Telling Teens It Gets Better

How many times do you hear of a tormented teen who has ended their life, and wish you could have told them it will get better? Dan Savage and his partner Terry created the It Gets Better Project, specifically in response to the suicides of bullied gay teens and their wish to prevent others from doing the same. They are encouraging others to make their own videos of love and encouragement, and a large number of people have already submitted one.

Here is Dan and Terry's:



Honestly, I think any struggling teen could benefit from hearing this message.

Please share with kids you know.

SnoGLOBE Gay-Straight Alliance Event

SnoGLOBE and PFLAG are sponsoring a a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) event for "youth, advisors, friends and family who might want to attend. It will be an "open mic" event for youth to participate in spoken word poetry, music, comedy or other forms of entertainment. It is also a way to meet other youth participating in GSAs. We hope you can join us."

This will take place Saturday October 2nd, from 3-6pm in Everett at 2804 Grand Ave.

Please share this with youth you feel might be interested!

Skype and Libraries

I'd heard about Skype for ages, but never tried it myself until I was at a family reunion in Texas last month and had the opportunity to chat with my cousin in Japan. It was so wonderful, we talked for 2 hours! By the end of the conversation, I felt like I knew her much better, and had the basic plans for a vacation underway.

Now I'm twice as determined to find ways to use this simple tool to enhance our library services. I'm been hoping to organize some author visits with bookgroups, but now with Skype's announcement of 10-way video/audio calling...I'm thinking it is time to try some online bookgroups with it!

Do any of you have experience with it? What would you like to try?

CAYAS Workshops

This fall's CAYAS Workshop focuses on teens. From the CAYAS website:

Meeting the Challenge of Supporting and Engaging the Teens in Your Library

Presented by David Wilmes, Director of St. Paul Youth Services and Karen Kolb Peterson, Youth Services Coordinator, Saint Paul Public Libraries.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010
King County Library System Service Center
Issaquah, WA
9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 4, 2010
North Central Regional Library Headquarters
Wenatchee, WA
9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

More info to come on the CAYAS site.

Mukilteo Library to be a Teens' Top Ten

Congratulations to the Mukilteo Library, whose combined teen book group and teen writing group have been selected by YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) to be a Teens' Top Ten nominating group! For the next two years this group will receive ARCs (Advance Readers Copies) of upcoming books to review, discuss and nominate to be part of YALSA's Teens' Top Ten list, which is voted on in August to September of each year.

Happy news for the enthusiastic readers of Mukilteo :)

Emerging Adults at the Library

Recently in Teen Services circles there has been a lot of talk about how we can best serve 18-24 year olds. Many of them do not want to leave the comfort of our teen areas or stop going to teen programs. Libraries across the country have come up with a variety of approaches. Some feel that to best serve both teens and these young adults continuing to keep firm boundaries of age limits at programs aids in emotional development. Others feel that to stop serving teens once they turn 19 is a type of abandonment. Will we hurt services to teens if we try to cater to this group? Should adult services be working harder to provide for them? What do we do when teen areas are filled with 20 somethings fraternizing with 13 year olds? How do we help them set appropriate boundaries?

These are questions we will be discussing at our September Teen Services meeting. Until then I'm hoping everyone attending will read this article and be prepared to discuss:

What is it About 20-Somethings?
By ROBIN MARANTZ HENIG
Published: August 18, 2010

There is a movement: movement to view the 20s as a distinct life stage, which he calls “emerging adulthood.” He says what is happening now is analogous to what happened a century ago, when social and economic changes helped create adolescence — a stage we take for granted but one that had to be recognized by psychologists, accepted by society and accommodated by institutions that served the young."

If you won't be attending this meeting, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this complex subject in the comments!

Perhaps Twitter Can Help?

I'm personally a fan of Twitter, so while I've read that almost no teens use it and only a slim minority of Internet users in general even dabble in it, I found this article heartening:

Twitter Users Get Up Close and Personal With Brands by Jack LoechnerA new study released by ExactTarget finds consumers who are active on Twitter are three times more likely to impact a brand's online reputation through syndicated Tweets, blog posts, articles and product reviews than the average consumer.

The study supported the general findings that microbloggers have many reasons to follow brands they like. Though discounts and sales are toward the top of the list, news and information about a company and its products are primary. The survey of more than 1,500 consumers identifies top motivations for following brands on Twitter and provides new insight into consumers' expectations for interacting with brands online.

I was surprised when I spoke to a group of 7th graders yesterday to find some did use Twitter. I'd be interested in seeing how we might be able to connect with these kids and use their feedback and enthusiasm to strengthen our brand and spread the word. Ideas?

Hotels Join the Struggle to Captivate Teens

Hotel resorts are struggling to find entertainment options for teens, otherwise they get bored and do things like "take pool chairs and throw them in the pool".

