs like "Gaming" which we think will prove how technologically savvy and cool we are, rather than in the programs that teens have actually requested.
And what have they requested? Well, I did a survey of teenagers at an inner-city branch, and my 20 respondents (mostly male) asked for:
- Job orientation skills, including how to write a resume and fill out online applications.
- How to apply for college, including choosing a college, financial aid and course schedules.
- Parenting programs for teen parents - and yes, both teen mothers and fathers were interested.
- Artistic pursuits, like how to pursue a career in film making or photography, how to cut a record or how to be a graphic designer.
- How to design your own website or blog, which could be the start of a career in business or journalism
With this in mind, here are some teen programs that I would like to see offered at the library:
1.) Who, What, Where, When, How: The Essentials of Online Journalism
2.) Show Me the Money: Career, college and tech school information, including Internet job sites
3.) Dress for Success: Resume writing, interview skills and cover letters
4.) Men of Power: Martin Luther King and other real-life heroes - what can we learn from their lives?
Other things which I think are more practical for teens that I come into contact with every day at the library are:
- Internet safety ("Honey, please don't tell that stranger you met online where you live.")
- Research skills ("Wikipedia might not be your best source. Here are some online databases with articles.")
We could invite experts to come in from the community and provide programs like:
- Car restoration and repair
- Digital photography
- GED prep
If we truly are committed to teenagers at our libraries, we need to focus our efforts on equipping teens with the information that they need, and the skills they need to access their information.
We should stop trying to be cool. They know we aren't cool; we are librarians. If they want cool, they will go somewhere else. They are here at the library because they want information.
In many ways, teenagers are still an "afterthought" at the library. We don't know how to deal with their behavior, or meet their developmental needs.
When we do invest in teenagers, it is in programs like "Gaming" which we think will prove how technologically savvy and cool we are, rather than in the programs that teens have actually requested.
And what have they requested? Well, I did a survey of teenagers at an inner-city branch, and my 20 respondents (mostly male) asked for:
- Job orientation skills, including how to write a resume and fill out online applications.
- How to apply for college, including choosing a college, financial aid and course schedules.
- Parenting programs for teen parents - and yes, both teen mothers and fathers were interested.
- Artistic pursuits, like how to pursue a career in film making or photography, how to cut a record or how to be a graphic designer.
- How to design your own website or blog, which could be the start of a career in business or journalism
With this in mind, here are some teen programs that I would like to see offered at the library:
1.) Who, What, Where, When, How: The Essentials of Online Journalism
2.) Show Me the Money: Career, college and tech school information, including Internet job sites
3.) Dress for Success: Resume writing, interview skills and cover letters
4.) Men of Power: Martin Luther King and other real-life heroes - what can we learn from their lives?
Other things which I think are more practical for teens that I come into contact with every day at the library are:
- Internet safety ("Honey, please don't tell that stranger you met online where you live.")
- Research skills ("Wikipedia might not be your best source. Here are some online databases with articles.")
We could invite experts to come in from the community and provide programs like:
- Car restoration and repair
- Digital photography
- GED prep
If we truly are committed to teenagers at our libraries, we need to focus our efforts on equipping teens with the information that they need, and the skills they need to access their information.
We should stop trying to be cool. They know we aren't cool; we are librarians. If they want cool, they will go somewhere else. They are here at the library because they want information.
// posted by Lisa @ 9:07 AM 
