Career Programming for Today's Teens: Exploring Nontraditional and Vocational Alternatives

Wyckoff and Harris make a strong case for planning career programming for teens, acknowledging that attracting students to vocation-themed events requires preparation and an understanding of participants' interests and lives. Fortunately, the authors offer realistic advice for promoting attendance and engagement, based on their experience implementing a "Meet a Professional" workshop series and annual trade school fairs at North Carolina's Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. The scope of programming is broad, with narratives from librarians nationwide who describe internship programs for teens and other career readiness efforts. Readers will appreciate information on partnering with schools, evaluating outcomes, and purchasing with vocational needs in mind. The somewhat dense text layout and minimal use of subheads do not encourage browsing. However, the content is engaging, relying on specific (and culturally sensitive) examples drawn from working with adolescents, and the authors' strategies can be implemented in other, nonlibrary settings.