Teens and libraries
By Pamela Comello, Youth Services
Librarian |
Sedona Public Library
Sedona, Ariz. -
October 19, 2007 -
Teens and libraries seemed like an appropriate
topic being that the week of October 14-20 is
National Teen Read Week at libraries across the
country. Teens that check out items from Sedona
Public Library this week have the opportunity to
put their name in a drawing to win a free book!
However, I imagine Teens and Libraries may not
be a topic to draw interest from the majority of
our community. But, being the Librarian in
charge of Youth Services, several articles I
read recently definitely caught my interest, and
some interesting research and findings that are
relative to the present and future state of
libraries I felt warranted sharing.
“Tweens” is a term that refers to early teens
between the ages of eight and fourteen. In 1999,
this age group encompassed approximately
twenty-seven million kids and represented the
largest number of this age group in twenty years
as quoted from Barbara Kantrowitz in the Jan.
18, 1999 article “The Truth about Tweens”
written in Newsweek. The article points out that
these early teens are generally extremely well
–educated, optimistic in their approaches to
life, have expectations of going on to college,
hold their parents as the most important
influencers in terms of morals and life goals,
and represent approximately $14 billion per year
in spending power. A 1996 study conducted by the
Benton and Kellogg foundations examined
attitudes of potential patrons of public
libraries. Some of their findings were warning
signs to public libraries of the dangers of
continuing with their current strategies and
demonstrated how it is vital that libraries pay
attention to the opinions of younger users if
libraries want these individuals to become
long-term users of library services.
In 1999, Elaine Meyers wrote “The Coolness
Factor: Ten Libraries Listen to Youth” published
in American Libraries. Described in this article
were reports from surveys conducted of young
people in an attempt to reveal their views
regarding public libraries. Some of the research
cited in this study and other studies suggested
that many public libraries are perceived
negatively by teens. Many of these perceptions
were based on stereotypes held by teens or by
stereotypes of what librarians think tweens
think. Some of these stereotypes included
perceptions that libraries are “unwelcoming and
uncool” locations that store books, have long
tables or dreary physical spaces and the
majority of library staff is not helpful or
friendly. However, the overall attitudes that
early teens hold in terms of their view of the
public library system shows libraries meet the
needs of the vast majority of teens that
responded to the study. Survey project leaders
suggested “teens want a multiple-use library
space offering both a place for quiet study and
space to socialize. The majority of the teens
surveyed said they came to the library to study,
to do assignments, and to use the Internet.”
Surveys also showed teens wanted more welcoming
space, more access to higher-end technology,
more help with their homework, and better books
and magazines. Teens seem to respond positively
to libaries that have addressed these negative
stereotypes and updated libraries that have
created inviting spaces and specialized teen
areas and activities with places for teens to
have social interaction with their peers or
entertainment without disturbing patrons in
other parts of the library.
In this digital age that we live in and with
technology continuing to change, results showed
that technology plays a major role in young
people’s lives. Research demonstrated that young
teens have not given up on older technologies,
such as watching television or using VCR and DVD
equipment to view movies or video game
equipment, but they have added new technologies
as they have come along, such as text messaging
and IPODs. This is of particular importance in
designing strategies for libraries, because if
early teens are currently using technology to
locate information, and if they don’t view the
public library on their list as an informational
source, then librarians must take new approaches
and attitudes towards actively marketing their
libraries as well as updating their strategies.
In fact, the majority of early teen respondents
reported tat they use the Internet on a daily
basis, like to surf the Web, and like to get
e-mail. A study in 2004 done by Stephanie
Azzarone, president of Child’s Play
Communications found that teens in the U.S.
spent approximately 16.7 hours a week on the
Internet.
At Sedona Public Library, we use teen volunteers
to assist with programs, shelve books, read
stories to younger children, and design arts and
crafts projects for pre-school storytimes. We
offer programs for teens, and have fun and
informative links on the teen page on the
Library’s newly designed website. Last year, we
hosted a database workshop for the entire
freshman class at Red Rock High School. We have
many current teen magazines, anime books, and
fiction book series of interest to teens. We
continue to strive to meet the needs of our
changing and growing youth population, and we
welcome new ideas and comments from youth in our
community of ways we can better serve the teen
population.
On another note, If you haven’t seen the
exceptional photography exhibit by the Sedona
Camera Club on display in the Library’s center
stacks, be sure to come in to see it before the
end of the month. There are dozens of
outstanding photographs on display that you
won’t want to miss!
Past Library News issues:
Sedona Library Archive