The Toughest Guest: a Teen
Hotels Try to Make Family Trips Fun; Mocktails Are OK, Dark Bonfires Aren't
By ANDREA PETERSEN

The key to attracting teens, some hotels say, is giving them grown-up experiences—and setting limits. When Atlantis did a focus group with 50 teenagers earlier this year to find out what they wanted in a new teen club, the participants asked for the oversized beds popular in some adult spots, hot tubs and "cages to dance in," says Amanda Felts, vice president of guest activities and resort planning. "That's not going to happen."

Much in this article reminds me of lessons libraries have already learned. Kids who enjoyed programs in their single digit years, won't necessarily just go along with programs aimed at teens. One kid saying the activity is stupid can drive out a whole crowd. And one cute girl can have the opposite effect. And bribery works ;)

YALSA's President's Program - Free and Online

This year YALSA's President was Linda Braun and her theme was Risky Business. One of the risks she took was endeavoring to put the entire 2010 President's Program online for free. It is a great program, with excellent speakers. If you can find an hour to watch it, I highly recommend doing so. We have also purchased Linda's new book: Risky business : taking and managing risks in library services for teens which is available in our professional collection.

The part I find most exciting is what the guests from the Search Institute have to say about their new initiative focusing on Sparks. The 40 Developmental Assets talk about what kids and teens need to thrive, but this is about what next? How can we ignite the hidden talents and strengths of the teens we work with? What are those secret things they get excited about, but are scared to bring forth because no one believes in them? I think this could be a wonderful follow up action for our Teen Project. I'd love to hear what y'all think of it, too.

Banned Books Week Coming Up

Banned Books Week is September 25−October 2, 2010. If you are planning a program for your teens, don't forget our publicity deadline for September is July 22nd.

Perhaps you would like to show movie versions of some banned books? Or maybe have readings of passages from banned books?

Or maybe you just want to make a display? Here are some ideas!

What fabulous things have you done in the past for this event?

Interesting Article on Dystopian Fiction for Teens

There is an interesting article on the New Yorker site this week about teen fiction:

Fresh Hell
What’s behind the boom in dystopian fiction for young readers?
by Laura Miller

The adult dystopia extrapolates from aspects of the present to show readers how terrible things will become if our deplorable behavior continues unchecked. The more utterly the protagonist is crushed, the more urgent and forceful the message. Because authors of children’s fiction are “reluctant to depict the extinction of hope within their stories,” Sambell writes, they equivocate when it comes to delivering a moral. Yes, our errors and delusions may lead to catastrophe, but if—as usually happens in dystopian novels for children—a new, better way of life can be assembled from the ruins would the apocalypse really be such a bad thing?

What are your thoughts? Favorites?

Our Post-Apocalyptic and Dystopian teen fiction list, created by Jocelyn.

Steampunk and Teens

Steampunk certainly does seem to be growing. But does it have the strong appeal with teens that has been forecast?

Here is a panel from BEA with Scott Westerfeld, Cherie Priest and Cory Doctorow that explores "Steampunkery: Why are today's teens embracing 19th-century technologies?"

Steampunk Panel - SLJ Day of Dialog, BEA 2010 from School Library Journal on Vimeo.

What do you think? Are your teens into it?

Adorable Teen Clique: Texas Werewolves

Ok, this isn't groundbreaking news. Teens want a group they can feel is their own. This clip from a local San Antonio news show captures this perfectly.



I'm amused that they claim they are not trying to get attention.

Any interesting groups evolving in your communities?

Second Guessing Social Networking

At last week's Teen Project seminar, David M. mentioned this article from the New York Times:

Antisocial Networking?
How Does Technology Affect Kids' Friendships?
By HILARY STOUT
Published: April 30, 2010

One of the concerns is that, unlike their parents — many of whom recall having intense childhood relationships with a bosom buddy with whom they would spend all their time and tell all their secrets — today’s youths may be missing out on experiences that help them develop empathy, understand emotional nuances and read social cues like facial expressions and body language. With children’s technical obsessions starting at ever-younger ages — even kindergartners will play side by side on laptops during play dates — their brains may eventually be rewired and those skills will fade further, some researchers believe.

What do you think? Should people be more concerned? Can libraries provide essential face time?

Video games score one for literacy

For every time we cringe at the movie tie-in cover:

"I was at the library Reference Desk ready to answer questions and help people find stuff when a teenage boy came up to me looking for Catcher in the Rye. I checked the catalog for Salinger and didn’t see any hard cover copies available so I walked the kid over to the uncataloged Classic Paperbacks. His mom followed behind us and while I was browsing the S’s I overheard this incredible bit of dialog.

‘Hey, Mom! See this book?’ He grabbed a copy of Inferno, the first book in Dante Alighieri’s trilogy The Divine Comedy. ‘Remember that game you bought me? This is the book it was based on, but this book is even sicker the game! It was awesome!’"

via Game Couch.

