This document summarizes a presentation given by Dr. Barbara McNeil at the Saskatchewan Library Association Conference on the role of public and school libraries in supporting marginalized adolescent youth. The presentation discusses how literacy is key to participation in democratic processes and outlines a research project that used literature circles to promote literacy growth in struggling adolescent boys. The goals of the research were to engage school leadership and librarians to collaboratively support literacy development and examine how critical reading practices can influence literacy skills and understanding of social issues.