INSTAGRAM OF THE WEEK — MARCH 7

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A brief look at ‘grams of interest to engage teens and librarians navigating this social media platform.

During my first week as the new teen librarian, I observed a pair of Muslim men studying in the back corner of our adult nonfiction stacks. After a while, they took a short break to carefully roll out their rugs and pray. Nearby, a group of teens were working on a class presentation. They watched the two men curiously for a few seconds, then went back to their work without comment. I felt fortunate to be a part of this moment– to witness tolerance in action in this small gesture.

Last month’s book displays and library programs in celebration of African-American History Month demonstrate our long standing efforts to promote cultural awareness in our communities, and highlight our country’s path from slavery toward a more open and equitable society. As our youth population becomes more diverse, we have more opportunities to offer collections and services that best reflect our communities.

Dr. Carla Hayden’s nomination as Librarian of Congress, Simon & Schuster’s announcement of a new line of children’s and YA books featuring Muslim characters, and plans to offer more diversity-specific book sales flyers to schools are welcome changes. Meanwhile, The Future of Library Services for and with Teens highlights the dramatic shift in the demographics of our youth and the challenges they face. More than 16 million, or 1 in 5, live in poverty. African-Americans and Hispanics are more likely to drop out of school, and jobless rates for African-American and Hispanic youth are rising. The report indicates that our collections and services need to shift toward being centered on relationships, provide more access to educational and career resources, and continue to be mindful of the significance of our patrons’ racial, cultural, and social backgrounds in meeting our teens’ needs.

The current issue of Young Adult Library Services (YALS) Resource Roundup by Crystle Martin highlights several tools to assist with reaching diverse populations outside of the library.

For more information about diversity and equity of services, please see the ALA’s Diversity webpage, YALSAblog’s archived posts, and the following resources from YALSA: the Diversity Map, Cultural Competence and Serving Diverse Teens wikis, and the Teen Demographics Infographic.

 

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Instagram of the Week – February 29

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A brief look at ‘grams of interest to engage teens and librarians navigating this social media platform.

Following up on last week’s Instagram of the Week post on connected learning, this week’s installment continues the discussion of libraries as connected learning centers by focusing on the importance of collaborating with other organizations in the community. The Future of Library Services for and with Teens report explains that, in the past, library staff have been seen as the “information keepers” who hold the answers to patrons’ questions. However, this role of the in-house expert is shifting such that library staff should be seen as co-learners, guides, or facilitators who learn alongside patrons as they link teens to information and resources. By forming connections with teens and discussing their interests and passions, library staff can establish new avenues to support teen interests and learning that go beyond what libraries could traditionally offer. Seeking experts and organizations in the community that relate to teen interests provides an opportunity to establish partnerships and collaborate on programs that directly support teen needs. These types of connections are important as they provide opportunities for hands-on learning experiences and put teens in contact with experts and leaders in fields of interest who can serve as mentors.

From local elected officials and television newscasters to animal shelters and music schools, this week’s featured Instagram images highlight the types of programs libraries are offering as a result of collaborations with local individuals and organizations. Has your library established community partnerships to support teen interests? Tell us about your experience in the comments section below. How did you determine teen needs? Whom did you contact to establish partnerships? What outcomes have you observed as a result of your collaborative programming?

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Instagram of the Week – February 22

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A brief look at ‘grams of interest to engage teens and librarians navigating this social media platform.

Earlier this month, I was in a pinch preparing a sample craft for an upcoming children’s program and turned to my teen volunteer group for help. The goal was to make a sand bowl, a mixture of sand and white glue poured over bowl covered in plastic wrap. Once it dries, the bowl and plastic wrap are removed and — voilà! — a sand bowl. Despite following the directions I found online, my initial creation looked like the perfect example for one of those Pinterest expectation vs. reality memes. With the program coming up in a few days, I needed to make more bowls to determine the best glue to sand ratio for making a successful, pourable mixture. My teen volunteers were more than happy to take a break from our usual course of action and get their hands dirty with this craft. Much giggling ensued, food coloring was requested (which took the bowls to another level!), “This actually counts as volunteering time?” was asked several times, and together we figured out the best bowl recipe. Both our meeting and the bowls were a success, but more important is what happened in our following meetings.

