Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Teen Services Today: A Practical Guide for Librarians: 27

Two authors with more than 20 years of combined experience share their practical experience serving teens in public libraries. Teen Services Today highlights best practices, including resources and references, to quickly implement programs and services to young adults. Although teen services covers ages 12 to 18, a world of developmental changes and interest levels exist within those six short years. Teens offer a range of opportunities for public libraries, not simply as patrons, but also as advocates and volunteers. Special features of the book include: ·Basic information on the fundamental services and programs for teens ·Reasons for providing services to teens ·Examples of successful teen programs, complete with lists of needed supplies and potential costs, that can generally be performed by one or two staff members ·Checklists and forms Teen Services Today: A Practical Guide for Librarians gives all library staff the tools they need to work with teens. Whether you are the teen librarian, the clerk who's been assigned to 'do something' about teens or the branch manager who sees an underserved population, this book will provide you with the building blocks to create successful relationships with the teens who use your library. Review Complete and thorough, this guide touches on almost every aspect of teen services. The authors consider their patrons, briefly discussing teen populations (those in urban and rural areas, minority groups, those with special needs, and homeless teens) and the developmental needs of adolescents. The section 'Teen Collection' features a quick description of genres and formats, contains advice on how to use picture books with young adults, and emphasizes the need for diversity in the collection. A variety of program ideas are presented, from book groups and writing workshops to maker spaces and comic cons, as well as school-related tie-ins (prom dress exchanges and SAT preparations), ideas for older teens (teaching financial aid information, going over job interview tips), and more unique programs, such as skills training in car maintenance and housework. Suggestions for marketing involve using social media in addition to more traditional print options. Young adults are also seen as a potential volunteer resource. Every chapter concludes with additional reading and a helpful resource list. Grants and crowd-funding are also tackled, and a sample donation letter is included. Examples of a materials selection policy and a request for reconsideration will be valuable. Much of this content is covered elsewhere, but it is useful to have so many up-to-date aspects of the topic in one handy volume. Verdict: An important tool for librarians and paraprofessionals new to teen services.--School Library Journal This text covers most of what a new librarian needs to know about working with a teen population. Through carefully noted references and additional bibliographies, much additional information could be easily found in the noted resources. Beginning with a brief history of YA services in libraries, the book also covers developmental characteristics and their effects on issues like body image and mental health and friendships and relationships. Services to members of special populations are noted, with brief descriptions of the special needs of urban libraries, rural ones, young people who identify as LGBTQ, and individuals with disabilities. Also mentioned is marketing-industry research highlighting factors like family togetherness, music, and coolness as attractors of teens. Programming suggestions are numerous and split into two types: for younger teens and older teens. For the younger (middle-school age), the usual fare--such as gaming and book groups--are recommended, along with lock-ins, tech events, and food-related experiences. For older teens (high-school age), the emphasis is on practical items, like test preparation, dressing for interviews, and personal-finance worksho