They're socially conscious, tech savvy, street smart, terrifically diverse, and they're seemingly running rampant. They're urban teens and they need access to your library-for homework help, for study and research, to use the computers, to socialize, to browse the graphic novels, to listen to music, and for many other reasons. By exploring current, effective models for teen services, as well as future possibilities, this guide leads you to the necessary resources and tools for achieving success with this important population. Learn about staffing solutions, partnerships and programs, overcoming challenges of physical spaces, training tips and models, technology and collections, and service across library systems. Filled with examples and anecdotes that illustrate the principles, and generous lists for further reading, this guide will help you improve your service not to just urban teens, but to all teens.

From a team of experts who have researched the information habits and preferences of urban teens to build better and more effective school and public library programs.

This book discusses library services to Hispanic/Latino teens, highlighting best practices, examining relevant and responsive services and programs, and reframing existing approaches to serving this segment of the population. Latino teens within Generation Y or Generation Z are bilingual and bicultural. As such, these teenagers have varied characteristics that present unique conditions and challenges for librarians. Serving Latino Teens not only explains why providing targeted services to Latino teens is so critical, but it also shows librarians and teen providers exactly how to best reach this demographic. Author Salvador Avila, a noted expert and popular lecturer on providing library services to Latino and Spanish speaking-communities, offers ideas and strategies that can be easily duplicated. Grounded in empirical evidence, this book presents what research has indicated is important to teens, Latinos in particular; demonstrates how to incorporate relevant literature into your services; and describes the cultural, social, economic, psychological, technological, and sexual characteristics of this emerging population. This title will be immensely helpful to public and school librarians as well as social services providers who work with Latino teens and soon-to-be teens ages 11 through 18.

A comprehensive guide to working with teen parents and their children that provides practical program ideas for successful school and public library program development, implementation, and evaluation. Teen parents and their children represent an underserved, high-need population in many communities. Libraries have the potential to significantly influence the quality of life for teen parent families by providing free access to information and resources, developing specific programs, and serving as a safe, public learning environment. Serving Teen Parents: From Literacy to Life Skills helps library staff support teen parents as their children's first teachers, positively affecting two generations at once. The authors explain how to successfully communicate with this group and build upon their competencies and strengths. They offer best practices, professional anecdotes, and step-by-step direction on connecting with teen parents, collaborating with community partners, locating funding options, and implementing successful programs. This invaluable guide is the most comprehensive resource currently available that directly addresses the needs of librarians serving the teen-parent demographic.

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 information—certainly 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.

This book demonstrates the potential of after-school activities ranging from from sports to the visual and performing arts and the humanities to transform young lives. Case studies of exemplary organizations and innovative communities within urban centers throughout the U.S. round out the work.

This book goes beyond the "what" and "how" of teen services to get to the “why,” ensuring that all practitioners will understand the ways teens want to use public space, discover and create information, and interact with peers and adults.