This lesson hit home during my first ECE class at Cuesta College. When a classmate gave a presentation about high school experiences, I assumed hers to have been charmed. These testimonies revealed challenges universal to all teenagers that transcended appearances and circumstances, a realization that helped me see the complexity of adolescence. Having guided young people through their teenage years, that awareness has deepened. I see the weight and promise of adolescence, reinforcing why welcoming, empathetic library spaces are crucial for our teen community.
A Service Gap. This early revelation mirrors a broader challenge in library services. As @michael (2019) notes, many libraries offer robust programming for children and adults, while teen service often lags (p. 23). Teens are engaged early in their youth, then often lost as patrons during adolescence, only to return once they become parents (Casey & Savastinuk, 2007). This highlights a gap in library services and points to the need for engagement with this age group.
Adults often misunderstand teens, as danah boyd (2014) notes, seeing their lives through the lens of their own experiences. This results in an incomplete understanding of adolescence, especially socialization and public engagement (p. 10). To bridge this gap, libraries are rethinking their approach to teen services. Moving from theory to practice, my early revelation parallels the importance of a thoughtful approach to teen library services that reflects the complexities of teenage lives and not just a single, homogenized narrative about what it means to be a teen.
Creating Participatory Spaces. A key solution lies in involving teens directly in library services. Gen Z, born into a digital world, engages with library spaces differently than previous generations. As Berens & Noorda (2023) observe, these teens are not just consumers, but creators, blending physical and digital experiences in new ways (p. 12). Libraries must adapt to these evolving needs, while still fulfilling their core mission of providing access to information and fostering community.
Examples like the SFPL’s “The Mix” and the Creekview High School Media Center’s “The Unquiet Library” illustrate how participatory design can create engaging, interactive spaces for teens (O’Brien, 2019; Matthews, 2010). These libraries tapped into the perspectives of teens, building environments that cater to their digital literacy and creative needs.
Challenges in Implementing Teen Services. While inspiring, creating teen-friendly spaces is not always feasible. Libraries with limited resources must find creative solutions, such as using partitions to create a “Teen Zone” within existing spaces, ensuring supervision and accessibility. Regardless, balancing the needs of all library users can be challenging. As @michael (2008) notes, library staff must manage behavioral issues across different age groups, making it essential to maintain an inclusive and supportive atmosphere for all patrons.
Strategies for Engaging Teens. Though my library is lucky to have a teen librarian and funding, engaging teens can be difficult. We have found several strategies reflective of assigned readings that have begun to bridge the gap:
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- Digital Engagement: Maintaining a teen webpage, newsletters, and an active social media presence.
- Physical Space & Programming: Offering events like D&D, crafts, and challenges to appeal to expressed interests, as well as offering refreshments and prizes.
- Community Connection: Partnering with schools and businesses that teens patronize or employ teens, utilizing social media tags and other forms of communication.
- Youth Voices: Gathering direct feedback and a future Teen Advisory Board.
- Books & Materials: Providing a wide array of genres and topics, including graphic novels and a library of things (Switch, vinyl, cooking tools).
A Shift in Perspective. As libraries evolve in the digital age, so too must their approach to teen services. Moving beyond the “single story” via concepts such as the #hyperlinkedlibrary and participatory services benefits not just young people, but the entire library community.
References
Adichie, C. N. (n.d.). The danger of a single story. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The danger of a single story | TED Talk. https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story
boyd, d. (2014). It’s complicated: The social lives of networked teens (p. 10). Yale University Press. https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300166439
Casey, M. E., & Savastinuk, L. C. (2007). Library 2.0: A guide to participatory library service. Medford, N.J: Information Today.
Inman Berens, K., & Noorda, R. (2023, November). Gen Z and millennials: How they use public libraries and Identify Through Media Use. ALA.org. https://www.ala.org/sites/default/files/advocacy/content/tools/Gen-Z-and-Millennials-Report%20(1).pdf
Mathews, B. (2010, June 21). Unquiet Library has high-schoolers geeked. American Libraries Magazine. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2010/06/21/unquiet-library-has-high-schoolers-geeked/
O’Brien, C. (2019, June 24). How San Francisco’s public libraries are embracing their changing role. Shareable. https://www.shareable.net/how-san-francisco-public-libraries-are-embracing-their-changing-role/
Stephens, M. (2008, May 15). Embracing service to teens. Tame the Web. https://tametheweb.com/2008/05/15/embracing-service-to-teens/
Stephens, M. (2019). Wholehearted librarianship: Finding hope, inspiration, and balance. ALA Editions.