Teen Services Today: A Practical Guide for Librarians

Complete and thorough, this guide touches on almost every aspect of teen services. The authors consider their patrons, briefly discussing teen populations (those in urban and rural areas, minority groups, those with special needs, and homeless teens) and the developmental needs of adolescents. The section "Teen Collection" features a quick description of genres and formats, contains advice on how to use picture books with young adults, and emphasizes the need for diversity in the collection. A variety of program ideas are presented, from book groups and writing workshops to maker spaces and comic cons, as well as school-related tie-ins (prom dress exchanges and SAT preparations), ideas for older teens (teaching financial aid information, going over job interview tips), and more unique programs, such as skills training in car maintenance and housework. Suggestions for marketing involve using social media in addition to more traditional print options. Young adults are also seen as a potential volunteer resource. Every chapter concludes with additional reading and a helpful resource list. Grants and crowd-funding are also tackled, and a sample donation letter is included. Examples of a materials selection policy and a request for reconsideration will be valuable. Much of this content is covered elsewhere, but it is useful to have so many up-to-date aspects of the topic in one handy volume.