Are you thinking about teens, and making some work plans?
You are not alone!
These are ideas you might consider for giving your teen volunteers (or other volunteers!) some tasks in your library. These are all currently being used by libraries around the country, so should be helpful in your library.
Do you have other suggestions? Share them in the comments! We could all use ideas for making a volunteer experience valuable for the teens and for the library!
Would you YA, or YA-book fans of all ages, want to read books with a cooking theme? There are some great suggestions from YALSA!
“Everyone has to do it eventually but surprisingly few YA fiction books have any reference to it. I’m talking about cooking and baking, of course. When I started thinking about read-a-likes for Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, I knew I wanted to feature some books with bakers like Lara Jean. That wound up being harder to find than I expected which also made me think that others might be interested in a more exhaustive list of books for teens with bakers, chefs, and foodies. For other books with teen chefs, be sure to check out the 2011 Popular Paperbacks “What’s Cooking?” List!”
School media specialists, tech integrationists, or anyone that works with teen writers – listen up! There is an exciting new publishing company started by a high school sophomore in Wayzata, MN called Sigma’s Bookshelf that is focusing on publishing books by writers ages 12 – 19. The company will work with the teen writer regarding editing, proofreading, and more!
Read on for the full explanation from the company:
Banned Books Week has come and gone – and we are looking forward to next year! But the issue of censorship regarding the books that young people are able to read continue all year long. This great article from boingboing.net shares that, “Some of the most frequently challenged books are the very books that young readers say are especially important and meaningful to them.”
Adults tend to worry about kids being exposed to ideas or beliefs that differ from their own. They also worry about allowing young people access to books that feature content such as sexuality, racial and ethnicity issues, violence, drugs, body image, and more. However, as the article claims, this controversial content can actually help kids and young people learn, empathize, and grow.
The authors of the article contacted eight writers including Lois Lowry, Chris Crutcher, and Rainbow Rowell to see if they would be willing to share messages they have received from young readers detailing the positive effects that have come from reading their often challenged books.
Read the article to see all of the responses, but some repeating themes are that young people feel less isolated, feel more connected to friends or family that may be facing challenges, are able to find the strength to remove themselves from harmful situations, and to begin to find a sense of self-acceptance.
While well-meaning (hopefully) adults may challenge books that feature tough issues like self-harm, abuse, and addiction, the young people that read these books are generally all too aware of these same issues already. Reading these books can help them not only work through and make sense of the issues, but show that they aren’t the only ones dealing with them.
Are you a public or school librarian with experience working with at-risk or homeless young people? The ALA Public Programs Office may have an opportunity for you to be an advisor for the Great Stories Club.
Great Stories Club started receiving grants in 2006 and is a “literary reading and discussion program for underserved and at-risk populations, particularly young adults.” As a librarian advisor, your role would be to “plan, develop, and deliver print, web-based, and in-person programming support and learning experiences for GSC grantees, and also participate in a collaborative planning process involving ALA staff, representatives from funding agencies, literature scholars, and creative artists.”
If you are at all interested in this opportunity, be aware that applications are due by 5pm CST on November 18th! Get information regarding desired qualifications and how to apply by clicking here.
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