Serving Older Teens

(Paperback)

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Description

In this lively and practical guide, notable teen experts and practitioners explain why service to teens in this age range is so important, and how you can enhance your collection and services to accommodate and win over this important group. Topics range from understanding older teen needs and creating a vital teen space to building and promoting a winning collection. Brimming with valuable insights, fresh ideas, as well as nuts and bolts directions, this is a must-read for all librarians who work with older teens. While libraries have traditionally offered diverse materials, services, and programs for children and even young teens based on their developmental needs, older teens (aged 16-19) are too often left out, with the excuse that older teens aren't interested. On the threshold of adulthood, these young people have immense informational needs that libraries are in a wonderful position to supply: information about colleges, about work, about relationships, and leisure activities. In this lively and practical guide, notable teen experts and stellar practitioners Sheila Anderson, Amy Alessio, Patrick Jones, Robin Lupa, and Kristine Mahood explain why service to teens in this age range is so important, and how you can enhance your collection and services to accommodate and win over this important group. Topics range from understanding older teen needs and creating a vital teen space to building and promoting a winning collection. Brimming with valuable insights, fresh ideas, as well as nuts-and-bolts directions, this is a must-read for all librarians who work with older teens.

Reviews

Anderson offers some great advice about planning teen programs (often at little or no cost)....A valuable resource for YA librarians.-School Library Journal
Hooray! Here is an excellent guide for serving a group of readers easily overlooked in the library community....This resource is bursting with ideas to enhance (or create, in some instances) library services to older teen patrons....If one loves reading and recommending literature to young adults, this book will be a nirvana! And if one finds young adults baffling and unapproachable, here is a wealth of tools to expand one's library skills when dealing with this dynamic age group.-VOYA
Recognizing the development changes that occur in adolescence, the teen-expert authors...explore quality library service....While aimed at public librarians, the discussion and ideas are equally useful for high school TLs.-Teacher Librarian
Recommended as a title for collection development responsive to older teens. Young adult librarians and teachers working with older teens will gain insight into what older teens are currently reading and interested in, as well as specific titles to consider for various topics.-Christian Library Journal
Starred Review The unique needs of older teenagers are the basis of this book intended for young adult librarians....This book will be an invaluable resource for young adult librarians in high schools or public libraries....It's difficult to imagine anything that is not covered in this comprehensive volume. Highly Recommended.-Library Media Connection
This insightful book invites librarians to consider the developmental stages of teens....Anderson and other contributors offer an abundance of collection development ideas. ...Any librarian serving older teens will benefit from this book, especially young adult librarians, public library generalists, reference librarians and children's librarians. Those wishing to improve or expand upon services and collections for older teens will find a wealth of information including how to design an inviting teen space.-Public Library Quarterly
"Anderson offers some great advice about planning teen programs (often at little or no cost)....A valuable resource for YA librarians."-School Library Journal
"Hooray! Here is an excellent guide for serving a group of readers easily overlooked in the library community....This resource is bursting with ideas to enhance (or create, in some instances) library services to older teen patrons....If one loves reading and recommending literature to young adults, this book will be a nirvana! And if one finds young adults baffling and unapproachable, here is a wealth of tools to expand one's library skills when dealing with this dynamic age group."-VOYA
"Recognizing the development changes that occur in adolescence, the teen-expert authors...explore quality library service....While aimed at public librarians, the discussion and ideas are equally useful for high school TLs."-Teacher Librarian
"Recommended as a title for collection development responsive to older teens. Young adult librarians and teachers working with older teens will gain insight into what older teens are currently reading and interested in, as well as specific titles to consider for various topics."-Christian Library Journal
"Starred Review The unique needs of older teenagers are the basis of this book intended for young adult librarians....This book will be an invaluable resource for young adult librarians in high schools or public libraries....It's difficult to imagine anything that is not covered in this comprehensive volume. Highly Recommended."-Library Media Connection
"This insightful book invites librarians to consider the developmental stages of teens....Anderson and other contributors offer an abundance of collection development ideas. ...Any librarian serving older teens will benefit from this book, especially young adult librarians, public library generalists, reference librarians and children's librarians. Those wishing to improve or expand upon services and collections for older teens will find a wealth of information including how to design an inviting teen space."-Public Library Quarterly

Author Bio

SHEILA B. ANDERSON is Director, Dover Public Library, Delaware. 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, as well as the recipient of the France Henne/YALSA/VOYA Research Grant and the Baker & Taylor/YALSA Conference Grant. She was elected to ALA Council-at-Large in 2003. In 2004 she was appointed to the ALA Children's Book Council (CBC) Joint Committee.