We all serve teens!

1. We all serve teens! Baraboo Public Library In-Service December 13, 2007 Shawn Brommer, SCLS Penny Johnson, BAR

2. Introductions • Describe your teenage self • Describe a teen in your life

3. Shifting perceptions

4. Who? Some characteristics

5. Beloit College Mindset class of 2011 • What Berlin Wall?

6. Beloit College Mindset class of 2011

7. Beloit College Mindset class of 2011

8. Beloit College Mindset class of 2011

9. Beloit College Mindset class of 2011

10. Beloit College Mindset class of 2011

11. Millennials (1982 – 2000) • Larger than the Baby Boom generation • 36% of the U.S. population. • 31% of this population are from diverse cultures • Most racially and ethnically diverse Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation, Neil Howe & Bill Strauss

12. Distinct qualities of Millennials • They are special • They are sheltered • They are confident • They are team-oriented • They are achieving • They are pressured • They are conventional Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation, Neil Howe & Bill Strauss

13. They are… special

14. They are… sheltered

15. They are… confident

16. They are… team-oriented

17. They are… achieving

18. They are… pressured

19. They are… conventional

20. It’s all in their heads…

21. Teen Brain Development • Hormones vs. Brains! • Social development • Risk taking • Emotional response

22. Inside the Teen Brain, Frontline series http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/

23. Technology & Teens

24. Statistics • 87% of American teens use the Internet on a regular basis. • 1 out of 2 teens lives in a home with a broadband connection

25. How are they using the Internet? • 81% are playing games (over 17 million) • 76% are getting news (over 16 million) • 43% are making purchases (9 million) • 31% are seeking health information (6 million)

26. Where are they when they go online? • 89% - home • 75% - school • 70% - a friend or relative’s house • 50% - the library • 9% - a community center or house of worship —Web 2.0 and What it Means to Libraries (PEW Internet & Life Project)

27. Technology - realities • Teens live their lives online • Young people get their information from the Internet • Will always turn to it before other, seemingly traditional, resources. • This is where they are!

28. Examples – Teen Read Blog

29. Reasons to provide: • Teens are future tax-payers and future library supporters. • This is the way teens seek, share and recommend information • Relevancy of public libraries

30. Benefits of social networking • Critical thinking • Reading and writing skills • Collaboration • Communicating with authors, experts, etc.—Social and cultural competence • Boundaries and expectations

31. Benefits (2) • Communication between those with special interests • Equalizing • Appearance, status, disabilities • Gaming: “Subversive Learning” • Learn skills • Form coalitions • Decision making • “Virtual malt shop”

32. What does this mean for libraries? http://www.myspace.com/lplconnects

33. Studies – library use is growing • Very recent PLA study tracks trends in public libraries. • 90% surveyed offer teen programs • 50% surveyed employ at least one FTE dedicated to teen programs & services • Up from 11% in 1995. • YALSA is the fastest growing division of ALA

34. Studies – library use is growing (2) • ALA study – Harris Poll (ages 8-18) • Significant amount responded that they use public & school libraries for personal use • Of these, 78% borrow items for personal use from public libraries • 60% borrow items for personal use from school libraries • 31% - visit the public library more than 10 times a year

35. What teens told the Harris Pollsters • 33% would use libraries more if there were more interesting items to borrow. • 25% (school) and 20% (public) would visit libraries more if computers didn’t block the information they needed. • 32% asked for more activities & events • 31% wanted longer hours • 22% wanted a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/HarrisYouthPoll.pdf

36. Challenges • Staff • Programming • Collection Development • Teen spaces • Policies • Collection development • Acceptable use & behavior

37. Challenges: Behavior/Stress • Stress in teen lives: • School demands • Too many activities/high expectations • Changes in bodies & brains • Living in unsafe environments • Poverty

38. Challenges: Behavior/reaction • Stress leads to: • Anxiety • Depression • Illness • Drug/alcohol abuse • Aggression • “Fight or flight”

39. Adult interactions • Be attentive • Positive interactions rather than negative • Model stress management • Listen – do teens have a voice? • Provide safe space for down time • Help teens find solutions • Help teens prioritize • Clearly state rules

40. Methods for dealing with the madness • Teens prefer one-on-one communication: directly tell teens our expectations • Keep regulations simple and few. "Respect yourself, respect others, and respect property.” • Try not to forget what it was like when you were a kid • When teens are disrespectful, don't take it personally

41. Methods for dealing with the madness (2) • Don't have rules exclusively for teens • Consistency is key. • All library staffers need to be alerted when a teen has broken a rule more than once • Be consistent with rules • Develop relationships with teens

42. More help: • Young Adult Library Services Association: www.ala.org/ala/yalsa • VOYA: www.voya.com • Here Comes Trouble SLJ article: www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA429319.html • Fight Crime: Invest in Kids http://www.fightcrime.org/reports/schoolviol.htm • Beloit College Mindeset – class of 2011 http://www.beloit.edu/~pubaff/mindset/2011.php

43. Take time to find the joy!

44. Vision of Students Today

45. Discussion