Handout from a guest lecture I gave at Queens College GSLIS for Dr. Mary Kay Chelton. It's a bit incomplete without me talking, but you can get a pretty good idea of what the lecture was about.

1. LIFE IN THE Teen TRENCHES!
OR,
THINGS AIN’T ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM...
New Rochelle Public Library
Serves a population of about 75,000. This is a very diverse population in terms of
background, ethnicity and economic/social standing. About 8,000 (10.6%) members
of that population are currently between 12 and 18 years of age. They largely attend
two public middle schools and one very large high school, as well as one main local
Catholic secondary school.
Serves more teens on a daily basis than most other libraries in Westchester. We
generally have anywhere from 20 - 50 teens every afternoon during the school year.
I AM THE MOCKINGJAY!

2. Organizational Culture
By the numbers:
26
16 9
1

3. all i
Administration did was ask for new
computers!
Everything you are able to accomplish
will depend on the level of support you
have from your director.
“Level of Support” can be a pretty fluid concept.
You must solicit and maintain that support, and you better have good reasons and
real numbers to back up your ideas, requests and initiatives.
Never give up, and always be prepared - you never know when your chance might
come.
Coworkers
“Axis and Allies.” Learn who is on your side and who isn’t, and don’t expect either to
be constant.
“Your kids” are library patrons whether you’re there or not. Don’t accept otherwise,
and do everything you can to make it a reality.
Your responsibility is to your teen patrons, not to your coworkers. Be prepared to
rub a few people the wrong way if you have to.
You need to learn to work with the Children’s department, whether they like it or not.
The Kids
Teenagers? Well, more or less.
Open your mouth, open your mind and (try to) remember things.
Learn to be bulletproof, and learn not to hold grudges.
Denial is not a river in Egypt, and discipline is sometimes necessary
You are so NOT cool, but you do need to keep up.

4. “A Day In The Life”
Woke up, fell outta bed, and dealt with one or more of the following:
Desk hours: I spend four hours on the desk on a normal day, but sometimes it
will be five or even six. We are generally rather busy so getting work done at the desk
is sketchy at best.
Collection development:
A very difficult and time consuming job. Why?
Average Librarian Me
900’s Fiction
PB Series
Graphic Novels and Manga
Spanish Language (Fiction & Nonfiction)
FYI
Homework Help
NF 000-900’s (curriculum support)
NF 000-900’s (info & pleasure reading)
Audiobooks
Also, keep in mind that your average Librarian just buys the stuff and that’s it. I read a
great deal of what I buy. It’s essential to be able to perform Reader’s Advisory with
teens.
Know your Collection Development policy, and if it’s outdated or outmoded, rewrite it.
Know where challenge forms are. Intellectual Freedom is a management issue, not
an ethereal concept.

5. Technology: The kids you will deal with today are digital natives - even the
ones who exclusively use our computers. Stay current and know how to use technology
to your advantage.
Programming
Program at your own risk!
T.A.G.? You might not be it.
Attendance may not be the point.
Summer Reading starts in February.
If at first nobody shows up, try, try again!
Volunteers and Pages: I supervise all teen volunteers, and at one time
supervised all library pages. This means maintaining work schedules, handing out work
assignments, training, evaluation, payroll monitoring, hiring and firing and the
occasional pat on the back. Don’t be lax with a volunteer program - you’re not doing the
kids any favors and you do not want to become the ‘slacker option.‘
Outreach: When working with schools and other outside agencies, keep a few
things in mind:
Head + Brick wall = Headache, but the cracks will be worth it.
Don’t kill yourself - teachers need to meet you halfway.
Research schools and agencies. They are also your competitors and you may need
to convince them why should work together.
Professional development: This is a very important tool. Join
YALSA, Join NYLA, go to conferences, go to your county meetings, join committees,
join listservs, read blogs, yadda yadda yadda. You not only learn things, but you’ll meet
new people, some of them important, and it’s good to have people know your name.

6. Finally...
Teen Services is the best job in the library. It’s a lot of fun and can be very rewarding.
Just be aware that it takes an awful lot of work to be successful at it. You have to
negotiate both a job and a workplace, one where not everyone is as thrilled as you are
to see your patrons come in.
Good Luck!
But if
we go to the library...will I
still...SPARKLE?
Ken Petrilli
Librarian II/Teen Services
New Rochelle Public Library
914-813-3735
planetfire@hotmail.com
nrplteens@wlsmail.org
www.facebook.com/nrplteens