Comments on: What’s Your Thing? http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/2008/07/10/whats-your-thing/ The official blog of the Young Adult Library Services Association Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:55:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kelly Tyler http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/2008/07/10/whats-your-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-1795 Kelly Tyler Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:27:51 +0000 http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/?p=1235#comment-1795 I love this question! I, too, have been thinking about innovation and how it can work in small libraries like mine that have seen their teen collections and populations neglected for a few years. I was really inspired by Kimberly Bolan at the President's Program. Instead of being depressed about working with a dismal "teen space" (quotes are because it's really a teen space in name only), I'm starting to see its potential. When I first started as the YA here some months ago, I was bummed that I'm in one of the oldest library buildings in the city. Now I'm realizing that being in an old building might be beneficial because we can be a bit more creative in solutions without worrying about freaking out architects and administrators. =) As a teen council gets launched for the first time EVER at this branch, I'm really looking forward to thinking of ways to rethink the space so it's welcoming to teens. Of course the extra added fun will be trying to figure out how to do this on little to no budget. The fun part will be opening it up to teens to see what they want to do... I love this question!

I, too, have been thinking about innovation and how it can work in small libraries like mine that have seen their teen collections and populations neglected for a few years. I was really inspired by Kimberly Bolan at the President’s Program. Instead of being depressed about working with a dismal “teen space” (quotes are because it’s really a teen space in name only), I’m starting to see its potential. When I first started as the YA here some months ago, I was bummed that I’m in one of the oldest library buildings in the city. Now I’m realizing that being in an old building might be beneficial because we can be a bit more creative in solutions without worrying about freaking out architects and administrators. =)

As a teen council gets launched for the first time EVER at this branch, I’m really looking forward to thinking of ways to rethink the space so it’s welcoming to teens. Of course the extra added fun will be trying to figure out how to do this on little to no budget. The fun part will be opening it up to teens to see what they want to do…

]]> By: connie urquhart http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/2008/07/10/whats-your-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-1786 connie urquhart Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:31:15 +0000 http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/?p=1235#comment-1786 It's so true. Innovation doesn't have to mean coming up with an idea that no one has ever thought of before but instead, reinventing services to best fit the needs of your community. The hardest part, I think, is letting go of the "we've always done it this way" mentality. After that it's opening the door to every philosophy/brainstorm/project, even if it's just to mull it over in your mind for a while (btw, I *love* Jami's thoughts on identify space by the music that's playing). Fun! It’s so true. Innovation doesn’t have to mean coming up with an idea that no one has ever thought of before but instead, reinventing services to best fit the needs of your community. The hardest part, I think, is letting go of the “we’ve always done it this way” mentality. After that it’s opening the door to every philosophy/brainstorm/project, even if it’s just to mull it over in your mind for a while (btw, I *love* Jami’s thoughts on identify space by the music that’s playing).

Fun!

]]> By: april http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/2008/07/10/whats-your-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-1785 april Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:18:13 +0000 http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/?p=1235#comment-1785 The idea of innovation has been stuck in my brain for the past year, mainly because of lackluster attendance at my branch's teen programs during the school year. I finally realized innovation doesn't have to mean I need to come up with the next big trend in teen programming, but I may need to think about...get ready for it...working at night or on a weekend! I had to think a little bit ouside the box of my own standard 9-5, M-F schedule to identify times that work best for teens...so I surveyed them, and after nearly 100 responses saying Saturdays would be a great day for them to get to the library for a program, I'm now in the planning stages of Saturday Sessions. Yes, I'll have to rearrange my schedule. Yes, I need to look more into my community to find people who can offer special programming. Not groundbreaking, but an experiment nonetheless. I'm pretty excited to see how it works... The idea of innovation has been stuck in my brain for the past year, mainly because of lackluster attendance at my branch’s teen programs during the school year. I finally realized innovation doesn’t have to mean I need to come up with the next big trend in teen programming, but I may need to think about…get ready for it…working at night or on a weekend!

I had to think a little bit ouside the box of my own standard 9-5, M-F schedule to identify times that work best for teens…so I surveyed them, and after nearly 100 responses saying Saturdays would be a great day for them to get to the library for a program, I’m now in the planning stages of Saturday Sessions.

Yes, I’ll have to rearrange my schedule. Yes, I need to look more into my community to find people who can offer special programming. Not groundbreaking, but an experiment nonetheless. I’m pretty excited to see how it works…

]]> By: Jami http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/2008/07/10/whats-your-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-1778 Jami Fri, 11 Jul 2008 01:47:15 +0000 http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/?p=1235#comment-1778 Today I heard a program about using music in storytimes. The presenter said that music has an effect on all of us and is frequently used to create a specific emotional response. One of her examples was a library choose to play Barry Manolo outside the library to discourage loiters. My reaction was simply why don't we do the opposite and play music to help define spaces in the library. My system has been talking about balancing space because we still have a clash between teen areas where it is safe to socialize and places to read. Maybe play classical in reading areas. OCRemix or local bands in the teen areas, and something specific for the other areas too. Stores do it, why not the library! Today I heard a program about using music in storytimes. The presenter said that music has an effect on all of us and is frequently used to create a specific emotional response.

One of her examples was a library choose to play Barry Manolo outside the library to discourage loiters.

My reaction was simply why don’t we do the opposite and play music to help define spaces in the library.

My system has been talking about balancing space because we still have a clash between teen areas where it is safe to socialize and places to read. Maybe play classical in reading areas. OCRemix or local bands in the teen areas, and something specific for the other areas too.

Stores do it, why not the library!

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