Samantha is a library assistant working in Scariff Public Library who has recently qualified with an MSc Information and Library Studies. Her thesis looked at the current provision of public library services for teens and the way forward for teen service provision in Ireland. Samantha has previously run teen book and film clubs and run events for teens in her library. Samantha is passionate about doing more for teens in Irish public libraries and making sure they feel welcome and valued in the library.

1. Teens and Irish
Public Libraries
How to better connect
with and serve teens
in the library

2. Teens and libraries
Teens often get
overlooked
Doesn’t need
to be elaborate
or expensive
Space not a
problem
Need to create
a relationship

3. You don’t need to be a teen ninja librarian!

4. There is no shame in failing

5. What is passive programming?
• Individual programs have been called many things (self-led,
passive, proactive, and more), but one thing remains the same
– these are a great way for any library to encourage interaction
from people who may not normally attend programs while using
less library resources and staff time. (Sparrow et al. Colorado
State Library)
• Give your patrons a voice and participate on their own time,
regardless of the size of your location or budget.

6. Another
definition
• Passive programming engages teens in the
library without requiring much from staff in
terms of supervision.
• It can be applied by those of all experience
and comfort levels, making it an ideal
solution for those who aren’t necessarily
teen experts or when staff is simply spread
too thin.
• It’s non-threatening, as well as flexible for
implementation and participation.

7. Why do passive programming?
Passive activities can be a
gateway to traditional
participation for teens
suspicious of your
enthusiasm for them and
their well-being.
Keep doing them and they
will realise the library is a
place to do interesting
things
Good for introvert teens
50%
Passive programming is
subversive – teens see,
engage and connect with
the library without ever
once being told what you’re
doing is good for them

8. And very importantly…
• The input you get from teens via these programmes helps
you better tailor your collection, your services, and your
knowledge of your own teen population.
A library director in the US told me
“ we have gone from having about 60 people participate
in our programming annually 3 Years ago to our current
total of 3239 thanks to fun passive programmes. “

9. How to do passive
programming
• As simple or as complicated as you make it
• Start small – shelf talkers , teens write opinions
• Prepping in advance helps consistency
• List of ideas for when busy
• How to run it – materials run out? Each time teen in , bi-weekly ,
monthly
• Don’t limit audience, try new things, as many options as poss.
For all teen users

10. More how to..
Publicity – blog,
website, Facebook,
twitter, instagram, tell
schools, word of
mouth
01
Other staff-keep them
informed
02
Measuring outcomes
– supplies used, prize
entries, if on social
media-likes etc., tally
sheets to record
engagement
03
Even if teens never
participate they will
have seen effort. They
can tell they are
wanted as valued.
04

11. Examples

12. More ideas

13. But don't forget
• an author and editor-in-chief of VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates)
Magazine, says “The kiss of death is thinking you know what your
teens want based on what other communities are doing or what you
want to do with no input from your teens.
• You can plan a perfect program from someone else’s library and
someone else’s teens, but it may bomb in your library because you
forgot the teen programming golden rule of listening to your teens,”
• “Pinterest and other books and sites are great to find ideas. . . . I like
to think of these resources as cookbooks. You find a recipe that
looks good and modify it to suit your family’s tastes.

14. We just looked at passive
programming
• There is a lot more we can do -
• Create a teen-only space
• Hire the right staff
• Partner with schools
• Connect on social media

15. • Web Resources
• Teen Librarian Toolbox – TPiB
• Pinterest – Passive Program
• Books:
• Librarian’s Guide to Passive Programming by EmilyT.Wichman