[Publib] Age ranges for Teen Services

[Dieden, Cynthia]

Rather than use an age range at our library, we use grade levels.  Grades 6-12 (regardless of age) fall into YA programming and we use this as a guide for selection of YA titles. 
 
 
Cynthia Dieden
Collection Specialist Librarian
Mount Prospect Public Library
847-253-5675 ext. 3647
cdieden at mppl.org
 
 
Opinions expressed are those of the sender and not of Mount Prospect Public Library

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From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org on behalf of Kathleen Horan
Sent: Wed 7/11/2007 3:31 PM
To: King, Kathryn; publib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Publib] Age ranges for Teen Services


Hi, Kathryn,
 
Boy, does your situation sound familiar!  We use the generic YA to distinguish our teens, 11-17, although:  a) those aspiring to teendom (9s & 10s) are desperate to break rank with their younger counterparts, b) the term usually connotes teens between 13 & 15, and c) no self-respecting high-schooler over 15 would be caught dead in a YA program.  Those in the latter category come to the library to study, do homework, text each other, and perform the usual mating rituals.
 
We have a manga group that meets each week to talk, read and trade manga, watch anime, and eat popcorn. Ages:  12-15, but mostly 13 & 14. I've done booktalking with this group and they actually do borrow the titles I push . . . IF they have a library card. 
 
We have a Monday night storytime that we bill as "Family Night," and that allows the children's librarian to read some longer picture books or even a short chapter book.  We often get 9s and 10s at this program.  They also do a craft.
 
We have a program called "Pizza & Pages" on Fridays during the school year, during which basically they get to eat pizza while the children's librarian booktalks.  It wasn't wildly popular.  The kids would show up, eat through the pizza boxes to get to the slices, then leave the children's librarian babbling and traumatized. I borrowed my Dad's persona and "read them the riot act," after which they committed to staying for the entire, excruciating half-hour of the program. I must say, though, that once, when the pizza didn't arrive on time, the children's librarian very apologetically gave them Oreo cookies, and the teens thanked her and told her not to feel bad.  Awwww, garsh, y'all . . .  By the end of the school year, the group had changed some and the teens were a little nicer and more enthusiastic readers. 
 
Here in the Rio Grande Valley, the kids (as, I suspect, in many places around the country), teens and even 'tweens must have the coolness factor in anything they do.  If I offered a program called "Sit on your tush for an hour at a time doing MySpace and Runescape," I'd have stats through the roof!  (Some gaming programming to come.)  
 
I wish we had a Youth Services Librarian, as well as a Children's Librarian.  I am open to ideas that would spark interest in our (mostly Mexican-American) teens (whatever their ages), but it's difficult to get them to attend programs. 
 
BTW, where y'at in Texas?
 
  -- Kathleen
 
"Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual."     -- Victor E. Frankl
 
Kathleen P. Horan, M.L.S.
Branch Manager
Palm View Branch Library
McAllen, TX
956-688-3322

________________________________

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org on behalf of King, Kathryn
Sent: Wed 7/11/2007 2:39 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Age ranges for Teen Services




PUBLIB-ers--

I am trying to gather some information about how other libraries
classify their teens, specifically what age ranges do you teen services
serve. 

We have a special situation because we have Teen (15-17+) and Juvenile
(8-11) and then a netherworld called Middle Zone (ages 11-14). 

The question has arisen as to why "teen" doesn't include all teens.  Is
there a better term for High Schoolers that isn't school level specific?
Announcing that we have a great "high schoolers zone" doesn't sound like
it would entice any high schooler to come, hang out and (perchance to
dream) check out a book.

On a follow up question: Do you find more overlap between jr high
schoolers and high schoolers OR upper elementary kids and jr high
schoolers?

In a quandary in Texas,
Kathryn
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