How can the students of library and information science help to improve the image of libraries? And what should libraries do to attract young people? To answer these questions we used triangulation of research methods, namely method of positive change, action research and interview with open question. The first grade master students in Department of Library and Information Science in Bratislava were asked as well as the library professionals from eight different Slovak libraries. The possibilities for change can be seen in the intersection of their various answers.

1. LOOK OF YOUTH IN THE
LIBRARY: SEVERAL
GENERATIONS
PERSPECTIVES
Mgr. Andrea Hrčková,
PhD.
Departement of Library
and Information
Science, Comenius
University in Bratislava

2. RESEARCH PROBLEM CHALLENGE
The interest of young people in
reading and libraries is
decreasing.
What should be improved and
how can young people help to
avert this trend?
8,69 % active readers in Slovakia (201

3. REVOLUTIONS
Begin always with students

4. CASE STUDY: RIJEKA CITY LIBRARY,
TEENS FOR TEENS
String relaxation workshop
Dead poet society
Writing workshop
Book quiz
Patch work
Let’s go naked
Tea time
Travelling stories
1000 teenagers, 3000 kids,
100 grown-ups involved

5. TRIANGULATION
Positive
change
Action
research
3
Method
s
Interview

6. METHOD 1: POSITIVE CHANGE
What works in libraries? What could be built upon?
What is wrong? What should be improved?

7. Real positive
examples
Of ideal state
with no
regards to
financial or
other barriers
Positive
thinking
Discove
r
Dream
Desig
n
Implemen
t
Change the
dreams to
constructive
suggestions
Realization of
selected
suggestions

8. DISADVANTAGE
Too many ideas (positivity increases creativity) and less
possibilities to implement

9. ACTION RESEARCH
Engaging respondents to
solve the problems
Changes made by
respondents

10. Rational
thinking
Identificatio
n of
problems
Solutions
Evaluation
(categories
)
Change

11. RESPONDENTS
POSITIVE CHANGE, ACTION
RESEARCH
7+5 students (1. semester of Master Degree education)
Place:Class, during Research methodology lesson

12. INTERVIEW WITH OPENED QUESTION
Interviewer: 8x1 student
Interviewed: 8x1-6 librarians= 15
Place: Libraries
Question: How can students help the visibility
of your library?

13. The interest in reading
didn’t decrease just the way
of reading changed (tablets,
e-readers…)

14. Young reader-
friendly spaces
+ space for
discussion

15. E- reader loans
24/7 opening hours for students
Rejuvenation of personnel

16. Events:
• Discussions about conspirator
theories
• Cinema in library
• Psychotests
• Writing competitions

17. Work within students
obligatory internships
Sponsors: travel agencies,
furniture selling companies,
cinemas…

18. have another interests and activities
are too lazy to go
to library
are hyperactive and have problems with reading

19. lacking current books and interesting events
silent and boring
you can not eat & drink inside
there are too many libraries

20. Librarians are not nice to
customers
Almost no quality marketing
User unfriendly collection
organization
Painful registration

21. Information literacy lessons and
events in schools by Lis students
Attractive spaces: buffet, couches,
music, coffee

22. Guerilla marketing
Sponsors
Registration via internet

23. Consultation- new ideas to attract
young readers, constructive
criticism
Enlightment- information literacy
lessons for children, excursions for
students
Internships - Rejuvenation of
personnel

24. Volunteering: Participating
actively and passively on library
events
• Educational discussions
• Presentations
• Competitions (the most active
readers)
• Organizing Barcamp, workshops
• painting, gardening, stands on
events

25. Help with addressed promotion:
• better labeling
• social networks (to create and
administrate, to share)
• wearing library badges
• licensed electronic databases in
departments

26. Tagging and reviewing books in OPAC
2.0
Attractive spaces, for students
projects
Donating new and read books to
libraries
Using the library services

27. YOUNG VS. OLDER GENERATION: ATTRACTIVE
SPACES
Or beach

28. YOUNG VS. OLDER GENERATION:
EVENTS

29. YOUNG VS. OLDER GENERATION:
INFORMATION LITERACY LESSONS
+

30. YOUNG VS. OLDER GENERATION: PROMOTION

31. YOUNG VS. OLDER GENERATION:
INTERNSHIPS

32. POSSIBLE BARRIERS
Compromises from both
sides
Need for a mediator
Trust in youth
Volunteering activity from
both sides (just 1 library
signed in to the volunteering

33. LITERATURE
GUPTA, D. K. kol. 2006. Marketing Library and Information Services:
International Perspectives. Munchen: K.G. Saur, 2006. ISBN-13: 978-3-598-
11753-4
KOPÁČIKOVÁ, Judita. 2011. Mládež a čítanie. Výskum čítania mládeže v SR. In:
ItLib, 3/2011. ISSN 1336-0779. Dostupné na:
http://itlib.cvtisr.sk/archiv/2011/3/mladez-a-citanie.-vyskum-citania-
mladeze-v-sr.html?page_id=741

34. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
hrckova.andrea@gmail.com