Who's Empowering Who?!

I was amazed and inspired by the Judy Macaluso article heralding the success of the "We Empower Teens" program in Ocean County, NJ. The sheer accomplishment of pulling off such a large event involving so many details was impressive in itself, but the magnitude of it's influence on the teens and adults who were equally empowered by the program and it's lasting effects is dynamic!
While working on the "Talk to Teens" project for class I was surprised and disappointed to learn that neither public library in my area has a librarian specifically skilled to support teen interests, collection development or the teen room present in each library. When I inquired about speaking to the librarian that serves teens the response at both libraries was that the staff is small and they do not employ a separate teen librarian-I am sure that is a budget related decision and although it's a shame I can understand the reasoning. What I could not understand however was why neither library has a teen advisory board or any teen members on their regular boards. Both librarians expressed frustration with my questioning and argued that teens are not interested in being on boards, one librarian went as far as to say that "teenagers think libraries are for geeky kids and don't feel strongly enough to speak up about the library".

This made ME frustrated and sad, it also made me think back to the Peter Zollo description of teens needing "indi-filiation". The need for "individuality and affiliation", teens wanting to stand out in a crowd-having a voice and fresh ideas; but just enough to be recognized as unique rather than markedly different...This is what I felt the "We Empower Teens" program addressed, and it serves as a powerful model for anyone trying to reach teens. What was so amazing was the organizers' ability to bring together diverse groups of teens, all with unique backgrounds and interests and rally them together in a common cause and inspiring them to want to be leaders-this ability to get them to feel comfortable enough to step out and try something different, to meet new people, to LEAD!

I am not giving up at the local library here, I don't think it's fair to assume that teens are not interested in what goes on at the library- I doubt they've been asked in a serious manner...my hunch is that rather than making any enemies at my libraries it might be better to go at it from the other angle. The last statement by Macaluso was that through the program the entire library community realized that when "WE EMPOWER TEENS - THEY EMPOWER US!" and if this message can be passed on to the reticent librarians maybe they will be willing to give it a(nother) try...

My Kind of Manga!

So after V for Vendetta (you all know how I struggled through that one) I was dreading another manga read, but trusting Erin that it was a breeze I hoped to just get it over with last night...I LOVED Dramacon! This book really helped me to appreciate the "visual language" as described in the wiki definitions, I really liked seeing Christie's expressions and emotions change through the drawings (growing horns or fangs, getting visibly "mushy", etc.) and it was a safe exploration for me into the world of a comic convention!

The story tackled YA issues of social insecurities and emotional instabilities with an ultimate message of empowerment! Ugh-Derek was such a jerk but I was so involved in the story that I found myself being more mad at Christie than Derek because she "put up with it"-something I think teens will relate to as well. Another aspect of the story that I really liked was that the other couple they went with was so self-absorbed, I just thought that was so realistic...Christie felt very naive and alone at her first convention and really underwent a period of self-discovery.

From what I'm learning in class, the content and dialogue truly exemplifies the YA voice and the drama they feel...I can't believe I'm saying this but I wanted to read it again but felt guilty since every copy in Western Mass is checked out and has holds waiting-that speaks to the popularity of this book! So, I guess I'll have to get my hands on book #2 and see where Chmakova takes Christie next!

Keeping the "In" crowd In

So again it's my leisure reading that spurs a post...but I cannot resist! The February 2007 edition of School Library Journal has many (the Beatles cover art gave it away) great articles dealing with YA issues, but the most striking for me were those presenting arguments for why teens do not view the library as an inviting place. The editorial by Brian Kenney addressed a New Jersey public library's decision to close their libraries during the hours of 2:45-5 PM to "shut out" unruly teen attendance, while a column titled "Teenage Riot" by Paula Brehm Heeger discussed the startling results of teens reporting that a major reason they fail to use the library is because they cannot afford their overdue fines.

Both of these articles stunned me and prompted a feeling of age discrimination at work...teens who view the library as a social place to gather with friends are being shut out for being "disruptive", and others who view the library as a resource for borrowing materials and then (like most people of ANY age) who fail to return the materials exactly on time are fined and cannot pay the fines back so lose their library privileges are also shut out...well last time I checked teens were typically social so "talking with friends" should not be considered "disruptive or unruly behavior" and teens that attend school don't have a lot of free time to hold down high paying jobs so it would make sense that $1/day fines would add up quickly into unpayable debts!

I agree with the arguments of facilitating responsibility in both of these instances, and feel that the suggestions for paying back fines through volunteer opportunities (reading to children, shelving books, etc.) is perhaps feasible-but we have to create an environment that welcomes teens and then keeps them coming back and these two articles spoke to the counter productivity inherent in these issues. If we want teens to come to the library, we need to make a place that is truly inviting for them to come and then when they do, we need to be realistic about our and their expectations for the responsible return of materials.