At the following volunteer meeting we were brainstorming ways to decorate for Valentine’s Day. One of the students who assisted with the sand bowls offered to show us how to make tissue paper tassels that we could string together and hang. She picked out what she needed from the craft closet and taught us all (myself included) how to make them. The following week, she walked into our session and proclaimed, “I just learned how to make these hanging paper hearts I found online. They’d be perfect for us to make today and add to the [Valentine’s Day] display!” In preparation for our meeting, she had looked online for something else we could make, learned how to make them, and then offered that knowledge to the group to teach all of us. Needless to say, I have adjusted my approach with the teen volunteer group! I now allot time during our sessions for anyone with an impromptu activity for the group and within reason, supply necessary materials. It’s as if the floodgates have opened and, perhaps because a newfound feeling of staff support or camaraderie, ideas for future programs are pouring out of the group.

The Future of Library Services for and with Teens report discusses the importance of connected learning and how libraries can act as a connected learning center for teens. Connected learning is the learning that occurs when passions and interests are combined in a social atmosphere with peers and adults to gain knowledge that extends to academic, civic, or career related endeavors. In order to support this type of learning, library staff must form connections with teens, discuss their interests, and collaborate to develop programs and collections. The Futures report also provides that library staff should not shy away from taking risks to determine what works, and changes will be made based on the current needs of teens. Outcomes of adjustments made to programs and collections as a means to foster connected learning are measured by new skills and knowledge gained. As with my example of the sand bowls and subsequent craft ideas, with a few spur of the moment changes, you never know who you might empower to step out of their shell, share with the group, and lead!

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Instagram of the Week – Feburary 15

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Access. Access to space. Access to resources. Access to community. Access to supportive mentors and adults. Access to services that aid creation and empowerment.

I think about access a lot in my job. I worry about lack of access via cluttered shelves and websites, and wonder how much weeding and simplifying is too much. I worry about inaccessibility of the space due to the archaic and un-relatable rules that govern the space. I worry about access when adult needs and perspectives are weighted more heavily than that of teens. I worry about access when trying to create circulation rules for an expensive and highly desirable addition to the library (kindle, iPad, etc.). I worry about access whenever I read a new article about the desk-less librarian. Am I really accessible when I spend most of my visible time behind a circulation/reference desk? I worry about access every time other responsibilities put my cataloging duties on the back burner (yes, I catalog. A lot.). I worry about access even more whenever I hear of more and more library staff dismissing cataloging as an unnecessary endeavor. I worry about access whenever I adopt a disciplinary role. Will teens still seek out me and the library’s services after being disciplined? I worry about access when a creative space – whether a high-end makerspace or basic crafting supplies – is only available or “open” during limited time frames. I worry about access whenever we don’t order the 800th dystopian series because we have too many dystopian series and need to de-clutter the shelves…to create more access!

I doubt I am the only one with these worries, and I’m sure many library staff have many more access-related worries than the ones listed above. I know I do. For me, everything comes back to access. I do not despair. The YALSA Future’s Report is really about one thing – access. Increasing quantity and improving quality of access for teens in libraries. This week, I needed inspiration in access. The Instagram posts this week reflect access in all its forms, from dedicated teen space in a public library, to Skype sessions with an author in a school library. From teen friendly library rules to library staff actively participating in the teen community they serve. Sometimes access is as simple as letting teens know that you like to read the same books that they like to read. Regardless, I hope you are inspired to think of makerspaces, collection development, social media efforts, displays, programming, and more in terms of access. Sometimes, it is hard to forget.

For more information, please see ASCLA’s Equity of Access and other documents under the ACCESS TO INFORMATION header on YALSA’s Professional Tools web page.

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INSTAGRAM OF THE WEEK — FEBRUARY 8

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A brief look at ‘grams of interest to engage teens and librarians navigating this social media platform.

Following up on his final State of the Union address, President Obama announced the “Computer Science for All Initiative.” In his weekly address on January 30th, Mr. Obama said that computer science is a “basic skill right along with the three R’s” that is vital for the 21st century economy. Details of the initiative include $4 billion in state funding and $100 million directly for local districts to provide training and support for increased access to computer science courses, particularly for girls and minorities. Libraries are already embracing the youth coding movement, but we have more work to do.

From programming with Ozobots and MaKey MaKey sets to hosting video game design competitions, school and public libraries are engaging teens in exciting ways to promote computer science skills. While it may seem daunting to offer coding classes for youth in your library, rethinking our role as co-learner and creating strategic partnerships will ensure successful learning outcomes. The Future of Library Services for and with Teens emphasizes that we are not expected to be experts nor keepers of information, but must learn to be comfortable working alongside teens to learn together. Meanwhile, libraries are partnering with their local CoderDojo, FIRST Robotics leagues, and makerspaces to connect STEM-based learning opportunities within their communities. Promoting outreach with women and minority-based groups such as Girls Who Code and Black Girls Code will support efforts to get more girls hooked into STEM and encourage young women to choose technical careers. As The Future of Library Services for and with Teens explains, when libraries embrace our role as both formal and informal learning environments, teens are able to develop 21st century skills, content knowledge, and expertise, engage in peer-supported learning, and connect with a broader community based on common interests. However, more needs to be done to widen our efforts.

