Make Room for Teens!: Reflections on Developing Teen Spaces in Libraries

(Paperback)

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This collection of thoughtful essays discusses library trends and best practices in creating dynamic, effective, and enjoyable spaces for young adults. Young adult librarians face a wide of array of issues when planning spaces for teen patrons. At the same time, the "digital divide" has shrunk for many Americans in the past decade, and libraries are expected to keep up by providing more open access to mobile technologies, digital books, and online informationcertainly a formidable challenge. Make Room for Teens!: Reflections on Developing Teen Spaces in Libraries serves as a thought-provoking tool for librarians who seeking guidance in creating, maintaining, and updating young adult spaces in their libraries. The essays contained within this book discuss the topic in clear language that is free from jargon, emphasizing illustrative (and sometimes humorous) anecdotes, experiential learning, and best practices. Rather than a "how-to" guide, the book provides a comprehensive thought exercise for librarians looking to better understand and create spaces for young adults and teenagers. Subjects addressed include important issues like common space, collection development, and the ways in which teens "own" a space, giving librarians an invaluable understanding of what a library space really "says" to young adults.

Author Bio

Michael Garrett Farrelly is a librarian and writer living in Chicago. He holds an MA in history as well as a master's degree in library and information science.