In December, 2005, our 180 square foot alcove morphed into a lovely 1,200 square foot oasis for teenagers from grades six through twelve. Complete with computers reserved just for teens, we have one of a very few teen service desks in the entire state of Michigan.
We order all the materials for the Teen Area, including books, graphic novels, magazines, and movies. Ordering is a multi-step process: get suggestions from teens on what materials they want, read many, many reviews in professional journals, determine if an item is appropriate and needed in our collection, decide if there’s enough money in the budget for one or multiple copies, order the item(s), assign a call number, send the item(s) to Support Services for processing, and finally, place the item(s) on the shelf to be checked out. Whew!
Creating events for Teens to attend at the library is one of the most enjoyable aspects of our work. We take into account what the latest interests are, what other things teens have going on, like friends, school, homework, chores, band, clubs, and jobs; we read teen magazines, blogs by other librarians and talk to teens to find out what they want us to do for them.
We visit Oxford Middle and High schools to promote the Teen Area.Then, we collect statistics to see what works and what doesn’t.
This brief overview is only scratching the surface of what we do. We do our best to create a welcoming, teen-friendly space with materials and programs that are not only what teens need for school, but what they want just for fun. Let us know how we can help you!
Teen Book Reviews You know that book you just finished? You may have totally loved it. Or, you may have absolutely hated it. Now's your chance to recommend it to the world - or warn others to stay far away!Stop by the Teen Desk and pick up a Teen Book review form, or find one on the displays in the Teen area. We post the best reviews on our Teen Blog. |
We want you to tell us what you want from your Teen Department! Bring us your suggestions for books, movies, and music we should have. Tell us what programs you would like to attend. If you want to help plan behind the scenes, join TAB and get involved! This is your chance to make a difference in your library. Call the Teen Desk 248-628-3034 to find out more.
|