In Linda Braun’s recent YALSAblog post, she says that annual events like CSEdWeek and the Hour of Code are great opportunities to celebrate coding in the community, but they need to be a part of something bigger. She asks “what if libraries and other formal and informal learning organizations focused on Hour of Code as a way to expand and enhance STEM learning and 21st Century Skill development and used the event as a way to celebrate that learning? Or, what if learning organizations participated in Hour of Code as a piece of a broader program focused on skill development and/or college and career readiness?”

How will your library answer the call?

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Instagram of the Week – January 25

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A brief look at ‘grams of interest to engage teens and librarians navigating this social media platform.

As Winter Storm Jonas made its way along the East Coast, libraries took to Instagram to reach out to their patrons. Many posts were designed to notify patrons about changes in library hours or closures, remind everyone of the library resources that can be accessed 24/7 from home, and poke fun at how much time we’d have to catch up on the books we’ve been meaning to read. Book and media displays soon looked as bare as supermarket shelves as patrons flooded in to stock up on library essentials!

Jonas highlighted how communities are prioritizing libraries as a step in their storm preparations while also shedding light on the connections developing between libraries and library staff on this social media platform. In scrolling through post comments, sentiments of “Be safe!” and “Warm wishes!” can be seen from libraries across the nation and as far away as Australia. The Future of Library Services for and with Teens report discusses how important it is that all library staff, stakeholders, and community members communicate, advocate for their library, and keep up to date on current research and best practices. It seems that Instagram is becoming a platform for us to toot our horns for a job well done and learn of the successes of other libraries. When scrolling through images, it’s easy to find ideas that might be fun to try or come across a picture of a full house and click around to see which program was held. The images can also provide subtle clues on how set-up was handled, necessary supplies, and how the program was publicized. Best of all, if staff members in different departments (Youth Services, Adult Services, Circulation, etc.) all contribute to your library’s Instagram account, images from other organizations can both educate your coworkers on trends in teen services as well as inspire them to get involved.  Read More →

Instagram of the Week – January 19

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Recently, myself and the other library staff at my school are struggling with space allocation. We have space – through weeding, we are even creating space. So, no, having space is not the issue. The upstairs level of our library contains fiction, reference, big tables, some comfy chairs, and is designated for quiet (emphasis on *quiet*) collaboration. The lower level contains non-fiction, DVDs, big tables, more comfy seating, several study carrels, some study rooms, the classroom, and is designated for silent (the old-fashioned kind) study.

Our problem is the use of our library space.

We are slowly building a makerspace, but the only area that “flows” is an alcove on our lower (SILENT) level. Right now, participation is low and noise has not been an issue. As we add more exciting and collaborative materials and programs, how do we reconcile the opposing uses of the space? Myself and my co-workers have spun our wheels on this dilemma for months. We alternate between moving the makerspace upstairs (not as conducive to the layout), to purchasing a free standing partition that will dull the noise and limit its reach into the silent space.

For a public librarian working with teens, space issues might amount to “there isn’t a teen space”, or “we share the space with the children’s section”, or “we share the space with the adult section”. Many of us were not involved in the design and layout of our library facilities and could easily supply a laundry list of space changes we would make. Instead, we work within the space and budget that is available. For broader ideas, I often turn to formal sources like YALSA’s Teen Space Guidelines, as well as informal sources like Pinterest searches and boards. Any library staff working with teens knows that “makerspace” is really just an umbrella term for the programming goals and ideas we have implemented years. The great thing about this comprehensive term is the standardization of language, which of course leads to easier searching and more programming and space resources (such as YALSA’s Making in the Library Toolkit).

What are the teen space challenges you face in your library? What are some creative solutions you can share with others? Please comment below!

For more information on the future of library spaces, please check out the Shift for Libraries and Teen Services section of the Futures report.

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Instagram of the Week – January 11

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A brief look at ‘grams of interest to engage teens and librarians navigating this social media platform.

This week is all about the books! From “New Year, New You” book displays to reading challenges and mock book awards, Instagram has been full of images of books for the last week. The transition into the new year provides an opportunity to make resolutions and try something new in the upcoming months. Libraries are using the start of the year to their advantage by showing patrons everything they have to offer including print collections, digital resources, and language learning tools.

