Teen Librarian Starts Podcast; Teens Flock to Program

Laura B. Weiss -- School Library Journal, 1/10/2006

With young adult librarians searching for ways to entice today's tech-savvy teens into libraries, one teen librarian may have found a potent lure: podcasting the town's teen writing talent.

Sarah Morgan, teen librarian at the Cheshire Public Library, CT, was hired last summer to make the town's teen library programming come alive. Podcasting, which allows individuals to broadcast original programming over the Internet with widely available software, a microphone, and a computer, seemed like a natural. And, says Morgan, who describes teens' response as "overwhelming," kids are clamoring to submit music, game, and other reviews, as well as poems and creative writing to be broadcast on the new "cultural magazine program" that's set to roll out this winter.

Morgan came to the Cheshire Public Library with tech experience under her belt. At an earlier job, she had created Web browsing programs for elementary school kids to introduce them to sites beyond "Disney and Cartoon Network," she explains.

In Cheshire, there is "a great demand for teen programs," explains Morgan. "There's a group of teens here who are really tech-savvy and enthusiastic in new cutting edge stuff." Plus, says Morgan, the town high school hosts an active writers club, which Morgan decided to harness for the podcast. "We want to get it up on iTunes," says Morgan.

How have teens reacted to the notion of podcasting their writing? "It's gotten a really enthusiastic reception," says Morgan. "When I visited the writing club, one kid ran to his locker, filled out the submission form and handed it to me before I left."