This article summarizes research on strategies and programs for attracting young adults to public libraries. Surveys of librarians and young adults at 160 libraries identified that teens and librarians agreed comfortable teen spaces, food, publicity in the library, and encouraging friends were most effective strategies. However, teens rated the library website higher than librarians. For programs, both groups agreed research, volunteering, and internet access were top, but differed on research and internet rankings. The research provided recommendations but had limitations like a low response rate.

1. Attracting Young Adults to the
Library: A Research Critique
Paula Ciberay, Barbara Durland, Jennifer
Roberts, and Lisa Wood

2. Introduction
“The secret message . . . to most young people
today is that they are not needed . . . For society to
attempt to solve its problems without [their] full
participation . . . is IMBECILE. Alvin Toffler,
author/futurist

3. PROBLEM STATEMENT
Young Adults = 25% of public library patrons
Public libraries without YA librarian = 89%

4. Study Guided by Two Questions
• What Young Adult strategies most effectively
attract teens?
• What Young Adult programs and services
most effectively attract teens?

5. Methods Used
Quantitative
•Weighted surveys of
Librarians and Young
Adults.
Qualitative
•Face to face interviews
with librarians.
•Field notes from library
visits.
•Young adult focus
groups.
•Young adult email
interviews.

6. Summary of Methods
•160 libraries were surveyed.
•47 were returned (30%).
•Ten libraries were selected for qualitative study.
•18 young adults participated in focus groups.

7. Pros of Methods
•Wide variety of mixed
methods.
•Triangulation-
Qualitative used to
verify Quantitative
•Good tips for new
program success.
Cons of Methods
•Low response rate.
•Libraries only chosen from
survey respondents.
•Qualitative studied limited
to strong YA participation.
•Ignores non-library users.

8. Summary of Results- Strategies
Teen
Ranking
Librarian
Ranking
Teen Space 1 3*
Food 2 2
Publicity in
Library
3 5
Bring friends 4 3*
Library
Webpage
5 11
Word of Mouth 6 1

9. Summary of Results on Strategies
Teens & librarians agreed on 4 of 5 strategies:
•Teen Space- comfy, attractive
•Food
•Publicity in library -fliers, posters
•Encouragement to bring friends
Teens and librarians disagreed on one key strategy:
•Teens rated their library web page #5.
•Librarians rated the web page for teens #11.

10. One Implication of Results
•Librarians should place more focus on the teen
web page.

11. Summary of Results- Programs & Services
Teen
Ranking
Librarian
Ranking
Research 1 3
Volunteer @ Library 2 2
Internet 3 1
Library Displays 4 7
Software 5 4
Videos 8 5

12. Summary of Results- Programs & Services
Teens & librarians agreed on the top 3 Programs &
Services:
•Doing research
•Volunteering at the library
•Using the Internet
Teens & librarians disagreed in one key way:
•Teens ranked research #1 and the internet #3.
•Librarians ranked the internet #1 and research #3.

13. Implications:
•Librarians view young people as internet users
first, while teens view themselves as researchers
first.
•Perhaps librarians need to give credit where credit
is due, and focus on teen research interests first,
then use the internet as a means to that goal.
(Bishop and Bauer, 2002).

14. Poster Created By:
Lisa Wood, Jennifer Roberts, Barb Durland, and Paula
Ciberay
Sources
Bishop, K., Bauer, P. (2002, Winter). Attracting young
adults to public Libraries: Frances Henne/YALSA/VOYA
research grant results. Journal of Youth Services in
Libraries, 15, no.2, 36-44. Retrieved March 20, 2009,
from Library & Information Science; Education.

15. Thesis
“By identifying effective young adult strategies, programs,
and services, the following research study will add to the
knowledge of the role of libraries and librarians as
community partners in providing for the needs of young
adults “(Bishop & Bauer, 2002, p.3).

16. Recommendations
•Although there were some limitations to this
study, such as a low rate of return of the survey
and lack of response from teens who were not
already quite involved in their library, the
recommendations can provide some simple but
useful techniques that most libraries and librarians
could incorporate to attract teens.

17. Further Questions This Article Raises
•How can libraries attract teens who are not as
active in their library or do not have a library with
teen services already in place?

18. Pros of the Article
•There was a great deal of
agreement between the
young adults and the
librarians
•Represents libraries in
various parts of the state and
rural and urban libraries.
•Represents diverse ethnic
and socioeconomic
backgrounds of patrons.
•Used mixed methods and
triangulation.
Cons of the Article
•Teens who participated in
follow-up calls and focus
groups volunteered to do so;
their opinions may differ
from those who did not
volunteer.
•Only 30% of surveys were
returned.

19. Positive Elements of Article
•Great deal of agreement between the young
adults and the librarians.
•Represents libraries in various parts of the state
and rural and urban libraries.
• Represents diverse ethnic and socioeconomic
backgrounds of patrons.
•Used mixed methods and triangulation

20. Questionable Elements
•Teens who participated in follow-up calls and
focus groups volunteered to do so; their opinions
may differ from those who did not volunteer.
•Only 30% of surveys were returned.

21. Who Should Read This Article
•Librarians working with or desiring to work with
young adults.
•Stakeholders, directors, and managers seeking
to attract youth to their library.
•Those seeking to provide young adults with
positive places to spend their free time

22. Why Read This Article
•Improve awareness of what attracts teens to a
public library.
•Contains research-based information on which to
base teen programming.
•Research to present to stakeholders, managers
and grant evaluators.