The Importance of Teen Services In Libraries

This semester's Young Adult Literature class required me to look at young adult services closely from different perspectives.  The assignments included observing teens in their natural environments ( I observed at the mall after talking to my 13 year old niece for suggestions), analyzing teen space and services at local libraries, and looking closely at library policies that effect teen services.  The results of these assignments, with a few exceptions, were pretty depressing.  Young Adult services were nonexistent  in many of the libraries my classmates and I looked at.  Many of the libraries didn't have Young Adult Librarians, space or programs geared towards this population.  These observations bring up a lot of questions.  Why don't libraries have these things? The sad reality is that because of restricted budgets, many libraries focus on children's programming and services and give the teens whatever may be leftover, which usually isn't much time or consideration.  One of the discussions we had in class focused on the message this sends to teens.  When they are children, they are welcomed at the library with loads of activities and a cozy space, but when they get older they are perceived differently.  They are not greeted with the same excitement as when they were kids, and they don't have a librarian all to themselves to ask for reading recommendations or help with difficult school  assignments.  On top of that,  they don't even have a designated space in the library.  That means they either have to sit in the children's room (gasp!) or the adult area (eek!).

So what's the solution? Librarians need to advocate for better Young Adult Services! Teens and parents should also speak up so that libraries will know they need to make changes for the future-and teens are the future of libraries!  They will be adults one day, and we want them to love the library through all the stages of their lives.  They will determine the future of libraries and keep the cycle continuing on.

This class reinforced my passion as an advocate for young adults, and I plan to take these important lessons with me as I move forward into Youth Services Librarianship.