Moving Day

http://www.teensmatter.net

I'll leave this up in case people are still using links, but all the old posts have been transferred as well.

YA Lit Wisdom: On Relationships

From Gotta Get Some Bish Bash Bosh by M.E. Allen:

"If you're planning on going out with a girl, take my
advice: don't start over the summer holidays.  Do it
in term time, when there's loads of other
distractions.  Over the summer holiday, keeping a girl
happy on a day-to-day basis can really drain you."


Ah, but for a lot of teens the boyfriend or girlfriend is the major distraction.
I have one girl who was a very enthusiastic participant in almost every library program for the past two years, this year she has a boyfriend. 
I hope she'll be back when they go their separate ways, but such is the world of teen.

The First Ten Lies They Tell You In High School

Inspired by Yalsa-bk, and busy working on an upgrade for this site, this week I'm doing a series on wisdom from YA lit.

From Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson:

The First Ten Lies They Tell You In High School

1. We are here to help you.
2. You will have enough time to get to your class before the bell rings.
3. The dress code will be enforced.
4. No smoking is allowed on school grounds.
5. Our football team will win the championship this year.
6. We expect more from you here.
7. Guidance counselors are always available to listen.
8. Your schedule was created with your needs in mind.
9. Your locker combination is private.
10. These will be the best years of your life.


Yes, I think that is pretty accurate based on my high school experience.

Feel free to share your favorites in comments.

Do the Slam Thing: CPL's TRW

It's almost TRW and here at CPL that means getting ready for Cleveland Real Star. This is the third year of competition and it works like American Idol. Teens compete at the branch, the best three from each branch compete in three semi-finals by area of the city, and then the top three from each semi-final make the finals in the auditorium. The teens get backpacks, t-shirts, and the winner gets a trophy. The branch gets bragging rights. The library brings in a couple hundred teens, families, and friends throughout the course of the competition.

The first year was a singing competition, last year was dancing, and this year will be performance poetry.

See our web page and listen to the podcast announcement.

Michael Stephens is talking about what books would make good discussions for incoming LIS students

It got me thinking about which books would make good reading for prospective teen librarians.

Not necessarily things like Connecting Young Adults and Libraries,though everyone should read that before they start. I was thinking of more general titles about teen development or culture. Such a list might include:




The Primal Teen: What the New Discoveries About the Teenage Brain Tell Us About Our Kids
by Barbara Strauch
Why do they do that? Strauch, a science and health editor at the NYT, includes recent research and conversations with teens and parents to try to shed some light on the mysteries of teen behavior.


Freaks, Geeks, and Cool Kids: American Teenagers, Schools, and The Culture of Consumption by Murray Milner Jr.
Milner talks about social strata in high school and suggests that cliques and teen relationships as a whole are shaped by teens' lack of power in the other areas of their lives.



Branded: The Buying and Selling of Teenagers by Alissa Quart
Quart follows how marketers target teens and how it affects them. Though weakened by a focus on the upper and upper middle class this book still provides a lot of material for discussion.





What books would you pick?

Talking With Teens

Jami had a great post over at the YALSA blog about how powerful and important it is just to listen and talk to teens (and other patrons too).

So many teens need more adults in their lives that are low pressure. Our Teen Coordinator often points out that we are one of the few adults in a teen's life that isn't a relative, a teacher, or here in the city:a security guard.

One of the great things about craft programs is how much the teens will open up when their hands are busy. This is a great way to get to know your teens and once they are comfortable they tend to stop by often when there is something on their mind. I have one young man whose mood I can tell easily from the way he flops into the chair by my desk for a chat.

I love conversations about books, but I've also had an opportunity to talk informally about much bigger issues including tolerance, violence, sex, and self respect. Building these relationships is easily one of the best parts of my job.

Are you ready for Teen Read Week?

Teen Read Week is coming up fast (October 14-20), but it's not too late to plan an event.

Top Ten Reasons to celebrate Teen Read Week:

10. It breaks up that Labor Day to Thanksgiving slump quiet nicely.

9. Got a co-worker who hates teens? Bring in more just to spite them!

8. There are always Great New Titles to promote.

7. With standardized testing and AR teens need to be encouraged to read just for fun.

6. WWDD? What would Dewey do? Well, he'd celebrate TRW.

5. Teens need positive press.

4. Everyone needs to LOL sometimes!

3.It's a good time to connect with youth-serving partners in your area.

2.Between the Official YALSA site and the TRW Wiki you don't need to stretch for ideas.

1. We're teen librarians, we don't need a reason to celebrate teens and reading!