Inspiring Teens

Why bring Teens in libraries?

• There are approximately 17.5 million young people aged under 25 in the UK today.

• 46% of 16 to 24 year olds don't read for pleasure. (Taking Part 2011/12 Adult and Child Report, Department for Culture Media and Sport, 2012)

• More young people volunteer than any age group; in fact, 40% of all young people volunteer. Despite this, only 12% of media stories about young people are positive, almost half the articles about young people are crime related and only one in ten stories about young people actually bothers to quote a young person.

• The UK has the lowest child wellbeing of all UN countries surveyed in 2011, below Hungary, Poland, the US and virtually every European or Western Nation.

• 15.9% of all 16- to 24-year-olds in England are not in education, employment or training.

• Reading books is the only out-of-school activity for 16-year-olds demonstrably linked to securing managerial or professional jobs.

• 70% of pupils permanently excluded from school have difficulties in basic literacy skills.

Key things that have worked in Hillingdon

• Right Stock• Right Events• Right Environment• Links with Secondary Schools• Refreshments!

Stock for Teens

• More Study Books• More Graphic Novels• Better Teen Fiction Selection – move with trends

• Effective Transitioning to Adult Fiction

Bite Night! Author Event

Hillingdon jumped on the Paranormal Romance bandwagon back in 2010 and managed to find an author ‘Rachel Caine’ who was promoting her latest series about Teen vampires.We linked it with the Twilight series by hosting a quiz, providing various book prizes and a talk on Gothic fiction.

Over 60 people came to an event in a small village library that normally gets a footfall of 180 people a day.

Rachel Caine sold over 100 books that evening and signed them all. We had a local independent bookseller from Uxbridge there selling her books for us.

Free pizza and soft drinks provided by local kebab shop. This was in exchange for English Language & TEFL courses for the staff there, provided free of charge through the library – this went down a treat!

TokyoPop Re-Con at Ruislip Manor Library

Ruislip Manor Library hosted a Manga event promoting the TokyoPop books – people could show up in fancy dress. It was a mini comic con. This was very popular with young adults – over 80 attended.

Moving with Technology

One Library is trying to launch the ‘Next Generation’ of reading group and tying this in with watching the film version of the book too. FLASH – Film & Literary Appreciation Society – Harefield. The premise is that you read the book then watch the film and discuss.

Comfortable Environments for Teens & Students

Book of the Year Awards Secondary Schools

Every year the SchoolsLibrary Service works alongside

localsecondary schools to host a ‘Book ofthe Year’ award.The ceremony for this culminates inall participating local secondaryschools doing a performance in frontof the library service, the school

andthe mayor as well as otherprominent local figures.

After the performance, a winner is selected and then the winner for the Secondary Book of the Year is announced. This has really encouraged good links with local schools, and we can get in touch with them directly to promote events.

Refreshments!

Comments? Questions?

Thanks very much!

Lara Marshall – Hillingdon Libraries