Patrons who make a resolution to read more may be looking for “something different” to read and be open to suggestions that expand their horizons. One fun way to encourage patrons to pick up books unlike their usual selections is to host a reading challenge. Popular reading challenges include Popsugar’s Ultimate Reading Challenge, Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge, and Modern Mrs. Darcy’s 2016 Reading Challenge which all provide participants with a list of categories such as “A book based on a fairy tale” (from Popsugar’s list) or “A book recommended by your local librarian or bookseller” (suggested by Modern Mrs. Darcy) to guide book selection. The Goodreads 2016 Reading Challenge asks participants to state the number of books they would like to read during the year and other challenges, such as the Hub Reading Challenge, provide a list from which participants select titles.

While there are a number of established reading challenges that can be shared with patrons, some libraries opt to create their own list. By doing so, libraries have an opportunity to include items that highlight all areas of the collection, not just print materials. For instance, categories such as “Check out a magazine on Zinio,” “Download free music from Freegal,” or “Find a book to read through NoveList” can either remind or introduce patrons to all the library has to offer. This is important because, as the Future of Library Services for and with Teens explains, today’s libraries should house collections that not only meet the needs and interests of teen patrons through print collections, but also through video and audio collections, databases, and e-content. Teens can even be involved in selecting the categories for the reading challenge which can drum up interest in participating.

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Instagram of the Week – December 28

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A brief look at ‘grams of interest to engage teens and librarians navigating this social media platform.

This week’s Instagram roundup serves two purposes: to showcase the fun things happening in libraries as the holiday season comes to a close and to provide some inspiration for a teen Instagram takeover. It’s hard to scroll through Instagram without seeing an account that has been temporarily taken over by an outside person as a way of collaborating, sharing content, and introducing followers to other accounts and topics of interest. Many schools are jumping on the bandwagon and allowing students to take over their Instagram account for a day or week to highlight what it’s like to be on campus. For examples, take a look at Nazareth College’s Student Instagram Takeover page or Jamestown Community College’s Instagram Takeover Application.

If you aren’t ready to take the plunge and host a teen takeover on your library’s account, you can still involve teens by having them find and create content to post. The Future of Library Services for and with Teens report explains that libraries are no longer a place for users to connect with just print resources, but also digital resources, library staff, community leaders, and peers. However, the report also notes that the likelihood of teens owning or having access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone varies across socioeconomic and racial demographics. Libraries are in a position to provide teens with opportunities to use these digital devices and gain experience with the photo/video editing software and apps that come with them.

Although the images and videos selected for this week’s column may not have been created or posted by teens, they provide examples of the types of content teens could create for the library. For instance, teens could take a video of a program in action or photograph a display they created by using the library catalog to find materials with specific themes or cover art. By experimenting with different apps, teens can learn how to use effects, combine music with images or video, and have fun creating content for upload on the library’s account. Seeing their work uploaded may not only make them proud of their efforts and be inspired to continue to try new things, but can also encourage them to follow the library’s social media accounts. Getting teens to follow (and continue following) the library on social media is tricky, but gaining followers allows us to maintain connections with our teens once they’ve left the physical library space.

Have you hosted a teen takeover on your library’s Instagram account or asked teens to help create content? If so, we want to hear from you!  What type of content did they create? If you hosted a takeover, how did you recruit teens who were up for the task?

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Instagram of the Week – December 23

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A brief look at ‘grams of interest to engage teens and librarians navigating this social media platform.
At the start of the 2015/16 academic year, my library committed to the creation of a Makerspace. This fall we catered to a very specific clientele – we serve as the satellite work space for our Science Olympiad team (the team has outgrown their official workspace over the past few years). As that program grew, myself and my fellow librarians started investigating other low-investment activities intended to attract a wider variety of students. We settled on an origami program, and with the upcoming holiday season, we decided to incorporate a festive twist. Instead of displaying origami on shelves or the circulation desk counter, we purchased an inexpensive, pre-lit, fake white tree. Standing about 3.5 feet tall, our students (and teachers!) quickly filled the tree with colorful origami creations. The circulation desk did end up with its fair share of decorations when the the tree became too full.
Several students, teachers, and administrators commented on the stress-relieving benefit of the program, and many simply loved contributing to the festive tree! Last week, Meaghan Darling wrote about the Finals Fairy in academic libraries. Without meaning to, my library ended up providing a source of stress-relief  during not only the intense end-of-term crush, but also the holidays. We try to remember that we serve faculty and staff just as much as students, and the holiday season can be enormously stressful for many adults. We hope the appeal will remain after the holidays, particularly with upcoming Term 1 exams.
Have you found duel benefits in programming that coincides with exams and the holidays? Are you able to put a holiday twist on programming during December, or is this something your library avoids? Please share in the comments below!

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