Want Your YA Programs to Succeed? Then Involve Teens
-- School Library Journal, 5/20/2008 10:03:00 AM
Utilizing teens in program creation and execution is critical to making these activities desirable and vital, states the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services’ (IMLS) latest resource in the Engaging America’s Youth Initiative series. Just released, Nine to Nineteen provides many examples of youth programming that succeed by engaging teens in purposeful community-oriented activity, benefitting not only participants but society at large as well. Stand-outs from the library community include Dallas (TX) Public Library’s Teen Center and Haines Borough (AK) Public Library’s Dragonfly Project.The guide is based on a yearlong study which looked at 400 IMLS-supported youth programs conducted at museums and libraries from 1998 to 2003, along with case studies of best practices for successful and sustainable programs. While Nine to Nineteen focuses primarily on youth programming for libraries and museums, it will prove to be a valuable resource for all community groups looking for guidance in creating effective youth programs. Echoing a theme from the recent Pew report, Writing, Technology and Teens, Nine to Nineteen emphasizes the importance of “out-of-school” programming, noting that youth connected to community institutions are less likely to engage in risky behaviors.
