Starting Teen Programming!

Hello!


My name is Dawn States and I am the Teen Program Coordinator at Martin Library. It is a really cool job and I love working with teens. I get asked a lot though where I get my ideas from and how do I get teenagers interested in the programs I run. So I decided to put together a blog to help answer those questions! Below are some starting tips and I will post a few times a week the programs we do here that can be used for your library!


If you have a space for teens in your library, that is wonderful and you will already have the group of teens coming to you. If you do not, see if you can use another room in your library to have a meeting place for teens at least once a week (more if possible). For teens, having their own space is really important and providing that space gives them an ownership and interest in the library. At my library, ages 13-18 is considered teen.


Once you have the space, you can begin assessing the teens interests! They will be more than happy to share their interests with you, and knowing their interests is so helpful when it is time to plan programs. This is next part is SUPER important.. share your interests with them too. You may find that you have a common interest, or know something that they have always wanted to
learn how to do. Sharing interests and basing programs off of that is the key to making sustainable programming. Remember if the teens aren't into it, and you aren't into then be honest: why are you even having the program? Passion and enthusiasm are vital to getting teens involved!


Now that you have a basis for interest, start seeing how you can incorporate those interests into a program. A teen likes Harry Potter? Make a craft based on that. A teen has a passion for design? Try freezer paper stencils. A teen loves spoken word? You are passionate about art? Find ways to make those work in the library!


There are lots of online resources for ideas too. Pinterest is awesome, but it shouldn't be the only place you look for ideas and one of the most important parts about Pinterest is to try out the ideas! Sometimes they work wonderfully, sometimes you end up with glue everywhere and nothing cool to show. So try them out see if the ideas work, then get programming based off those interests mentioned earlier!


I have found for me after all the fun idea/interest discussing and the testing of the crafts, that it is super helpful for me to have some structure behind the program. I usually like to think of a snappy name, brainstorm some ideas and organize, pick a consistent date and time (that is really key to teenagers, they will show up week after week asking what you are doing), and have a supply list. Google docs is what I use for supply lists, and it works brilliantly. Don't forget to advertise what you are doing, so the teens know! Being prepared is important, so have a list, have the supplies, try things out, and plan at least a month in advance. These steps mean you can have fun and interact with teens during the program instead of worrying about forgotten supplies!


This a basic outline of programming for teens! Please comment and ask questions! Dawn states: teen programming is really great and stay tuned for examples of programs!