The Coolness Factor: Ten Libraries Listen To Youth

If public libraries indeed want to attract teens and keep them coming in, they need to take a lesson from the funky bookstores out there. Most importantly, though, libraries need to take a good hard look at what their roles are going to be. How can libraries meet the needs of teens who need social work as much as homework help? For instance, this week I had a teen who is living in a situation that is beyond her control. There is no money for school supplies or clothes. There are seven children and neither parent is working. Should the parents be working? Of course. But can this girl control that? No. She's a poor soul who needs someone to proactively help her. She's so susceptible to getting into trouble. So I took a collection from the staff and bought her and her sister school supplies. Maybe I couldn't take care of all the kids, but at least two of them have something to wear and notebooks and stuff. Is this what the public library is for?

In other news...I actually moved my refrigerator today just so I could avoid studying. Now it's out in the yard. I should probably go move it back.

I have a whole book to read today for LIS2000. Yeah, I can't see that happening...
P