Teens Promoting the Library

I received a phone call the other morning from a very excited teen who wanted to interview me for his high school newspaper. He was so excited that I've recently been named as director of his city's library. The guy was excited because he knew I had teen experience and because I had been quoted in other newspaper articles about my desire to increase teen programs at the library.

I think it's wonderful that a teen is so interested in his library that he wants to write about it for his school paper. Wow, I thought. This guy must be an avid library user.

In communicating with this teen, however, I learned that he's not an avid library user--at least not of his city's library. He said he visits a neighboring city's library instead. He believes there is a lot of room for improvement in teen services at the library within his own town. I had opportunity to ask his opinions about some of his comments. Why doesn't a teen choose to use a library? This teen's comments may surprise you.

Reason One: No place for coffee.
Contrary to what adults think, teens like coffee (especially the kind with flavors and whipped cream on top!). Without a coffee shop (or with the complementary coffee pot limited only to adults' use), this teen chooses to drive farther to use a library located next to a Starbucks, a library that has an "open door policy" about patrons carrying covered coffee cups into the library. Better think twice before you limit the coffee only for adults or before you post the sign on the front door that says "No Drinks Allowed."

Reason Two: Movies
Again, this reason may come as a surprise to some adults. Yes, it's true that teens like movies, but they aren't all interested in seeing the blockbuster features. A lot of teens are "into" alternative films such as independent works. I've often thought that libraries should be more than a DVD/video rental store (or a replication of such) and have advocated for lesser-available films as part of library collections. Now I have a teen verifying my convictions.

Reason Three: Lack of Friendliness
Those teens in your library may act like they don't want to be bothered or that they're too cool to talk to you, but the truth is that they WANT to be noticed. They WANT the library staff to greet them. Teens love when you learn their names and use those names. (I have already written professionally on this topic.) Don't ignore those teens when they come into your library, thinking that's the way they prefer to be treated. And by all means, don't just "yell" at the teens while they're in the library. I know a youth services librarian whose main contact with the teens is simply as a disciplinarian. "Don't do that." "Don't do this." "That's not allowed in the library." This librarian is always hollering rules and regulations at the teens. And this same librarian wonders why teens don't attend the teen events and programs at the library. Hmmmmm...It shouldn't take a master's degree to figure out that one!

You can learn a lot from a teen. I'm really glad this teen chose to interview me. I'm glad he's excited about the prospects of a new library director and considers such an appointment newsworthy. I'm glad this teen shared his comments with me. I'm looking forward to meeting him soon and to making sure he becomes a vocal part of the Teen Advisory Board!