about

This blog is about 2 issues - libraries, and social inclusion of young adults, aka Gen Y, Gen Z, teens, adolescents. Many people still think the two don't go together. At the moment, that theory is currently being tested across the United States and particularly at Queens Libraries in New York City, where I hope to be watching, learning and planning for the future of young adults across Victorian Libraries.

I was pleasantly surprised to attend a conference in Queensland last week which showcased the efforts being made for young adults in Australia and New Zealand, however my project is about the programs which have been introduced across Queens Libraries, with great success.

Who Am I?

I'm not a librarian, and haven't worked in public libraries very long. The job of my dreams came to me when I least expected it. It was a business position appointment. Manager of the Moonee Valley Library Service. Sounds business like and it is. Budgets, strategic planning, staffing, all of those things that go with a Managers responsibilities, but what snuck in under my radar was the instant love for public libraries and the amazing service they offer. I have been a library user my entire life (thanks to the efforts of my mum who wouldn't take no for an answer), and the thought of not going to a library at any stage of my life has never crossed my mind. To go to a library for work every day is a fantastic experience.

Young Adults - our future

What about young adults in libraries? Where are they? One sunny day I asked a staff member a silly little question really. It went something like this; 'Where's all the teenagers?' This is the question that started the snowball that has led me to New York City. I asked the question more than once, and the real problem is that many people think they know, but have they asked? Are teenagers confident enough to answer? Some teens come in, but they're normally the ones who have always come to the library, are comfortable, know the system and blend in. Naturally, this is NOT the majority of this age group. Libraries offer great books, internet access, a huge range of magazines, DVD's, graphic novels and more. So is this enough? What should public libraries be doing to ensure the next generation become avid library users and understand all they can offer each other?

After carrying out further research and consulting many journal articles, I found the most wonderful programs and libraries on offer across the USA and became particularly interested in the unique Queens Library for Teens. I read about the service model which offers teenagers their own place to go to be safe and relax, where computers, career advice, magazines, books, youth counsellors and more are on offer. So off I went to my 15 year old daughter and her friends. "What if I offered you a shopfront, a place close to home with computers, music, magazines, bean bags, books, a place just for teenagers, would you go?" The answer was of course, yes. "What if I called it a library?" I asked. "Probably not much" they told me. This is not a group of teenagers who are uncomfortable with reading and literacy. I was stunned. "Well, what should I call it" I asked them. "Mum, just don't call it a library" my daughter said. This phrase has stuck with me, so much so that I have made it the title of my project. She couldn't say why it shouldn't be called a library, she just knew it didn't hold the same attraction once it had the library title. What about those young adults from CALD backgrounds? Trying to make your way in a world which offers great rewards for those people with great levels of literacy can be difficult for many, especially for those who haven't been introduced to libraries properly, or even at all. Many young adults have arrived in Australia from countries which don't have the luxury of free public libraries, and have missed the great opportunities they can offer. What can we do to attract them and offer them a lifetime of learning? How do we get on board with the fact that young adults are a marketers dream? They are fad-prone and sometimes their interest doesn't last long, but once we have their attention, we have the opportunity to capture their interest.

Here began my new obsession. Is it the traditional model of libraries that is problematic? Is it the old and outdated idea that libraries are only about reading and books? Is it the (now redundant) SHHHH factor? I have found out so far that there are many different reasons, but most importantly some public libraries have broken through the barrier and have found success with young adults, that important group of people who hold the future in their hands. Teenagers won't and shouldn't change, they can be noisy and disruptive, they generally like to be around a group of friends, but most of all they have many gifts and talents and are negotiating a difficult path during these years of adolescence.