Beyond the Bookshelf Teen Programming

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Beyond the BookshelfTeen Programming

• Instructor
• Kelley Worman
• kelley.worman_at_fresnolibrary.org
• An Infopeople Workshop
• Fall 2006

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This Workshop Is Brought to You by the Infopeople
Project
Infopeople is a federally-funded grant project
supported by the California State Library. It
provides a wide variety of training to California
libraries. Infopeople workshops are offered
around the state and are open registration on a
first-come, first-served basis. For a complete
list of workshops, and for other information
about the project, go to the Infopeople website
at infopeople.org.
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Introductions

• Name
• Library
• Position
• Thinking back to your teen years, name any
  program you attended (library or other) and tell
  what you remember liking about it.

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Workshop Overview

• Foundations of programming
• Program and outreach ideas for teens
• Partnering
• Funding
• Marketing and evaluation

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Why Program for Teens?

• Increase library use
• Inform, entertain and enrich kids
• Supports healthy development of youth
• Promotes the library in the community

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Questions for the Group

• What has been your best and worst experience with
  teen programming?
• What makes a good program?

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Teens will find ways to

• Meet their basic needs
• Build skills and values
• Use skills, talents, energy, and time in ways
  that make them feel good
• Whether adults approve or not!

Abrams, Stephen. The Kids are Alright Millenials
and Their Information Behavior. ALA Annual
Conference 2006.
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Benefits of YA Programming

• Offers teens a chance to participate actively,
  not react passively
• Channels energy
• Fosters positive relationships with peers and
  caring adults
• Provides opportunities to develop life skills and
  to contribute to the community

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Barriers to Good Programming

• Poor planning
• Lack of support
• Takes a lot of time and effort
• Not understanding teens (no teen input)
• Programs are too academic
• Too focused on library goals

Jones, Patrick. Whats the Frequency a
how-to-do-it workshop. Young Adult Services
Institute. San Joaquin Valley Library System.
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Keys to Success

• Teen involvement
• Popular topic
• Good planning
• Appropriate marketing

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Teen Involvement

• Getting input and ideas
• Positives
• Negatives

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Program Policies

• Identifies purpose and need of young adult
  programming
• Articulates scope of library programming
• Defense for programming

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Questions for Group

• What elements are essential for a young adult
  program policy?

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Building Arguments for Programs

• Brainstorm possible objections by administration
  and form intelligent debate.
• Use program policy
• Use Search Institute 40 Developmental Assets
  www.searchinstitute.org
• Query list servs

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Getting Ideas

• Teens
• List servs
• TV
• Magazines
• Websites

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Types of Programs

• Informational
• Recreational
• Literature-related
• Curriculum-related

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Single Event Programs Samples

• Open Mic
• Gaming tournament
• Origami
• College Knowledge
• Mystery night
• Movie program
• Skool of Rock

Self Defense Workshop for Teensby D.A.R.E.
Instructor , Dave Johnson Thursday, February
12 630 800 p.m.
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Special and Themed Programs

• Banned Books Week
• Teen Read Week
• Teen Tech Week

• Holidays
• Heritage months
• Young Peoples
• Poetry Week

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Ongoing and Series Programs

• Social issues
• Career search
• Book clubs
• Animé clubs
• Teen Council

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Steps to Planning

• Approval needed?
• Necessary resources
• Time, date, and location
• Checklist

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Why a Checklist?

• Focuses your planning
• Helps to make sure you think
• of everything
• Leaves a pathway for others
• to replicate the program

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Outreach(Taking It on the Road)

• Reaches teens that arent regular library users
• May involve partnering with community groups
• Time and financial commitment

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Opportunities for Outreach

• Schools
• Teen shelters
• Hospitals
• Detention facilities
• Home school groups
• Homeless
• Teen parents
• LGTB youth

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Community Partnerships

• Flow out of the librarys mission and goals
• Library-wide strategy
• Centrally coordinated
• Formal process

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Why Partner?

• Reach new users
• Reach current users in a new way
• Tap into community assets and resources
• Gain support for the library
• Create new library resources
• Shares costs and increases resources

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Types of Partnerships

• Communicative
• Cooperative
• Collaborative

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Steps to Choosing a Partner

• Know what you want to achieve
• Make a list of potential partners in the
  community
• Research a potential partner

From Developing Community Partnerships by Barry
Trott, ALA Annual Meeting 2006
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Funding Sources

• Friends groups
• Philanthropic organizations
• Cultural groups
• Grants
• Partnerships

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Question for Group

• What are three key elements that must be
  present in any letter requesting a funding/goods
  donation?

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Key Elements

• Clear statement of what you are asking for
• How it benefits the community and library
• Whats in it for the company

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Cutting Costs

• Partnerships
• Sharing program supplies
• Using free community groups and County offices as
  presenters
• Local business donations for refreshments,
  supplies, prizes, etc.

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Smart Marketing

• Who is the audience for this program?
• How can I best reach this group?

• Media
• Displays
• Technology

• Schools
• Community partners
• Teen hangouts

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Flyers Tips for Getting Noticed

• Eye-catching
• Not too cluttered
• Font type
• Graphics
• Smart placement

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Reasons for Conducting Evaluations

• Helps you know if you met your goals
• Administrative support
• Accountability
• For suggestions to make the program better
• To assess why a program didnt work

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Types of Evaluation

• Outputs
• - numerically measured
• - statistics

• Outcomes
• - the so what of programming
• - anecdotes to demonstrate impact

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So Remember,

• Teen input and good planning
• Well-thought-out promotion
• Relevant evaluation
• A GREAT PROGRAM

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And Finally

• HAVE FUN!!