Teen

Programs

101

CLA conference 2011 Halifax, NS

Your Presenter: Elizabeth De Marco

• MLIS from Western• At Pickering Public Library since July

2003• Run teen programs at the

Pickering Public Library

Pickering Public Library Vision

The Pickering Public Library will be the heart of an engaged and creative community. We will enrich and inspire the lives of all residents; actively connecting people, ideas and cultures with openness and respect. We will be leaders in information technology, providing access to innovative technology for all. Pickering Public Library will be a destination - a fun place to visit, staffed by a diverse group of professionals who are committed to making a difference in the community.

Pickering Public Library Ends

• Connect to the Online World • Connect and Engage the Community • Create Young Readers • Express Creativity• Stimulate Imagination• Visit a Comfortable Place• Discover Your Roots• Satisfy Curiosity• Succeed in School

What has worked for the Pickering Public Library

1. Let teens run programs

a. Groups at schools (YOUnity)

b. From Teen Advisory

c. Teens you meet anywhere— programs, class visits, from running contests

2. Gaming ProgrammingPickering Public Library has run:• Open gaming night • Partnership with the City of Pickering, play games after school• Dance Dance revolution • Call of Duty (which is violent but gets people together in a way not

much else can)• HALO (many different versions)• Rock Band• Guitar Hero• Old/New Game Party• Dungeons and Dragons• American Library association declared November 13 as National

Gaming Day

Program Example:HALO REACH• Game, console, enough controllers• Charged batteries• Permission forms!!!• Space, large screen• Snacks (not popcorn!!!), prizes, medals• Other games for those waiting• 1 or 2 staff members• Competition style—round robin? take turns? etc.• Watch the video on our website!!!

http://www.picnet.org/teens

A girl wins the tournament!

Other Programs and Ideasthat have Worked

a. Film program—write, shoot a film in a day, staff edit after

b. Writing workshops, manga workshopsc. Anime nightsd. Summer Reading Clube. Author visits (when paired with school)f. Steel pan drums

And not so much worked…

• There is no trend that I can really see!

• You are not alone!

3. Volunteer Opportunities

a. Wise Guys After School Club

-Teens who are great with kids

b. Bicentennial Volunteer

-Teens who are immigrants showed interest in learning local history

-getting teenagers with interest in technology

4. Add technology to library

a. iHELP-people come in library to make music-have students working there—got CAP funding-use photoshop for projects -run classes-run film program and edit with final cut-people who love technology come in to say hi—created a community-working towards computers in groups

5. Run Larger Programs with Other Libraries and Organizations

a. Battle of the Books

-gr. 7 and 8

-teams from 8 Cities compete

and 100 schools participated

B. White Pine Battle of the Books

-all Canadian books

-gr. 9-12

contact Kim O’ReillyKOReilly@oshawalibrary.on.ca

2011 White Pine Winner Richard

Scarsbrook

c. Pride Prom

-Running for 3 years

-For lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning (LGBTQ) Youth 16-21

-Several organizations involved:The Youth Centre, AIDS Committee of Durham Region, Oshawa Community Health Centre, Town of Ajax, Pinewood Centre of Lakeridge Health, Durham College and UIOT LGBTQ Centre, Durham Regional Police Services, and PFLAG (Canada).

Focus Group Results: What Teens Like

• Come to library in groups• Space to study alone quietly, place to do group work• Friendly assistance• Resources for Everyone, including disabled. • Variety of books• Opportunity for volunteer hours & pamphlets for other places to volunteer too• Wireless access• Connecting community – different things for everyone• Outside groups get to use auditorium• Variety of programs on computer (we have MS, MAC and Linux programs)• Boardroom available for study• Good loan period for DVDs• Free stuff• Just “to chill”• Security guard – helpful and fair

Focus Group Results: What Teens Want

• Computers!!!!!!!! (grouped together)• Study rooms (like Whitby Public Library)• Teen space away from others. Partially closed room for teen space

where can play loud music• Murals –older pictures for teens• Coffee machine/ hot chocolate• Multicultural section should be bigger with more languages• Comfy chairs, bean bag chairs, current sofa is too hard, individual

chairs because someone is always making out on the sofa and you need to leave the teen area because its awkward

• art from local artists, pictures of community and library logo on wall

Focus Group Results: What Teens Want

• Sunlight – want to work near windows• Everything a teen needs in one area• Play videogames in the Library• Save energy and turn off lights during the day• Outside reading space• Use courtyard – wasted space• Do sports outside• Whiteboard wall to doodle on, especially for kids• Signs on wall for teen programs (?)• Series section for books (by series not author)• Theme displays by topics that change monthly• More checkout terminals

Focus Group Results: What Teens Dislike

• Need to be open to 10:00 pm – come after part-time job at night• Don’t waste paper – don’t need my receipt when checking out books• Internet passes- go for another pass and someone uses my computer space and my info is

still up• Fine on card – I don’t use my card now• Not enough volunteer opportunities here• Need map of the library (trouble finding things particularly when new)• Cleaner keyboards• Not enough computers – repeated at least three times• Crowded in some areas• Too noisy sometimes• Not enough recycling bins• No space for teens on computers – kids too close • Want teen computers• Not enough Word computers (clarified that they wanted Microsoft product)• Large print is too close to teen area, seniors invading teen area, give the elderly tables in

their own section