teen library (mis) behavior 101, or, beasts in the fair garden

Presented by Beth Gallaway

Beasts in the Fair Garden:

Cultivating Teens as Lifelong Library

Users

NHLA Business Meeting

November 2010

Resources:

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Do you have

ephebiphobia?

Disruptive Library Behaviors

CongregatingCongregating

Courting BehaviorCourting Behavior

BacktalkBacktalk

Eating & drinkingEating & drinking

Cell phone useCell phone use

Dangerous Library Behaviors

LanguageLanguage

SexSex

VandalismVandalism

TheftTheft

ViolenceViolence

CyberbullyingCyberbullying

Differentiate Between the 2 Ds

DisruptiveDisruptive

NormalNormal

AnnoyingAnnoying

Dangerous Dangerous

AbnormalAbnormal

Harmful to self & othersHarmful to self & others

IllegalIllegal

Why Do Teens Act That Way?

Teen Behavior Influences

CulturalCultural

Sociological Sociological

PersonalPersonal

PsychologicalPsychological

BiologicalBiological

Frontal Lobe

Facilitates:Facilitates:

PlanningPlanning

Decision MakingDecision Making

Myelin Sheath

Facilitates: Facilitates:

Learning new things Learning new things

Gut reactions Gut reactions intelligent intelligent response response

Concrete Concrete abstractabstract

Results in?Results in?

Dopamine

Controls:Controls:

Smooth motor skillsSmooth motor skills

Pleasure centerPleasure center

Volume regulatorVolume regulator

Serotonin

Regulates: Regulates:

TemperatureTemperature

MoodMood

AppetiteAppetite

EmotionEmotion

Melatonin

Controls:Controls:

Sleep/wake cyclesSleep/wake cycles

Biological clock Biological clock

On Rules

Create a behavior policy Create a behavior policy

Same rules for everyoneSame rules for everyone

Less rules = better Less rules = better 

Be positiveBe positive

Be flexibleBe flexible

Set Boundaries

1.1. State unacceptable behaviorState unacceptable behavior

2.2. State consequence of continuing State consequence of continuing unacceptable behaviorunacceptable behavior

3.3. Ask teen to make a choiceAsk teen to make a choice

“John, it’s too noisy over here, and

some people are trying to study. If the

disruptive behavior continues, you will be

asked to leave.

Example

You can choose to lower the volume level

and stay, or you can choose to leave.

“Mary, your computer time is up, we have

someone waiting. If you continue to violate the

time limit, your computer privileges will be

suspended.

Example

You can choose to log off now and get more time

tomorrow, or lose computer access for 2 days.

“Librarians do not kick teens out of the

library. Teens get themselves kicked out

of the library, because of their behavior.”

~ Nick Buron, NYPL

Reminder!

Correcting Behavior

3 Strikes & You’re Out! 3 Strikes & You’re Out!

Target the Group LeaderTarget the Group Leader

Good Cop, Bad CopGood Cop, Bad Cop

Invade Personal Space*Invade Personal Space*

* follow your instincts

Follow Through

Welcome backWelcome back

Introduce Introduce

DiscussDiscuss

• ReinforceReinforce

Create Raving Fans

1.1. Cultivate relationshipsCultivate relationships

2.2. Engage teens in meaningful participationEngage teens in meaningful participation

3.3. Be an excellent librarianBe an excellent librarian

4.4. Give them a room of their own Give them a room of their own 

5.5. EvaluateEvaluate

Cultivate Relationships

• Talk to teens when they do something Talk to teens when they do something RIGHTRIGHT

• GreetGreet

• Get OutGet Out

Meaningful Participation

Be an Excellent Librarian!• Customer ServiceCustomer Service

• ReferenceReference

• Reader’s AdvisoryReader’s Advisory

Excellent Customer Service

• Be respectfulBe respectful

• Greet by nameGreet by name

• Engage in their preferred mediumsEngage in their preferred mediums

• Anticipate needsAnticipate needs

• Find ways to say YESFind ways to say YES

• EvaluateEvaluate

CS Tip: Give ‘em the Pickle!

Excellent Reference

• Read the local newspaperRead the local newspaper

• Don’t ask, “Is this for homework?”Don’t ask, “Is this for homework?”

• Do ask, “Do you want me to show you Do ask, “Do you want me to show you how how to get it, or just get it for you?to get it, or just get it for you?

• Don’t point; take a walkDon’t point; take a walk

• Conduct a reference interviewConduct a reference interview

The Reference Interview

• Be approachableBe approachable

• Ask open ended questionsAsk open ended questions

• ConfirmConfirm

• Follow throughFollow through

RI Tip: Smile like you mean it!

Thibault, Pascal; Pierre Gosselin, Marie-Lise Brunel and Ursula Hess. “Children’s and adolescents’ perception of the authenticity of smiles.” Journal of Experimental Child Psychology. Volume 102, Issue 3, March 2009, pages 360-367

Excellent Reader’s Advisory

Right book, right person, right timeRight book, right person, right time

• DiscoverDiscover

• ClarifyClarify

• TuneTune

• DirectDirect

RA Tip: Incorporate Media

INSTEAD OF: INSTEAD OF:

• What authors do you like What authors do you like to read?to read?

• What are the last 3 books What are the last 3 books you read? you read?

• What did you like about What did you like about them?them?

ASK: ASK:

• What movies do What movies do you like? you like?

• What TV shows do What TV shows do you watch? you watch?

• What games do you What games do you play?play?

A Room of Their Own

• Go beyond a shelf Go beyond a shelf and a posterand a poster

• Convert a Convert a meeting roommeeting room

• Designate a staff Designate a staff personperson

The

Search Institute’s

Developmental

Assets

http://www.search-institute.org/

developmental-assets/lists

Reminders for Librarians

• Stay calmStay calm

• It’s not personalIt’s not personal

• Teens are job securityTeens are job security

• Learn to RAP Learn to RAP 

Homework Assignment:Moment of Truth• RRememberemember

• AAccept ccept

• PProjectroject

http://informationgoddess.info/http://informationgoddess.info/momentoftruth2009.mp3 momentoftruth2009.mp3

Thank You!

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Contact: informationgoddess29@gmail.comContact: informationgoddess29@gmail.com

1.603.247.3196 1.603.247.3196