Programs, Spaces, and Services for Teens

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Teens are an ever evolving group, and you need to be creative when it comes to designing programs and services to meet their unique needs. It can sometimes feel like teens can’t be contained, even if they have a dedicated space in your library. Furniture, layout, lightning, and decor all can have a major impact on how teens experience and behave in the library. No matter what your situation, there are things you can do to make all spaces in your library work better for teens—and, in turn, other library patrons. 

After participating in this event, you will be able to:

  • Measure success when it comes to services and programs for teens and understand how success looks different with teen patrons
  • Articulate to internal and external stakeholders why programs, spaces, and services created just for teens are important library offerings
  • Assess your physical spaces and make adjustments to encourage wanted behavior and discourage unwanted behavior

Julie Jurgens has worked with children and their families for almost 25 years, with close to 20 spent in public libraries. In her career she's worked in a variety of roles, including as a teen librarian, a school outreach librarian, and an assistant manager. She's also presented on outreach, readers advisory, trauma informed practice, and using music in programming at a variety of local, national, and international venues. Learn more about her work at himissjulie.com.

If you have questions or requests regarding accessibility, contact us at ce@ala.org or at 312-280-5100.

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