Putting teens in charge of their own programming is the key to success

We plan the programs, buy the books, and direct the services. But isn’t it time to give teens more power and control over their library experience? “For teens, by teens, with teens” has been young adult librarians’ longstanding mantra—but chances are that your library programs don’t include any direct teen input. The Young Adult Library Services Association says youth participation can have a dramatic impact on library programming. So what’s holding you back?

There’s no better way to connect with teens than by giving up a little control and letting them in on the decision-making process. The first step is asking them what they want. The next step is putting those suggestions into action. The real test, however, is when you get teens to run their own show with little guidance from you or your staff.

At some point, even the most nonconformist, innovative YA librarian runs out of steam. But you can be sure that there’s a group of teens willing and able to offer a new perspective when you’re tired, disillusioned, and out of ideas.

Be prepared to face all sorts of roadblocks. Other library staffers can squelch teen enthusiasm with their distrust for the age group. And it may take some adjustment to give teens’ opinions the same level of respect that you grant your colleagues’. But overcoming these personal and workplace obstacles will eventually lead to substantial benefits for teens, libraries, and communities.

What are the benefits of teen involvement? Teens practice taking responsibility for their nonschool accomplishments, such as gaining experience in leadership roles through advisory councils, volunteering, and internships. They get to work in a professional environment and engage in real-life experiences such as managing time, money, and staff. They also build their expertise and confidence by having an active role in solving those challenges and making decisions.

Here are 10 things you can do to involve teens in the process:

Cultivate relationships. Ask teens for opinions about their interaction with the library, and listen and share their comments with the decision makers in your library.

Encourage teen reviews. Ask teens to post reviews of books, music, videos, and games in your library and on your Web site.

Gather teen input from a variety of sources. Place comment cards everywhere—in new teen materials; suggestion boxes; and places such as high school cafeterias, comic bookstores, and on a comment form on your library Web site. This allows teens to participate whenever and however they like.

Build an informed army of teen advocates. Educate them about their library and how they can help with the library board, fund-raising, or voter support.

Form a teen advisory council. A council formalizes the process and is a great avenue for soliciting input on bigger, ongoing projects like summer reading or Teen Read Week initiatives.

Invite teens to serve as regular members of your library committees. Get them to join committees that deal with programming, policies, and services.

Recruit teen materials selectors. Who knows better what teens want to read than teens themselves?

Enlist teen tech volunteers. Give them the chance to show their skills. They’ll probably have a lot to teach us.

Hire teens to help with YA programming. Shine the spotlight on their talents—music, art, gaming, science—and give younger kids someone to whom they can look up. 

Hire teens as computer programmers and Web site designers. Solicit their input on your library Web site; post teen comments; and form a teen group responsible for updating content, refreshing links, and designing the look and feel.

Be a positive force in the lives of young people by being their ally when they need you most: during adolescence. Creating worthwhile youth involvement in programs will encourage, inspire, and give teens a voice.