Howe Library

TEEN LIBRARY (MIS)BEHAVIOR 101Presented by Beth Gallaway

PAIN IN THE BRAIN:

Contact:Slides: www.informationgoddess.info

Links:

www.delicious.com/informationgoddess29/brai

n

Email: informationgoddess29@gmail.com

Do you have Ephebiphobia?

Drawing Exercise

Group 1: Draw a TEEN, from a LIBRARIAN pov

Group 2: Draw a LIBRARIAN, from a TEEN pov

Group 3: Draw a TEEN, from a TEEN pov

Group 4: Draw a LIBRARIAN, from a LIBRARIAN pov

Library Behaviors

Groups Blocking entrance

or access Roaming Taking up space

“Courting” Behavior

Backtalk and “disrespect”

Eating & drinking Cell phone use

Library Behaviors

Language Sex Vandalism Theft Violence Cyberbullying

Differentiate between the 2 Ds:

Disruptive Normal Annoying

Dangerous Abnormal Harmful to self & others Illegal

Influences on Teen Behavior Cultural Sociological Personal Psychological Biological

Frontal Lobe

Facilitates: Planning Decision-making

Results in?

Myelin Sheath

Facilitates: Intelligent response to

gut reactions Learning new things Concrete to abstract

thought

Results in?

Dopamine

Controls: Smooth motor skills Pleasure center

Results in?

Serotonin

Controls: • Temperature• Mood• Appetite• Emotion

Results?

Melatonin

Controls: Sleep/wake cycles Biological clock

Results?

On Rules

Create a behavior policy Same rules for everyone No rules set up to fail The less rules, the better  Word rules in a positive way  Leave rules open ended

Set Boundaries

1. State unacceptable behavior2. State consequence of continuing

unacceptable behavior3. Ask patron to make a choice

Examples

“John, it’s too noisy over here, and some people are trying to study. If the disruptive behavior continues, you will be asked to leave. You can choose to lower the volume level and stay, or you can choose to leave.

Mary, your computer time is up, we have

someone waiting. If you continue to violate the time limit, your computer privileges will be suspended. You can choose to log off now and get more time tomorrow, or lose your computer access for 2 days.”

Keep in Mind…

“Librarians do not kick teens out of the library. Teens get themselves kicked out of the library, because of their behavior.”

~ Nick Buron, NYPL

Correcting Behavior

3 Strikes & You’re Out! Target the Group Leader Good Cop, Bad Cop Invade Personal Space

Follow Through

Welcome back Introduce Discuss behavior incident Reinforce consequences of actions Start with a clean slate

Be Proactive

1. Create raving fans of the library  2. Develop personal relationships3. Give them a space of their own 4. Program them to death5. Deliver excellent reference & reader’s

advisory, and practice excellent customer service

Create Raving Fans

Meaningful participation Foster ownership of the library and teen

space  Evaluate!

Develop Personal Relationships Talk to teens when they do something

RIGHT Introduce yourself, repeatedly  Greet patrons by name Get out from behind the desk Get out of the library 

Give Them a Room of Their Own

More than just a shelf and a poster

Convert a meeting room to a homework center or program room a few days a week

Designate a staff person to serve teens

Program Them to Death

Engage them in meaningful participation

Give teens positive ways to expend their energy Offer after school

activities Cultivate a

volunteer program

Be an Excellent Librarian! Customer Service Reference Reader’s Advisory

The Search Institute’s

Developmental Assets

Reminders for Librarians

Stay calm It’s not personal Teens are job security Learn to RAP  

Moment of Truth

Remember Accept Project

Thank You!Slides: www.informationgoddess.info

Links:

www.delicious.com/informationgoddess29/brai

n

Email: informationgoddess29@gmail.com