Comments for YALSA

Comment on App of the Week: Frog Dissection by Rick Hill

Rick Hill — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:27:08 +0000

You really should check out the latest iPad and iPhone frog dissection app being featured by Apple right now http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxN4YOr2hHI

Comment on Religion and Libraries: Why Do It? by Jacqui

Jacqui — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:30:54 +0000

^^^ This.
This is the kind of opportunity I talk about public libraries investigating and adopting in part 2 of the Religion and Libraries super-mini series. @April, I hope you can reach out to your local public library and find collaborative opportunities! We know teens are asking big questions and getting philosophical during adolescence. Openness to the topic of religion is, I believe, important to serving teen development.

Comment on Religion and Libraries: Why Do It? by April

April — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:34:03 +0000

As a librarian for at a special religious library, I really wish I could partner with public libraries more often (I love them!). A suggestion for those concerned about creating a balanced religious studies section: There may be religious libraries in your area who can help serve this purpose. If a patron is looking for religious information it would be helpful to have a list of those libraries available. Even at our diocesan library, we have books on the gamut of religions (although the vast majority are Catholic). It could be helpful to be able to point to institutional and congregational libraries that are open to the public nearby. Patrons may be grateful for the additional resources and we can always use the publicity!

Comment on The Future of Libraries – It’s About What? by Rachel McDonald

Rachel McDonald — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:54:34 +0000

Linda and Linda B, I agree that while some teens (and not just teens) may feel that digital equals instantaneous, others are willing to invest time in a project because the medium or materials pique their interest, be it in drawing, photography, or making music or videos. Although I’m by no means a master of any software program, I feel that my role is to gently offer encouragement, feedback, and suggestions for where they can receive help from a community of other users (many sites for software programs have thriving online message boards), as well as the occasional reality check (no, you won’t be able to make a video game in 5 minutes that will look anything like the ones you can buy). At an open media lab I recently held, I watched a teen sit down for 45 minutes and create a fantastic stop motion animation with only those items he’d brought into the program with him. By the end, he was encouraging others to help him with the video or to make their own. I’d occasionally look at what he was doing and comment on it, but really, it’s his baby from start to finish. I’m looking forward to seeing what he creates next week! You can view the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6SrYgpOxgE.

Comment on Connect, Create, Collaborate: Advocacy Marketing with Teens at the Library by Kelly Czarnecki

Kelly Czarnecki — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:23:26 +0000

Thanks for sharing! The articles in the local paper sounds like a great way to get the word out about the impact teens are making in the library and community.

Comment on Connect, Create, Collaborate: Advocacy Marketing with Teens at the Library by Eden Rassette

Eden Rassette — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:47:34 +0000

My PR department has connections to local reporters and newspapers, and recently a journalist interviewed several of my teen volunteers to showcase my teen volunteer program. The article included specifics of what my teens do when they volunteer, and listed statistics from my volunteer reports this year. This was an incredible way to get the word out about the contributions teens are making to the library and the community, which is a great way to advocate for youth services!

Comment on The Future of Libraries – It’s About What? by Linda W Braun

Linda W Braun — Wed, 08 May 2013 23:21:23 +0000

Others may have other thoughts and experiences on this Linda (and thanks again for your comment) but I think it is a part of the bigger picture of what we want to be doing with teens. Some things, yes, who wants to wait (i’m thinking of that ebook I’m on hold for that I just want to be able to download) – but I’ve found that teens that are creating something as a part of a process – for example a video that is meaningful to them – and on which they are working through the process with mentors and peers, don’t think about instantaneousness because they are very involved in the process. (How many times can I say process?) It’s got to be something that a teen is really invested in. I always use teens I knew in a library, that were really into manga, as an example. Those teens would take a lot of time on their manga related projects because they were really interested and connected with it. Other things they just whisked (or even blew) off and didn’t want to wait because it didn’t mean very much.

It’s something that we as library staff might have to get better at, working with teens as mentors and coaches through a process and not just focusing on creating something because it’s fun. We want to connect teens to their interests and creating around those. If that makes sense? Anyone else have other thoughts?

Comment on The Future of Libraries – It’s About What? by Linda

Linda — Wed, 08 May 2013 23:12:02 +0000

I did imply that electronic things are instantaneous when not all of them are. Not the good stuff anyway.

I would be curious if other libraries have encountered the medium being troublesome because in so many ways, it is instantaneous. I know that I have to battle through teen reluctance when they discover the thing they really like takes time. I have a good bunch this year that are willing to give it a go but that’s not always been my reality. Has anyone encountered a teen expectation that if it is electronic, it definitely should not take more than 5 minutes of their time?

Perhaps it’s just because I mostly work with teens on the younger side of the range.

Comment on Connect, Create, Collaborate: Hey Librarian, Can You Help Me Find a Good App? by Aimee

Aimee — Wed, 08 May 2013 00:36:13 +0000

I had no idea I could download AO3 to Overdrive. Awesome!

Comment on The Future of Libraries – It’s About What? by Linda W Braun

Linda W Braun — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:52:58 +0000

Linda, thanks for your comments.

What you wrote made me think of two things, first, teens can help you with the tech that you might not understand, be familiar or comfortable with, and so on. That’s one of the great things about this way of providing service. It’s a learning experience on both sides. Not just the adults telling teens how something works.

And, on the topic of using brains and taking time to create things, using technology does not mean that critical thinking and time doesn’t go into a project. Creating a video can take days, weeks, or months to get it just right. Planning a video or other tech-based project, if done well, requires a lot of critical thinking and decision making. Technology doesn’t do that for us (or the teens). Technology doesn’t equal quick and easy.