Be Afraid… Be Very Afraid Teens and Libraries Maggie Hommel, Young Adult Librarian Park Ridge Public Library [email_address]

A Whirlwind Tour… Perceptions of Teens Perceptions of Libraries Adolescent Brains Teens and Technology How all of this can change how you look at and deal with Teens

Perceptions of Teens

Perceptions of Libraries

Adolescent Brains

Teens and Technology

How all of this can change how you look at and deal with Teens

“ Teenagers are not luggage: They don’t need handling.” --Edward T. Sullivan

R-E-S-P-E-C-T Teens deserve as much respect and service as any other patron What can be done about teens  What can be done for teens BUT, there are several real barriers that make service to teens difficult

Teens deserve as much respect and service as any other patron

What can be done about teens  What can be done for teens

BUT, there are several real barriers that make service to teens difficult

Perceptions & “Great Expectations”

Teens Perceptions of Libraries Uncool? Restrictive Librarians are mean Not on their radar Missouri study: 40% rarely go to the library; 43% would go “if they thought about it” YALSA/SmartGirl.org survey: 16% never go

Uncool?

Restrictive

Librarians are mean

Not on their radar

Missouri study: 40% rarely go to the library; 43% would go “if they thought about it”

YALSA/SmartGirl.org survey: 16% never go

Teens like “inviting spaces, specialized teen areas, food services” YA Loft survey: #1 was “friendly librarian” Marketing library well can greatly improve teen perceptions Teens Perceptions of Libraries

Teens like “inviting spaces, specialized teen areas, food services”

YA Loft survey: #1 was “friendly librarian”

Marketing library well can greatly improve teen perceptions

Librarians’ (and S ociety’s) Perceptions of Teens Negative Portrayals and Stereotypes Teen pregnancy Teen drug use Underage drinking Crime rates Sleep Deprivation Teenage suicide

Negative Portrayals and Stereotypes

Teen pregnancy

Teen drug use

Underage drinking

Crime rates

Sleep Deprivation

Teenage suicide

Librarians’ (and S ociety’s) Perceptions of Teens Fear Ephebiphobia: fear of teenagers or of adolescence, and the prejudice against teenagers or underage adolescents

Fear

Ephebiphobia: fear of teenagers or of adolescence, and the prejudice against teenagers or underage adolescents

Librarians’ (and S ociety’s) Perceptions of Teens Fear Why? Teens have problems They are disrespectful, loud, rude, disruptive They are always in a hurry They break the rules They come to the library to goof off They don’t make good decisions

Fear

Why?

Teens have problems

They are disrespectful, loud, rude, disruptive

They are always in a hurry

They break the rules

They come to the library to goof off

They don’t make good decisions

Librarians’ (and S ociety’s) Perceptions of Teens Fear Can these things be said about ALL teenagers? Could they be said about some adults? How much is perception and how much reality? Developmental and psychological reasons for teen behavior

Fear

Can these things be said about ALL teenagers? Could they be said about some adults?

How much is perception and how much reality?

Developmental and psychological reasons for teen behavior

“ Terrible Teens”

Adolescent Development Teenage brains are going through similar changes to a two-year-old Their brains aren’t wired to think logically There are real developmental reasons for teen behavior

Teenage brains are going through similar changes to a two-year-old

Their brains aren’t wired to think logically

There are real developmental reasons for teen behavior

Adolescent Development Be their prefrontal cortex

Be their prefrontal cortex

Adolescent Development Prefrontal cortex : responsible for planning, organizing, complex thinking, and impulse control Amygdala : responsible for impulsive, emotional, and instinctual behavior

Prefrontal cortex : responsible for planning, organizing, complex thinking, and impulse control

Amygdala : responsible for impulsive, emotional, and instinctual behavior

Adolescent Development Teens brains are developing What they encounter and engage in will affect how their brain develops “ Use it or lose it” Librarians can play a positive role

Teens brains are developing

What they encounter and engage in will affect how their brain develops

“ Use it or lose it”

Librarians can play a positive role

Teens & Technology New Research PEW Project “ Teens and Technology” MacArthur Foundation “ Digital Media and Learning”

New Research

PEW Project

“ Teens and Technology”

MacArthur Foundation

“ Digital Media and Learning”

PEW Report “ Youth are leading the transition to a fully wired and mobile nation” 87% of U.S. teens age 12-17 use the Internet 51% go online on a daily basis 81% of Internet users play games online 76% get news online 45% have cell phones; 33% text IM is preferred to email Teens & Technology

PEW Report

“ Youth are leading the transition to a

fully wired and mobile nation”

87% of U.S. teens age 12-17 use the Internet

51% go online on a daily basis

81% of Internet users play games online

76% get news online

45% have cell phones; 33% text

IM is preferred to email

Teens & Technology PEW Report What Librarians should know: Technology is ubiquitous, always on Multitasking is a way of life Teens are consumers & creators Quick information Instantaneous feedback & results

PEW Report

What Librarians should know:

Technology is ubiquitous, always on

Multitasking is a way of life

Teens are consumers & creators

Quick information

Instantaneous feedback & results

Teens & Technology MacArthur Foundation Digital Media and Learning: Asked “Are kids different today because of digital media?”

