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As Coordinator of Young Adult Services, I oversee programs and services at our 59 libraries. While we don’t have young adult specialists at every branch, most of our libraries have at least one staff member dedicated to teen services. The librarians do not report directly to me so I like to say that I am there to inspire and support. I do a lot of training, mentoring, and coaching. I also lead bigger initiatives like our Teen Writing Contest, and I coordinate special events like planning Teen Tech Week activities across Brooklyn. I have been a librarian for nearly 12 years. Prior to joining BPL in 2015, I worked in a variety of positions including young adult librarian, outreach librarian, and assistant community library manager.

I also did a Spark Talk on this same topic at PLA in March.

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literacy

EARLY

LATER

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later literacy: reactionary

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it’s the money, stupid

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toddler or teen?

So, what’s my point? Toddlers and teens have a lot in common. If there is money and support for EARLY LITERACY, there should be money and support for LATER LITERACY. Toddlers and teens: Same Damn Thing.

So, what’s on the agenda for today’s presentation:

First, I’m going to rant from time to time. I might even make fun of babies and young children.

I’m going to talk about some things we’ve done at Brooklyn Public Library to support teen literacy.

Today is going to be a CALL TO ACTION to fight for the teens in your schools and libraries.

And I’m going to share some facts about BRAINS.

This session will likely be a little less practical and a little more philosophical than your average presentation.

This is not 19 New Ways To Get Teens Reading!

If I have timed everything right, we should have at least 15-20 minutes for questions or further sharing of ideas!

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later literacy: motto

read

read anything

read whatever

(and however) you want everything counts

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audiobooks

Is listening to a book the same as reading one? YES DAMN IT. Well, sort of.

There are strengths to print books.

There are strengths to audiobooks.

With audiobooks it is hard to backtrack and people bad at multitasking but if you are reading for fun (and that’s the goal), how important are the advantages of print books?

Some articles:

Are Audiobooks As Good For You As Reading? Here’s What Experts Say

http://time.com/5388681/audiobooks-reading-books/

“We found no significant differences in comprehension between reading, listening, or reading and listening simultaneously.”

Benefits of Audiobooks for All Readers

http://www.readingrockets.org/article/benefits-audiobooks-all-readers

Is listening to a book ‘cheating?’

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/07/31/is-listening-to-a-book-a-cheating/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.da28ad847eff

“Cheating implies an unfair advantage, as though you are receiving a benefit while skirting some work. Why talk about reading as though it were work?”

“The point is getting to and enjoying the destination. The point is not how you traveled.”

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comic books

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again and again

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project lit

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for teens by teens

“I think teens would be more incentivized to read if the books were suggested by other people their own age, especially with the added addition of the fact that they would get to contribute to the list themselves.”

-Youth Council application

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bookmatch teen

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merry band of teens

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summer reading

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#truecolorsday

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close your eyes

~~~~~~~

VISUALIZE

Facilitator reads script. <2 minutes>
Instruct attendees to take one minute to write down some quick notes, feelings.
Chat with a neighbor about your books, anything that stood out. <2 minutes>
Facilitator will ask for audience to share <5 minutes>
Anything surprising?
Was there a difference as you moved through the ages?
Were you able to picture a book each time?

SCRIPT

Try to remember a book you loved as young child.

Picture it.

See the cover.

What does it look like?

What does it feel like?

What do you feel like as you are reading and turning the pages.

Where are you? Are you with someone? Who are you with?

How did you find this book?

Did someone give it to you?

Why do you love it?

Now try to remember a book you loved in middle school or junior high.

Picture it.

See the cover.

What does it look like?

What does it feel like?

What do you feel like as you are reading and turning the pages.

Where are you? Are you with someone? Who are you with?

How did you find this book?

Did someone give it to you?

Do you know why love it?

Now try to remember a book you loved in high school or college.

Picture it.

See the cover.

What does it look like?

What does it feel like?

What do you feel like as you are reading and turning the pages.

Where are you? Are you with someone? Who are you with?

How did you find this book?

Did someone give it to you?

Why do you love it?

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teen writing contest

At my library we host the Brooklyn Public Library Teen Writing Contest and Ned Vizzini Teen Writing Prize. It’s a chance for local teens to showcase their work and to win the writing prize. The prize is cash!

https://www.bklynlibrary.org/teen-writing-contest

BPL's Teen Writing Contest is a chance for local teens to showcase their work in a supportive environment and to win the new Ned Vizzini Teen Writing Prize, an award to honor Ned and his literary legacy.

If you're a teen writer from New York City, grades 6-12, you're invited to submit your poetry and prose to be judged by a panel of BPL's expert young adult librarians for creativity, style and voice.

Participants and their families are invited to a celebration at the Dr. S. Stevan Dweck Cultural Center at Central Library, featuring student readings and a panel conversation between published young adult authors who share their experiences and advice with the aspiring writers. Top winners in poetry and prose will receive the new Ned Vizzini Teen Writing Prize with a cash award, and have their pieces published in the Teen Writing Journal distributed by the Library.

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ned vizzini

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journal

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part of the collection

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celebration

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next generation

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nanowrimo

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blackout poetry

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magnetic poetry

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fanfiction

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90-second newbery

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books to movies to books

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dollar babies

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what else?

Take two minutes to write down other ways to remix books and stories individually.

Chat with 3-5 of your seat neighbors about ideas you have heard and new ones. What are you most excited about? What can you do at your library?

OPTIONAL: Pick one or two to share.

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hangout

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spacing out

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let’s talk about brains, baby

Specifically,

the adolescent brain.

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what’s going on

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Prefrontal fun!

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“Emphasis on early interventions is at odds with findings that the human brain continues to develop throughout childhood and adolescence and into early adulthood.”

-Inventing Ourselves

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check it out

inventing ourselves

the secret life of the teenage brain

sarah-jayne blackmore

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literacy

EARLY

LATER

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all together now

read

read anything

read whatever

(and however) you want everything counts

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Most photographs in this presentation by Gregg Richards, Brooklyn Public Library, and featuring teens from our internship programs.