WebJunction

Do you think it is difficult to work with and provide services for young adults? If you think it requires special understanding and skills, how do you think such training should be provided?

Although it has been a few years since I was a teenager myself, I have had 4 teenagers (and still have one). I don't find then difficult to work with and know most of them quite well. I sometimes wish I could do more to interest them in reading and spending a little less time using the computers purely for socializing.
It can never hurt to have more training to help you reach this group and find out what they want from their library. I personally think gaming in the library is a great tool for bringing our teen population in the door, but I don't feel that I have enough knowledge of games and game systems to do a program justice.

I inherited a teen worker that had been hired by the previous Library Director. I don't know how she had been trained or what she had been told but she wasn't doing what I expected from a Library employee. After training her in things she was expected to know and her understanding what I expected of her, she is an excellant employee. I don't have to tell her more than once how to do something and she gets me out of difficult computer situations. I definintely think there should be a job description and orientation/training for teen workers just like Library Directors and Assistants.

I think that it is difficult to provide services to teens because they are easily thrown off by what is mainstream, or not ‘their’ thing. Teens like to be flexible and have their needs met very quickly, which can make it hard to provide them with services. I think that working with teens and understanding them does require a special training or nature, because teen’s can feel ‘burned’ by someone (of the library) very easily and they do take notice of how they are treated compared to others who use the library. Training is something that isn’t easy, however I think many public libraries can look at their local high school libraries and see how they are run and how teens are using them. (If teens are having positive experiences at their high school library). Young staff members can also provide excellent source resources.

You have a good thought there Dianna. Treating them like every other patron is key to having the young adults coming back.
I have a young man who comes in who used to work at the Hampton Library. He has helped me out a couple times with tech problems. When in doubt, ask a kid!

I think it is so great that you enjoy the YA that come in and are so willing to learn and try many new ideas as the times are changing.

I feel it is more difficult to provide services for young adults. They all are very busy with school activities. When you attend a small school, most of the kids are involved in music, sports, plays and whatever else is going on at the time. There are not enough students in our small school to support these programs unless they participate in several. I have students come in looking for books that they have seen someone at school reading. I always enjoy meeting them and ask them to fill me in on what they are reading and favorite authors, without them it is kind a shot in the dark when it come time to order books. We had three teenagers help with the summer reading program, they are kids that attended SRP when they were younger and now come back to help. I have been thinking and looking at our library trying to come up with a space that would be just for young adults, I don't think my board would be too keen on the idea of changing things around now, since we just moved into our remodeled library this last spring. The board is rather conservative and sometimes I get the feeling they would just as soon not have a space for young people to hang out. This is something that will take some thought in order to approach them about it. I really think the web sites we have been given in class will be a big help in keeping up on what they are reading, something else I'm going to do is read some of the graphic novels and other books they are reading.

I don't thing it is hard to work with them. The main thing we try to do is get the newest books they want to read. We have added some of the new series they asked for and that has brought in new teens to get cards. They have been very polite and couteous most of the time. The high school is 20 miles away so they don't have much time if they are involved with the school ativities. We do ask for suggestions on what they want to read and try to get them as soon as possible.

We allow patrons to play games on our computers, but they are not supposed to be in chat rooms. They have found a way around that though, by going into forums (which to me are about the same) and visit with friends.

Andrew, I agree with your comment on the high school library experience. We have a real problem at our high school library. I used to sub there and the kids did not feel welcome by the librarian, they were treated as a nuisance. The problem is she is also on the board at our library so I have gotten into many discussions with her. The kids will come down and ask us for books rather than get them there. She has her favoritesand it really shows. I try to greet each kid that comes in like it is a new day, even though we had had issues the day before. I think they just want a chance and I agree, be treated just like everyone else. linda Eldred- Springville