What Everyone Can Learn from Urban Libraries

What Everyone Can Learn fromUrban LibrariesCynthia Czesak Director, Paterson Public LibraryMaureen Moffit Youth Services Librarian, Atlantic City Public LibraryDarby DeCicco Childrens Librarian, New Brunswick Free Public LibraryDefining an Urban LibraryWhat makes a library urban?Diversity of patrons?Location in a densely populated area?Economic factors?

The truth is, theres no single set of parameters that defines an urban library

Advantages of Urban LibrariesCommunity Centers

Rich in diversity

Often heavily used

Truly of value to patronsDisadvantages of Urban LibrariesEconomic Struggles

Language & Cultural Barriers

Can feel isolated from other libraries

May face safety concerns

The concepts we apply to our Teen Services PhilosophyAutonomy Belonging Control

The ABCs of adolescence. This formula seems to work for the youth services librarians at the Atlantic City Public Library. This is a small, vibrant urban community characterized by extremes of wealth and poverty, a burgeoning multicultural population. Many of our teens come from single parent households, have little or no technology at home, and seek the library as a safe haven. We seek to engage teens via teen-friendly programming, and collections, a relaxed set of rules and free computer use and gaming. There is a separate, dedicated space within the youth services floor for teens to meet and interact.5Dont make assumptions:Let teens takeoverRather than assume something will be popular, give teens ownership of their space, collection, and programs.

This lets teens know that their opinions are important, and makes them more invested in the library.

It also diversifies the collection and ensures you are reaching many segments of the population.

All librarians make some kind of assumptions about their patrons needs. Assumptions help us to quickly generalize and make decisions about what types of programs to plan or what titles to order for our collections. But sometimes those assumptions need to be evaluated and updated, or thrown away completely, because the needs and wants of our patrons are always changing, whether the patron is using an urban, rural, or suburban library.

6Teen SpacesTeen Space and Lounge was created in 2009 with input from local teens.

In 2009, we created a Teen Zone and Teen Lounge area with the help of local teens. They told us what they wanted to see and do in their new space, and we closely followed their recommendations. They also helped pick out the colors and even helped to paint the mural that you see pictured here.

Important to make a space where teens feel welcome. They dont have many other options. We may tolerate a wider range of behavior issues because of that. The teen space is not just a place to hangout. More importantly, it is a place to belong. The library is a part of their growing up experience.

Many of the teens who use the space are not reading or checking out books. However, they are surrounded by books in a positive environment. If they are going to become readers, this is the kind of environment we want them in.

We have listened to our teens and they have fully participated in the development of teen-friendly programming and collections. We provide updated technology including MAC computers and gaming. So many of our patrons do not have access to technology at home.

Today, our teen space is still an extremely popular place for teens to study and hang out, and teens still make requests for changes based on their needs. Our next goal is to add a quiet study area.7Teen CollectionThe AC library had low fiction circulation. Kids mostly seemed interested in urban fiction and DVDs.

Teen surveys revealed that urban fiction was popular but teens were also looking for a more diverse collection vampire romances, graphic novels, etc.

When I first started working at Atlantic City, fiction circulation was low, and kids had seemed interested in checking out mostly urban fiction or DVDs, because that's all they really asked for. We surveyed the teens (using survey monkey and informal surveys of the Teen Advisory Group) and found that while urban fiction was very popular among some of the them, most of them were looking for the same books that all other teens enjoy (vampire romances, sports stories, graphic novels, teen angst and such). When we updated the collection and added popular teen fiction, the circulation vastly improved. We were assuming that teens wanted urban fiction because that is what was circulating, but it became a self-fulfilling prophecy where they were only checking out the urban fiction because that was all we had that appealed to them, and we didn't purchase many of the new teen titles because we assumed no one would check them out.I think that illustrates how you can't assume you know what your population wants, whether they are urban or suburban or rural. Teens are especially likely to think that what the library has is what they get and may not ask for things we don't have. Maybe in your library you are assuming that the teens arent reading because circulation is low. Or maybe you are assuming that teens only want to read manga, or that they wont read historical fiction. Maybe you have never ordered urban fiction, because your population wouldnt want it. But its impossible to know what will circulate until you either ask for opinions or give it a try in your collection. Advertise and market the collections that have been requested.

8Teen fiction circs after teen inputWe placed a large fiction order based on teen requests in July. Circulation went up immediately and has continued to be higher than it had been in previous years. There was a 17 percent circulation increase from 2010. The same has been true of our graphic novel collection, which had a 33 percent increase in circulation from 2010, and those increases are just from diversifying the collection in the last six months of the year.9Teen ProgrammingTeens in Atlantic City are interested in very diverse programs that reflect their diverse cultural backgrounds.