MacArthur Foundation

Digital Media and Learning:

Asked “Are kids different today because of digital media?”

Teens & Technology MacArthur Foundation Findings: 83% of young people play video games regularly

MacArthur Foundation

Findings:

83% of young people play video games regularly

Teens & Technology MacArthur Foundation Possible Effects on Learning: Teens work on a trial-and-error basis Not afraid to fail Multitasking “ Books are not the standard thing for learning anymore” (quote from a teen) Analytical/problem solving skills vs. rote knowledge

MacArthur Foundation

Possible Effects on Learning:

Teens work on a trial-and-error basis

Not afraid to fail

Multitasking

“ Books are not the standard thing for learning anymore” (quote from a teen)

Analytical/problem solving skills vs. rote knowledge

Teen Behavior vs. Library Rules

Teen Behavior vs. Library Rules Discipline is part of serving teens Take a few breaths Don’t appear threatening Don’t take it personally Apply rules equally across all age groups Keep things in perspective and give them the benefit of the doubt Develop relationships with teens **”Here Comes Trouble” by Susan B. Harden and Melanie Huggins. School Library Journal.

Discipline is part of serving teens

Take a few breaths

Don’t appear threatening

Don’t take it personally

Apply rules equally across all age groups

Keep things in perspective and give them the benefit of the doubt

Develop relationships with teens

**”Here Comes Trouble” by Susan B. Harden and Melanie Huggins. School Library Journal.

Teen Behavior vs. Library Rules “ Go Against Your Instincts”

Teen Behavior vs. Library Rules Approach the teens that seem the most unapproachable Don’t take anything personally Be the “bigger” person

Approach the teens that seem the most unapproachable

Don’t take anything personally

Be the “bigger” person

Teen Behavior vs. Library Rules Don’t make judgments Beware of peer pressure & group mentality Be understanding of teen development

Don’t make judgments

Beware of peer pressure & group mentality

Be understanding of teen development

Thank You! Maggie Hommel [email_address]

Resources Adolescent Brain Development Conference, New York Academy of the Sciences: http://www.nyas.org/ebriefreps/splash.asp?intEBriefID=219 Jones, Jami. “Teens Will Be Teens.” School Library Journal. January 2005, p.37. Strauch, Barbara. The Primal Teen: What New Discoveries about the Teenage Brain Tell Us about Our Kids. (Doubleday, 2003) Harden, Susan B. and Melanie Huggins. “Here Comes Trouble.” School Library Journal . July 2004, p. 32-5. Sullivan, Edward T. “Teenagers Are Not Luggage: They Don’t Need Handling.” Public Libraries, March/April 2001, p. 75-7. Jones, Patrick. Do it Right!: Best Practices for Serving Young Adults in School and Public Libraries. (Neal-Schumann, 2001) PEW Research Center Report: Teens and Technology http://www.pewinternet.org Macarthur Foundation Research on Digital Learning http://www.digitallearning.macfound.org

Adolescent Brain Development Conference, New York Academy of the Sciences:

http://www.nyas.org/ebriefreps/splash.asp?intEBriefID=219

Jones, Jami. “Teens Will Be Teens.” School Library Journal. January 2005, p.37.

Strauch, Barbara. The Primal Teen: What New Discoveries about the Teenage Brain Tell Us about Our Kids. (Doubleday, 2003)

Harden, Susan B. and Melanie Huggins. “Here Comes Trouble.” School Library Journal . July 2004, p. 32-5.

Sullivan, Edward T. “Teenagers Are Not Luggage: They Don’t Need Handling.” Public Libraries, March/April 2001, p. 75-7.

Jones, Patrick. Do it Right!: Best Practices for Serving Young Adults in School and Public Libraries. (Neal-Schumann, 2001)

PEW Research Center Report: Teens and Technology http://www.pewinternet.org

Macarthur Foundation Research on Digital Learning http://www.digitallearning.macfound.org