Beyond the Bookshelf Teen Programming

1. Beyond the BookshelfTeen Programming Instructor: Kelley Worman kelley.worman@fresnolibrary.org An Infopeople Workshop Fall 2006

2. This Workshop Is Brought to You by the Infopeople Project Infopeople is a federally-funded grant project supported by the California State Library. It provides a wide variety of training to California libraries. Infopeople workshops are offered around the state and are open registration on a first-come, first-served basis. For a complete list of workshops, and for other information about the project, go to the Infopeople website at infopeople.org.

3. Introductions • Name • Library • Position • Thinking back to your teen years, name any program you attended (library or other) and tell what you remember liking about it.

4. Workshop Overview • Foundations of programming • Program and outreach ideas for teens • Partnering • Funding • Marketing and evaluation

5. Why Program for Teens? • Increase library use • Inform, entertain and enrich kids • Supports healthy development of youth • Promotes the library in the community

6. Questions for the Group • What has been your best and worst experience with teen programming? • What makes a good program?

7. Teens will find ways to… • Meet their basic needs • Build skills and values • Use skills, talents, energy, and time in ways that make them feel good Whether adults approve or not! Abrams, Stephen. The Kids are Alright: Millenials and Their Information Behavior. ALA Annual Conference 2006.

8. Benefits of YA Programming • Offers teens a chance to participate actively, not react passively • Channels energy • Fosters positive relationships with peers and caring adults • Provides opportunities to develop life skills and to contribute to the community

9. Barriers to Good Programming • Poor planning • Lack of support • Takes a lot of time and effort • Not understanding teens (no teen input) • Programs are too academic • Too focused on library goals Jones, Patrick. What’s the Frequency: a how-to-do-it workshop. Young Adult Services Institute. San Joaquin Valley Library System.

10. Keys to Success • Teen involvement • Popular topic • Good planning • Appropriate marketing

11. Teen Involvement • Getting input and ideas • Positives • Negatives

12. Program Policies • Identifies purpose and need of young adult programming • Articulates scope of library programming • Defense for programming

13. Questions for Group What elements are essential for a young adult program policy?

14. Building Arguments for Programs • Brainstorm possible objections by administration and form intelligent debate. • Use program policy • Use Search Institute 40 Developmental Assets www.searchinstitute.org • Query list servs

15. Getting Ideas • Teens • List servs • TV • Magazines • Websites

16. Types of Programs • Informational • Recreational • Literature-related • Curriculum-related

17. Single Event Programs Samples • Open Mic • Gaming tournament • Origami • College Knowledge • Mystery night • Movie program • Skool of Rock Self Defense Workshop for Teensby D.A.R.E. Instructor , Dave Johnson Thursday, February 12 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

18. Banned Books Week Teen Read Week Teen Tech Week Special and Themed Programs • Holidays • Heritage months • Young People’s Poetry Week

19. Ongoing and Series Programs • Social issues • Career search • Book clubs • Animé clubs • Teen Council

20. Steps to Planning • Approval needed? • Necessary resources • Time, date, and location • Checklist

21. Why a Checklist? • Focuses your planning • Helps to make sure you think of everything • Leaves a pathway for others to replicate the program

22. Outreach(Taking It on the Road) • Reaches teens that aren’t regular library users • May involve partnering with community groups • Time and financial commitment

23. Opportunities for Outreach • Schools • Teen shelters • Hospitals • Detention facilities • Home school groups • Homeless • Teen parents • LGTB youth

24. Community Partnerships • Flow out of the library’s mission and goals • Library-wide strategy • Centrally coordinated • Formal process

25. Why Partner? • Reach new users • Reach current users in a new way • Tap into community assets and resources • Gain support for the library • Create new library resources • Shares costs and increases resources

26. Types of Partnerships • Communicative • Cooperative • Collaborative

27. Steps to Choosing a Partner • Know what you want to achieve • Make a list of potential partners in the community • Research a potential partner From “Developing Community Partnerships” by Barry Trott, ALA Annual Meeting 2006

28. Funding Sources • Friends groups • Philanthropic organizations • Cultural groups • Grants • Partnerships

29. Question for Group What are three key elements that must be present in any letter requesting a funding/goods donation?

30. Key Elements • Clear statement of what you are asking for • How it benefits the community and library • What’s in it for the company

31. Cutting Costs • Partnerships • Sharing program supplies • Using free community groups and County offices as presenters • Local business donations for refreshments, supplies, prizes, etc.

32. Who is the audience for this program? How can I best reach this group? Media Displays Technology Smart Marketing • Schools • Community partners • Teen hangouts

33. Flyers: Tips for Getting Noticed • Eye-catching • Not too cluttered • Font type • Graphics • Smart placement

34. Reasons for Conducting Evaluations • Helps you know if you met your goals • Administrative support • Accountability • For suggestions to make the program better • To assess why a program didn’t work

35. Types of Evaluation • Outputs - numerically measured - statistics • Outcomes - the “so what” of programming - anecdotes to demonstrate impact

36. So Remember, Teen input and good planning + Well-thought-out promotion + Relevant evaluation = A GREAT PROGRAM

37. And Finally… HAVE FUN!!