Libraries are home to antiques like microfilm readers and encyclopedias, but they are also a popular space for something a little newer — teenagers.
Sixty-five percent of older teens ages 16 to 17 surveyed in 2013 used a library in the past year, the largest percentage for any age group included in a recent report on younger Americans and public libraries, released by the Pew Research Center.
“It’s a place where you can read and learn and truly find yourself and find your passion and you can be guided by highly trained professionals,” says Sari Feldman, president-elect of the American Library Association.
But older teens were also less likely to say that they highly value public libraries, both as a personal and community resource, the report said.
Many public libraries have developed resources geared specifically at teens to keep them interested in learning.
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— Teen spaces: Many public libraries include a space just for young people so that they feel at home, Feldman says, and oftentimes teens are involved in designing the spaces.
“We want to be sure that our communities know the libraries belong to them,” says Feldman, who is also the executive director of Cuyahoga County Public Library in Parma, Ohio.
At Cuyahoga’s Warrensville Heights branch, a dedicated teen area includes a recording studio, computer access and a gaming station, according to the library’s website. In the recording studio, teens can learn how to record music and poetry slams, Feldman says.
“While they’re obviously having the opportunity to create content, they are also learning digital media skills, which are 21st century workplace skills,” she says. Although these spaces may be a social hub for teens, she says, librarians focus on making them a space for learning.
— Digital tools: Many public libraries offer electronic resources through their websites and at their physical locations.
In Arizona, the Yuma County Library District recently created a homework help center, geared toward high school and college students, according to an article in The Yuma Sun. The center includes multiple tablets and personal computers at the library’s physical location.
The Arizona program also offers patrons use of Tutor.com, a service that connects students to a personal tutor online.
“Even when the library is closed, they have access to homework help,” Sarah Wisdom, the library’s community relations manager, told The Sun.
The Arizona library isn’t the only library offering this type of service — almost all public libraries offer online homework assistance, according to a 2013 survey from the ALA and University of Maryland.
Feldman, of the ALA, says many digital services have been created at libraries.
“In rural areas, I think it is even more critical because the library may be the best high-speed Internet in a community,” she says. In lower-income communities, teens may not have as many opportunities to explore digital content and tools.
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— College and career assistance: Helping teens with tasks that prepare them for life after high school is another focus of libraries.
Many offer test preparation for the ACT and SAT, Feldman says, and librarians often help students with college applications. Some may teach students and their families how to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid — not an easy task, she says.
And the library is often the first stop for teens who want to get involved with their community by volunteering, she says.
At the Ramona Library in California, teens involved with the Teen Action Council program shelve books, assist with library events and help elementary students with homework — all while earning community service hours, according to an article in the Ramona Sentinel.
“What we’re trying to do is prepare them for leadership roles,” Ellie Slade, manager of the branch, told the newspaper.
Feldman says that libraries are a place where teens can be themselves, which makes them a valuable resource.
“It is kind of a great equalizer,” she says.
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Public Libraries Offer More Than Just Books to Teens originally appeared on usnews.com