Teens Prefer Texting

Kathleen forwarded this interesting article to me this week:

American Teens Say Texting is Favorite Way to Communicate

In the past week, using its SMS text-messaging service, ChaCha asked nearly 1500 teen and young adult users: "What's your favorite way to communicate?" Their answers:

Mobile Text 67.53%
Mobile Call/Voice 9.22%
Facebook 8.84%
Instant Message 2.88%
Email 0.29%
*Other 11.24%

I find this pretty fascinating. I've heard for a while that teens found email "old fashion" (which pains me). I like email and still prefer it myself...though I do enjoy texting. Maybe we do need to reconsider how we communicate with teens. Though perhaps this is just preferred with peers? I'd be curious to see statistics on that.

Choose Privacy Week

We are in the middle of Choose Privacy Week!

Choose Privacy Week Video from 20K Films on Vimeo.

So much interesting stuff to think about here. What are your concerns?

How Fast Are Teens Growing Up?

There is an interesting article this week in the New York Times reflecting on a new study by the MacArthur Research Network on Transitions to Adulthood called “What’s Going on With Young People Today? The Long and Twisting Path to Adulthood”.

The Slow, Winding Path to Adulthood
By LISA BELKIN

Many a parent believes that their children are growing up too fast. Eight is the new 12, and 12 is the new 18. Today’s middle schoolers dress like adults, know how to swear like adults and are exposed to drugs. They also know about sex, talk back and reach puberty earlier than we ever did.

But then, they stop. And reverse. A study by researchers at Oregon State University, which appears this week in the journal Transition to Adulthood finds that “despite living in an age of iPads and hybrid cars, young Americans are more like the young adults of the early 1900s than the baby-boom generation: They are living at home longer, are financially insecure and are making lower wages.”

The gist of the article seems to be that there is no set or normal age for maturation within our culture or species, but it seems to have a lot to do with financial ability as much as anything.

How do you see this manifesting with teens in your life?

Reducing Risky Behavior Through Reading

Michael Cart has an interesting article out this week in American Libraries:

A Literature of Risk
By Michael Cart
Teens dealing with violence and other risky behaviors can get help from young adult fiction

Spring Booktalks @ AMS

Spring 2010 Booktalks on Prezi

I did something a little different with prezi this time. This wasn't a visit like what we do when we go to present summer reading, this was a more casual drop-in lunch in the library of one of my middle schools. It was a two day engagement, so what you see here reflects the additions I made after the first day, when I learned they wanted more zombie and apocalypse books (I was more than happy to oblige).

SO, what you'll see here is that there is no path, no slideshow, PowerPoint-esque intended order to the presentation. Students would walk in on the "What to Read" text, and we'd chat for a couple minutes so I could remind them who I am, etc. Then I'd scroll out, and ask them what they wanted to hear about. They'd indicate a cover, I'd booktalk it, we might talk a little about other books they or I know of that were similar, then we'd move on to a title another student wanted to hear about.

The library media specialist wanted me to bring books that her students could check out from me. I wasn't sure exactly how that would work out at first, but I, by exploiting my poor personal library record (at the time), realized that the OPAC reveals a patron's standing, whether it's good or limited, or blocked. Students who had their library card or knew their number would log onto their account, I'd verify that they were in good standing and then I'd just write down their numbers and the item numbers to check them out manually when I got back to the branch. It worked out great, and I'll definitely do it again. I of course, got an okay from the branch manager to do that.

We only had the lunch period (three lunches total), so we weren't necessarily able to get through all of the books, but that's the way I always design my school visits - I want them to realize there's definitely more at the library than I can talk about in 30 minutes.

It was also a great way to use the Explore and paperback titles. I had multiple copies and then could meet demand when five kids all wanted the same book. Two days was great for this because students who forgot their Sno-Isle library card the first day could come back the second day and hope that the book they wanted would still be there. The school library media specialist and I are now planning to do one of these a month starting in the fall, and hopefully the entire event will become routine for everyone.

I also deliberately had both old and new titles. I wanted to make sure that some of the books I talked about were available in the school library for those who didn't have public library cards. And frankly, almost everything is new to THEM. In case it isn't, it's kinda nice to have a kid attest the awesome (see: The Ranger's Apprentice). Gives ya cred. ;)

Books:
Because I am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas
Bloody Jack by LA Meyer
Bloom by Elizabeth Scott
Born to Rock by Gordon Korman
Crossing Stones by Helen Frost
The Compound by S.A. Bodeen
Cut by Patricia McCormick
The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu
Green Angel & Green Witch by Alice Hoffman
Gunnerkrigg Court by Tom Siddell
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
Love You, Hate You, Miss You by Elizabeth Scott
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Messed Up by Janet Nichols Lynch
Never Slow Dance with a Zombie by Ehrich Van Lowe
Northlander by Meg Burden
Outlaw: the legend of Robin Hood by Tony Lee
Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott
Possibilities of Sainthood by Donna Freitas
Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan
The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks
Repossessed by A.M. Jenkins
The Rock and the River by Keekla Magoon
Samurai 7 by Akira Kurosawa & Mizutaka Suhou
Swim the Fly by Don Calame
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Z for Zachariah by Robert C. O'Brien
Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby

To see the actual booktalks click here.

I'm now afraid I might run out of books. I need to read faster.