Serving teens in MHLS libraries

Interesting article: http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/211/report_display.asp

MK

We started a tradition two years ago of doing a “graduation ceremony” at our annual TAB Lock-in (all night event). Each graduate gets a group of other TAB members who dress the graduate in a newspaper gown and cap–we’ve had some pretty creative designs! It’s amazing what they can do with a stack of newspapers and a roll of scotch tape! Once the costumes are finished, everyone gets a kazoo to do Pomp and Circumstance while the grads march to receive their honors. The grads get a coupon to a local ice cream place and another prize (either a book or something else from our prize collection–we usually do this part around 3 or 4am, so my memory is a little fuzzy…). It’s one of the highlights of the Lock-in!

From Mary Ann Lewis, Young Adult Services Librarian, Associated Libraries of Monroe County

MK - You have to love the kazoo idea…

If you are lucky enough to have older teens in your group, here are some ideas for honoring them from ya-yaac listserv:We honor the outgoing members with a cake, card signed by all the TAB members and a graduation-dressed teddy bear holding a gift certificate for Barnes & Noble, presented at the last meeting of the school year.  So far we’ve only had one per year, so it hasn’t strained the budget. We also asked them to suggest a book to add to our YA collection that had meaning for them - one was a biography of her favorite poet - and we put a book plate with their name in it with the years of service as a TAB member.

Jane Granatino, Asst. Director, Dover Town Library, Dover, MA

 MK