Modern teen library spaces is one of the themes discussed on YALSA's blog this month. The writer, Linda W. Braun, asks us to consider what our teen library spaces will be transformed into, once the day comes when there will be no need for book shelves or even computer labs.
Read her post here. She suggests that with all that extra space, we need to think of creative solutions to use that space wisely, be it new furniture, "Maker" programming, setting up a "Genius Bar", etc.
I think this situation is very interesting to ponder and
consider. Some libraries have well funded and supported teen areas but this isn't always the case. If there isn't much
space to begin with for teens in some public libraries, what are we really talking
about? I've read about libraries having a couple of book cases, a small table
and some chairs, and perhaps a simple display that is considered the "Teen
section". If you take this away, does anybody notice? If your library
admin hasn't given you much space for them in the first place, why would they
give it to you now that you don't need it because "everybody has a
device".
You also have to look at the culture of your library. If
your director isn't too crazy about teens, you may already find it hard to
program for them. Having a "bunch of free space" is no guarantee that
it'll be awarded to teen services to attract patrons that may not be high on
the welcome list in the first place.
Ms. Braun, though she is casting a wide net in posing this question, seems to be making a few assumptions I've alluded to already. One of these is the assumption that all libraries have these large teen book collections that are at risk of being eliminated by technology. Another is that with all that new open space, YOU have a choice as to what to do with it. And a third assumption is that all teens will possess said "technology" that replaces said "eliminated books" and are skilled at using it.
This last assumption should make us realize why we got into this profession in the first place. Our patrons need us because we know how to do stuff with technology or are savvy enough to find out how. Our patrons will probably need us to have technology available for them if we intend on teaching them how to do things with it. Not all teens will have an iPhone that works identically for everyone or be able to afford one. Having a standard library technology helps us find information and teach better. As knowledge collectors and connectors, we librarians are needed to help our teen patrons find answers to their questions, solutions to their problems, and techniques to their creation of knowledge!
We need to be sensitive to all of our patrons' needs when
considering what we can offer them as a library. Not all of them will have an
eDevice, not all of them will be tech savvy, and not all of them will care
what's going on in the library. But we definitely need to do more than to have
a bunch of tables with chairs around
them in that nice new empty space we just got.
I have also posted a
shorter response to Ms. Braun's post here.