Extreme Teens: Library Services to Nontraditional Young Adults

(Paperback)

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Description

It's easy to make assumptions about teenshigh school, dating, Mom and Dad in the background, a house, a few siblings, and a beloved pet. But many of today's teens don't fit this all-American image. Designing teen library services based on preconceptions leaves many teens outfrom home-schooled and gifted teens to pregnant teens, immigrants, juvenile delinquents, homeless teens, and many others. Anderson, a YALSA Serving the Underserved (SUS) Trainer, shatters the stereotypes, showing you how to customize your library service to fit the needs of diverse teens. After explaining why it's important to reach out to these kids, and contrasting the myths about teens with the realities, Anderson details the diverse groups that make up the category of teen, and the many situations and experiences that define their library needs. She provides step-by-step plans for connecting with these young adultsfrom creating a positive atmosphere through policies and staff training to building a collection, designing library services and programs, and providing outreach. Interspersed with anecdotes, pertinent statistics, and useful information, this practical work will change the way you think about and work with teens. Grades 6-12.

Reviews

It stands to reason this work is suitable for public and school librarians, but it also useful for community college librarians--especially those who work in more diverse populations centers. Librarians who work with nontraditional teens a four-year college or university setting could at least glean some relevant insight for greater understanding of their life situations. According to the author, this work, by no means, is the final authority on the topic of library service for extreme teens, but it will definitely engender more discussion and a body of literature in this area. * Against the Grain *
This resource offers information about serving teens who are homeschooled, incarcerated, pregnant, school dropouts, GLBTQ, or homeless.The extensive annotated bibliographic resources are excellent, especially in the chapter Extreme Resources. This book provides a one-stop shop for information on some very real issues. * School Library Journal *
This accessible manual offers practical advice on working with extreme teens, young adults who, because of their sexuality, educational circumstances, or living situations, tend to be underserved by traditional public library services.The author provides a convincing rationale for addressing the needs of this often marginalized group and offers helpful, realistic tips on staff selection and training, outreach efforts, user-friendly materials and activities, and effective programs. This latest offering in the Libraries Unlimited Professional Guides for Young Adult Librarians is recommended for public and college library professional collections and will be of interest to anyone who works with teens: teachers, social workers, and employees of community service or adjudicated juvenile institutions. * Booklist/Professional Reading *
Administratots, as well as youth-serving library staff, should read this title in order to get a realistic overview of the diversity of circumstances library services need to address when trying to reach the teen demographic. * VOYA *

Author Bio

Sheila B. Anderson is Director of the Dover Public Library in Delaware and editor of Serving Older Teens (Libraries Unlimited, 2003). She has served on the YALSA Board of Directors, the Selected DVDs and Videos for Young Adults Committee, the Professional Development Committee, and the Best of the Best Books for Young Adults Preconference Committee. She is also a YALSA Serving the Underserved (SUS) Trainer. The recipient of the France Henne/YALSA/VOYA Research Grant and the Baker & Taylor/YALSA Conference Grant, Anderson maintains a Web site at www.sheilabanderson.com.