Requests include music programs, cool crafts, educational workshops, video gaming, and anything involving food.

We also try to build programs for those teens who need programs but dont ask for them, like teen parents who need baby lap sit programs.Diversity in programming is most difficult because of the time, money, and staff it takes to plan and conduct the programs. I have found that having several of the same type of successful programs(like Crafty Teens) brings in a good number of teens, but its always the same teens. Im happy to build a core group of teens, but also want to reach out to others who arent interested in that type of program. A goal for me in the future will be to diversify my programming more to ensure I am reaching teens with a variety of interests.

In the fall, the Youth Services department plans to focus on literacy programs. Part of that will be a storytime for teen parents, which is a segment of the population that has been difficult to reach in the past. This will be one way to reach a different segment of the population.

We have a strong diverse group of teen volunteers who have truly revitalized our youth services area. A few of our real leaders in this group are former preteens with issues. Now they are working teens with library responsibilities and jobs. The development of important workplace and social skills has been a strong focus for our team.10Teens rock out in the Teen Lounge on Rock Band Saturday. Teen volunteers brain storm and come up with ideas for programs. A small investment can bring in those hard to reach teens and encourages autonomy and control.

Teen Activities that keep urban teens interested. Most of our teen programming comes from teen suggestions and are led by teen participants. Autonomy, Belonging, Control. It works.

TechnologyRockband SessionsWii ResortGaming TournamentsFilm ClubFilmed Book ReviewsProgramsWetlands Institute : Life in a SaltmarshSAT PrepResume HelpZombie Makeup WorkshopCoffee House NightsOpen Mike Night with refreshmentsCrafty TeensGeek JewelryAngry BirdsCupcake WarsMelted Crayon ArtCreate Your Own Pop-up BookCandy SushiIron Chef Competitions with teen and library staff judges

11Atlantic City Teens volunteer at city events and library programs

12Atlantic City Council honoring members of the Atlantic City Free Public Library Teen Advisory Group who received Presidential Service Awards for their volunteer service to the Atlantic City community in 2011.

Connecting Community, City Government and Teens. You are valued. In an effort to provide community support and public recognition for our teen volunteers, youth services librarians registered with the Presidents Volunteer Service Awards Program in 2008. This community service recognition has proven to be a valuable asset in reaching out to our teen population. Participants are recognized for their dedication. This year, eight library volunteers received Presidential Service Awards for their service to the Atlantic City community through their assistance with over 35 library sponsored youth services events including summer reading and craft programs; their participation in Atlantic City sponsored events and their volunteer work at the library including the development of teen programs and their use of digital media to encourage reading. Each teen received an official Presidents Volunteer Service Award lapel pin, a personalized certificate of achievement, and a congratulatory letter from President Barack Obama. These community service points may also be used on college applications. 13Information about Presidential Service Awardshttp://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/The Presidents Council on Service and Civic Participation was established in 2003 to recognize the valuable contributions volunteers are making in our communities and to encourage more people to serve.Recognizing and honoring volunteers sets a standard for service, encourages a sustained commitment to civic participation, and inspires others to make service a central part of their lives. The Presidents Volunteer Service Award recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain standardmeasured by the number of hours of service over a 12-month period or cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime.To date more than 1.5 million awards have been bestowed upon the Nations deserving volunteers.What can you learn?Your disadvantages can become advantagesNew perspectives Unexpected resultsPartnerships and chances for growth

Everything is a tool you just have to decide how to use it!The bare minimum can produce maximum resultsCreativity is key

Its easy to feel discouraged by the disadvantages we face but a challenge can be an opportunity.Even the simplest things can be used to make your library amazing. Of course wed all love to have the latest technology, the newest amenities, an endless budgetbut you can create a lot of awesome stuff with the things that are in your library alreadyYour disadvantages can become advantages.

LEGO League at NBFPLThe parent problem.Your disadvantages can become advantages.Dont panic!

Find opportunities in your community

Be a force for change

Look (really look) for the silver lining

Do what you want with what youve got.

Im bored.Worry about what you want to accomplish, not HOW you want to accomplish it. If you are achieving your goal, youre doing it right.Do what you want with what youve got.Stop making comparisons!

Say yes

Use that imagination (a paper plate is not just a paper plateits a UFO, a snowman, a mask, a clock, a Frisbee)

Ask for help

Try

What can you learn?10 Things Learned from Working in Urban Libraries

What can you learn?Questions?

Contact us:Cynthia - czesak@patersonpl.orgMaureen - mmoffit@acfpl.orgDarby darby@lmxac.org