Set Up
Before setting up a TAB at your library there are some key questions you need to consider:
Target group
Once you have decided on who you are targeting and where you want to go, the next step is deciding on the size and style of your TAB.
Deciding on the age range you will invite to your TAB will influence both what you can expect and what they expect. There is a vast difference between 13 and 17 in outlook, needs and interests. It may however suit your teens to form a family-oriented group. There is also the question of numbers. Lots of members would seem to be a good thing, but in practice, large groups can be hard to control and lack consensus. Then there is the question of sex – mixed or not? (A not unimportant concept for some ethnic groups.) If you have a highly vocal minority, will they cause others not to join? If you have some of these concerns you may wish to create different groups for different purposes.
Recruitment
Having decided all of these questions, we come to recruiting. Library users are a subset of all the teens in your area. Libraries, as (mostly) quiet and respectable places often attract the less socially fortunate. Also the non-conformists, those fanatical about strange things – in fact, if your library is like most libraries, the variety of your borrowers is endless! Here is a chance to bring young people together in potentially positive ways.
So how do you recruit?
• Advertise in the library
• Library’s website
• Facebook/twitter etc.
• Local youth or drop-in centre
• School SRC’s
• Youth council
• Church groups
• Special interest groups –
o sport
o music
o art
o computers
o manga etc.
• Previous programmes
• Summer reading club participants
• Approach teens in the library
When you have successfully formed the group, you may find it was not quite what you envisioned! Teen groups may take on a life of their own and go in directions you may have never thought of. This is what makes it fun.
Programmes
Programmes can be roughly divided into two main types. Whatever the concept, idea or execution, programmes are either provided by you for teens or organized by teens for themselves or the library.
There is a great difference. When you organise and provide the programme it will be to fulfil the perceived ends of the library while giving the teens what they have asked for. This is what we do with HSC programming – find out what the kids want and then make it so.
When you allow the teens to organise their own events, you need to have strict guidelines and expectations. Teen organised events are usually the result of a small band of highly motivated and enthusiastic kids learning the skills needed to organise such events.
Needless to say, the second type needs more input from you!
Although more work – keeping enthusiasm to an achievable goal is exhausting – this type can be the most rewarding. These programmes can range from one-off events (both large and small) to ongoing programmes that attract the kids who will organise it next year. These programmes can reflect what is happening/of interest now, immediately, no waiting.
Again, it’s what suits your teens and your library.
An Online Concept?
With the growth of social networking, we have a generation of e-space-literate teens. We also know that there are very shy teens out there and others that are either physically or geographically challenged. Libraries have programmes to reach the homebound, on-line services, e-books – the list goes on.
Why not include an on-line component to Teen Programmes? Facebook and twitter need constant up-dating and monitoring. HSC talks can be put up on your web site. Perhaps even arrange an on-line forum. Members of your TAB could monitor and maintain such sites. You could end up with a form of on-line TAB.
Information will be gathered as you start the process of creating your TAB. This information will be used in programming. However, for every idea that you use, there will be many that you won’t or can’t.
Feedback is important.
If you don’t give feedback, you won’t get responses next time you want information.
How you deal with this will, again depend on your resources and time.
Where there was a simple choice between options, publish the results on your web-site. You don’t have to tell the exact figures – unless you want to!
You can also explain why one programme was chosen over another.
If you are asking for suggestions for the collections, you will need to respond to each teen.
Of course, you can publish on the web-site topical news which will take care of most suggestions.
Even if the suggestions are not possible, explain why.
Keeping track of genre suggestions may point to a special interest group which can become a group in their own right. If you invite your TAB to buying sessions, have a launch of new books and individually invite the teens while opening it to others. If others see that they are listened to, they will be empowered to speak up too.
Event Space
There will be a need to create or adapt a space for your group to meet as well as space to hold events.
Different programmes will need different spaces. You may need to liaise with other community groups for use of space.
Within the library, there is two things to remember about teenagers: they’re loud and unco-ordinated.
Teens do not hear other people when they get excited. They are used to vying for attention. It may be necessary to have a separate room.
Teens are going through amazing growth. Suddenly they are taller, their feet stick out having grown centimetres since they last looked, and they can be hugely self-conscious. Teenage boys can be very physical with one another. It may be necessary to have a separate room.
In the United States and Canada, being part of a TAB can count towards one’s college entrance. It means you can have the most motivated and committed bunch of teens. It can also mean that others are disadvantaged if they are shy or unassertive.
The trend here is going that way – volunteer in the library, join the youth council and have something to add to the CV. Maybe we need to look at how to make being part of a TAB a fun thing as well as a career move.
In conclusion, TAB’s, whatever you call them, are a good idea.
In encouraging teens to interact with the library, we are giving them a chance to have a say in how they use the library, what programmes are available and what resources, both academic and recreational are held.
• TAB’s can be as complicated, vibrant and varied as your clientele. • TAB’s can be small groups fanatical about one topic. • TAB’s can organise big events. • TAB’s can just meet for fun and talking about books. • TAB’s can have rules and mission statements. • TAB’s can be informal and all-inclusive.
Find out what your teens want.
Work out your commitment – how much time, money, and resources you can realistically afford.
And whatever you do, you need to ensure it is on-going and adaptable to change.