My public library has "fine free cards" for children, I do not know what the age range is for a card holder to constitute as a "child" but I do know that in the beginning this really annoyed me...why should I be scrambling around, counting books, consulting my endless lists and docking my children's TV time for misplaced library books to instill the "responsibility of borrowing and then returning" when there is no consequence? I learned quickly in my own home that the "NetFlix" operation proves much happier, more efficient, less nagging results! If my children could not find or simply part with one of their books/videos-they could not take out one in exchange...Although my one gripe about this policy is that the due date listed in the online catalog can never be trusted, in the age of ILL I feel much less guilty holding onto the cassette version of Pippi Longstocking for 7 weeks because I know there is yet another out there longing to be borrowed!

This is the type of compromise we could be making with teens to encourage them to come in, have fun, borrow, come back (maybe without having remembered the last thing they borrowed-but that is OK), we want to keep them coming! Fining young adults to the point where their cards are blocked from borrowing does not seem like a solution, because then we never see them OR the late item ever again...but that is my opinion, I'd love to hear from those who work in libraries and can attest to the financial impact of having a "NetFlix"ish operation...

Serendipity

So in the past week I've spent more time in the pediatrician's waiting room than Paris Hilton can hold a boyfriend and therefore had the good fortune of getting my germ-xed hands on the most recent Newsweek [" Newsweek" (Feb 12, 2007): p 40. ] with an article closely related to our class discussions. The article is titled "Girls Gone Bad?" and debates the questions surrounding media influences (specifically the Brit Pack) and teens' moral development.

There are some laughable quotes, some scary stories related to the pop stars driving dangerously and falling down drunk, and disturbing photos of Britney Spears' cleavage-but overall what I took away from this article was the message of empowerment for teens (the focus being girls) in this century! The article reiterates the fact that "women are excelling in sports, academics and the job market" but we are also more savvy and intuitive and our next generation will certainly follow suit. In the grand scheme of things it can be considered a recent development that girls and women can (meaning permitted to) think for themselves, form opinions and challenge information presented...

Women have come a very long way on the road of social freedoms and expression and when Madonna passed along her title (and a lot of spit as well during their long french kiss) as the "Queen of Bad Girls" at an MTV Music Awards Ceremony she failed to include the brainwashing recipe. I think that Madonna held a much greater spell over her fans then Britney or her friends/fellow celebs could ever generate. Sure the Brit Pack has a huge following and girls do emulate the way the Brit Pack dress, what they own (purses,phones,etc.) and are curious about the sagas they are involved in-but I also think teens today see through it!

According to the Newsweek article:

"Some observers think the real effect of the Brit Pack on our culture is more subtle,

but no less negative. Rather than instantly inspiring kids to rush out and have sex,

out-of-control celebs create a sense of normalcy about behavior-drinking,

smoking, casual sex-that is dangerous for teens."

As we learned though from the "Merchants Of Cool" piece and reactions from teens stated in this article, teens are not fooled by the glitz and glamour and have higher moral standards than I think most give them credit for. I think the various inlets and outlets of media that surround present day teens allows for a broader yet sharper perspective, and they realize that the celebrities (pop stars, actors,athletes) are the minority and can "afford" to be out-of-control and although it may be fun to watch or read about-it is NOT what they are aspiring to...

My favorite quote in the Newsweek article speaks to this sense of empowerment:

"'They've got great clothes and boyfriends. They seem to have a lot of fun'...But fascination and admiration are two very different things. As they get arrested for drunk driving and feuding with their former BFF's, the Brit Pack makes it easy for young women like Boyce, a top student and accomplished equestrian, to feel superior to them. 'My friends and I look at them to laugh at them, our lives seem pretty good by comparison. We're not going to rehab like Lindsay'."

Anyway I found this article interesting and relevant and hope others in the class will check it out too!

Singing Their Tune

Through my acquisition of the books for this semester it is very clear that the purpose of this class is "to get into the heads of the young adults" and I appreciate all the help I can get! I have always worked with toddlers and pre-K children, something I enjoy very much, and always looked at the YA group as a "project for a later date" - people that I'd like to get to know but it is just SO much work to do so! Unlike their younger counterparts who can be won over with a nursery rhyme and a comfortable lap, young adults intimidate me with their one word answers and always looking like I am completely boring them!

Anyway, I am making breakthroughs with some young adults and I know this class will let me in on some other areas of interest and give me some fresh conversation starters (that is always the hardest part)! When I have a teenager over to take care of my children and the house is still standing and they are tucked in bed and breathing, I have learned to just take what I can get...the typical "they were fine" has to suffice because that is REALLY all I can get! My questions about school, their parents, potential next steps always flop and I send them off with their pay hoping they don't tell all their friends how lame that Kerri-Ann lady is!

Then these same teenagers and many more came to audition for a fundraiser that I co-chair, and treated me like I was completely cool! First I thought that without my kids and binder full of papers for a meeting or book club they saw me in a different light, then we talked more as I coached them through the nerves of the initial auditions and they said they were impressed with my knowledge of "good music" and they liked my boots! It was clear that "getting in their heads" works, they think Berkshire Idol is fun and a great way to be involved in the community and they like being taken seriously and judged on their talents.

I have two more rounds of Berkshire Idol (www.iberkshires.com/berkshireidol) in the next two months, and although my main goal is to raise funds for the charities, my secret goal will be to form relationships with these teens and their friends and try hard to conquer my fears and frustrations typically felt in the presence of these amazing new friends.