Teens in The Library - Shhh!

[Michelle]

I was visiting my local library and overheard a conversation between two librarians about the behavior of certain teens that regularly visit their library; apparently these teens just come to socialize. The conversation went something like this:

Librarian 1: I keep telling them that they can talk, but they have to keep it down, that there is no reason why I should hear their conversation.

Librarian 2: I'm experiencing the same problem, they just come to the library to hang out, and they don't even check books out or use the computers.

Librarian 1: I know; we have to figure out what to do, they can't just come here to socialize.

Being a library student, I wanted to jump in on the conversation and share with them what I'm learning in library school about the changing needs of teens and the increasing emphasis on libraries meeting the social needs of teens.

For one, teens don't use the library that often, and when they do, they feel as though they are not wanted. So a big part of what I'm learning as a new librarian is that libraries need to work on engaging teens in the library as information seekers on their terms.

We know that teens are more social and depend on each other most for new information, so it doesn't surprise me that they use the library as space to connect with other teens. Is this a bad thing?

I’m just curious how others feel about this topic. Should we insist that teens use the library only for reading, research, or to attend programs created for them? Or, will this only serve to further alienate them? What ideas do you have for connecting with teens in the library?

[Karin Dalziel]

I like the idea of having a teen section that is somewhat set off from the main part of the library so teens can be noisier. I realize not every library has that option, though.

I am really surprised that librarians wouldn't want teens to come to the library to socialize- they may be socializing one day, and the next, checking out books. Most librarians would love to have this problem, I think!

[wditzler]

It sounds as if the librarians during your visit are with the old guard of librarians. I think that my view of the purpose of a library puts me into this category as well. (I am using old guard in the sense of the traditional use of libraries, not that the librarians are old) However, I do see a real need to provide for or accommodate the teens. (They will be our future patrons and financiers!)

It is wonderful that they are going to the library. I am sure the librarians wished they were there to use the library's resources and not just socialize, it is likely they probably do both! But, the purpose of the modern library has completely changed from the old 'storehouse of knowledge' to a more community-centered activity center. This is a great evolution in my opinion, but we also need to keep in mind that the library still needs to provide quiet spaces for those patrons that are there to use the materials or use the materials and socialize.

As some of you have said libraries have created teen areas. I think this is the best approach for a library to take. Have a noisy socializing area and also the more traditional quiet area. I think the only caution we should take is to not push the socializing area too far away or cut it off from the rest of the library. The public libraries that I have visited recently tend to make use of a far corner of the building, but with the foresight that the area needs to be monitored. Usually the library has made an effort to shift furniture to allow for easy viewing of the area. The distance dissipates the noise from the teens. One library introduced beanbags, different carpet, and different lighting fixtures to set a different mood for the teens. Of course they also put most of the trendy, teenage materials in the area as well. It was a great setup and heavily used the few times I went to the library.

Overall I think the newest LIS students are seeing the need to accommodate the teenage group and the old guard, like myself, just need time to adjust more.