Liven Up Your Library: Design Engaging and Inclusive Programs for Tweens and Teens

by Julia Torres, Valerie Tagoe

Learn how librarians can positively effect change in areas like digital equity and inclusiveness, while creating powerful programming for middle and high school students.

Developing programs for learners can be an ongoing challenge for librarians – especially first-year librarians. Current books on the topic primarily focus on makerspaces or read alouds, and are aimed at elementary school grades, with a surface-level approach. This book addresses deeper issues that librarians face, while illustrating how to serve teens and tweens specifically by offering programming relevant to their lives.

The authors offer practical ideas for developing effective programming through collaborating with the community to develop and implement programs, connecting programs to ISTE Standards and curriculum, and addressing curricular and socio-emotional needs. They also share practical advice on budgeting and funding to support programs, scheduling, maximizing the use of technology to aid in programming  and much more. The book also explores ways library programs can have a positive impact on school culture, such as addressing the digital divide, inclusion and cultural relevance.

This
Programming for teens and young adults is a catalyst for learning and exploration. The activities and learning experiences shared in this book will empower librarians and deepen student learning.

Middle and high school librarians, tween and teen public librarians, first-year experience librarians. 

Genres: Nonfiction, Education

150 pages, Paperback

Published July 26, 2022

Reviews

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource to get you thinking about ways to make your library more inclusive and available for tweens and teens. That said, there's not many program ideas. But it's more of a building block to make you push the boundaries of your library and challenge you to think of ways to be inclusive year round rather than simply celebrating monthly (ie: Indigenous History Month, Black History Month, AAPI Month).

A resource for school librarians primarily, but also helpful for public librarians and first-year librarians.

[Kim Julian · Rating 2 out of 5]

although this book was good and relevant, I felt it did not live up to the title. I was disappointed in the content.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

For more bookish opinions, visit my blog: Craft-Cycle

Well written. I do feel this book would work well for those just starting out in a library career, specifically in school libraries.

The content is very school focused. I didn't really find it that helpful as a public librarian. Much of the focus is on meeting academic and literacy goals. There is also the assumption librarians have a captive audience in students visiting as a class or for specific projects, which is only relevant to school libraries. As a public librarian, I was hoping for more content on how to make the library a more welcoming place and how to create programs of interest for teens/tweens.

Gives a nice overview. The format was well put together. There are QR codes throughout which worked well for sharing resources. There is a good focus on culturally relevant pedagogy and providing students with active and meaningful roles in the library. There are also Librarian Spotlight sections throughout with blurbs from different school librarians about their work and programs. At the end of each chapter is a list of key points and reflection questions.

Personally, I don't feel that the book lived up to the catchy title. It didn't really give specifics, though it does provide good reminders to make the library an inclusive place. Does not include specific programming ideas.

Good focus on diversity and inclusion. Would work well for someone perusing their MLIS or just starting out in a school library career. Nice tips on securing funding and evaluating programs.

[Suzi Tonini · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Must-Have Guide for Middle and High School Librarians Navigating Teen Programming!

This book provides accessible guidance to secondary school library professionals who are new to their role or have limited training or experience implementing meaningful library programs for tweens and teens. The authors excel at addressing the real challenges school librarians face, offering concrete tools like checklists and templates that make program planning less daunting. I was particularly impressed by the book’s emphasis on equity and inclusion—Tagoe and Torres are leaders in the field and provide insightful guidance on culturally relevant programming.

[Erin Maloney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keeping teenagers and adolescents engaged and excited by anything other than their phones is a daunting task. Luckily, librarians have found that makerspaces have been a great tool to combat teens' disinterest in most things; rather than trying to steer away from technology, librarians are incorporating it into their makerspaces. Torres's book suggests programs and activities that cater to teens and their interest in technology, leaving little to no questions by providing templates, checklists, and lesson plans, and even discussing how certain programs align with AASL and ISTE standards.

[Lablover · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think if you have an extremely conservative mindset or live in an area that is very conservative, you might find this book helpful. However, as someone who has taught special ed. for 30 years and is now working in a library, I found most of this ideas in the book obvious. For me, it's always been apart of me to approach my classroom with an inclusive attitude. So, this might be better for someone with no experience in the area of creating exclusive environments If you have a wealth of experience, there's nothing new here.

[SaraKat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited about this book after reading the title and blurb, but the actual content was a little disappointing. It has a lot of basics about general programming planning and such, but very few actual ideas for programs at any library. I'd think they'd include an appendix of successful programs from different types of libraries at least. I felt like I learned most of this at librarian school already.

[Susan Krafcheck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay reading. I felt let down though. A lot of mentions about “Texas” groups, librarians, etc. Not a lot coming from the Colorado author on resources there. I’ll reach out on one of the social media sites. It did not live up to the expectations of the title. I’ll continue to build programs as I have done before. It is a good book for Librarians with little or no experience.

[Tricia Friedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenally written. This is a must read for school leaders, librarians and educators who want to think more critically about their classroom libraries and how they partner with their school and local libraries.

[Joni Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok professional read. I was hoping for more ready to go programs I could implement. Didn’t live up to the hype.

[Katie Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good ideas for developing programs in a school library with a focus on equity and diversity.