In an earlier post (Post #4 – Paper Topic Exploration) I was thinking about the question of “How can libraries create an environment that can foster potential library leaders and harness the power of the ones we already have, while keeping the ideas of participatory service in mind.” Since then, my group has been working on a teen blog for our group project, which has inspired me to write a paper about cultivating teens to be library leaders.

 Here are some ideas I want to touch upon:
- Teen Web presence (blogs, MySpace, Facebook)
- On site services and programming (gaming, book clubs, advisory committees)
- Creating space for teens
 
This list is still in progress, but I think what I have collected is a good start to understand how libraries can better serve digital natives and use their knowledge to foster a new era of library patrons and leaders.
 
Books
 
Casey, Michael E. and Laura C. Savastinuk. Library 2.0: Guide to Participatory Library Service. Medford: Information Today, 2007.
 

Godin, Seth. Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us. New York: Penguin, 2008.
 
Palfrey, John and Urs Gassler. Born Digital: Understanding the First Generation of Digital Natives. New York: Basic Books, 2008.
 
Kunzel, Boonie and Constance Hardesty. The Teen-Centered Book Club: Readers into Leaders. Wesport: Libraries Unlimitied, 2006.
 
Articles
 
 
Bernstein, Jared. “Born Digital, Not Yesterday: Next generation Web User Seeks Interactivity.” EContent 29,  no. 4 (2006): 14. http://search.ebscohost.com/.
- Article describes teenagers as wanting more connectivity, using Palfrey and Gassler’s “Born Digital” concept.
 
Bolan, Kimberly, Meg Canada, and Rob Cullin. “Web, Library, and Teen Services 2.0.” Young Adult Library Services 5, no. 2 (2007): 40-3. http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.
- Article explores how those working in YA services can apply 2.0 concepts and how 2.0 applies to teens at libraries and in schools.
Braun, Linda W. “Letting Teens Take the Lead.” Library Journal 126, no. 1 (2001): 26-9. http://search.ebscohost.com/.
- Article discusses training teens to teach Internet skills, “train-the-trainer” programs that create meaningful volunteer opportunities for teens.
 
Brautigam, Patsy. “Developmental Assets and Libraries: Helping to Construst the Successful Teen.” Voice Youth Advocates 31, no. 2 (2008). http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.
- Article discusses how libraries can make a difference in teens lives.
 
Czarnecki, Kelly. “The Real and the Virtual Intersecting Communities at the Library.” Multimedia & Internet@Schools 15, no. 3 (2008): 11-3. http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.
- Article discusses virtual community building in libraries.
 
Deiss, Kathryn J. “Innovation and Strategy: Risk and Choice in Shaping User-Centered Libraries.” Library Trends 53, no. 1 (2004): 17-32. http://search.ebscohost.com/.
- Article discusses the innovation and strategies needed to create and add valuable services for patrons in libraries.
 
Evans, Beth. “Library 2.0: The Consumer as Producer.” Information Today 25, no. 9 (2008):1, 52, 54. http://search.ebscohost.com/.
- Article discusses using blogs, YouTube, Flickr, and other Web 2.0 technologies to turn users into content producers.
 
Hill, Nanci Milone. “Teens – Perpetual Problem of Golden Opportunity?” Public Libraries 47, no. 1 (2008): 24-32. http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.
- Compilation of short articles from public librarians from across the country describing how they reach out to and better serve the teens in their communities.
 
Iser, Stephanie. “Partnership for Teen Tech Week.” Young Adult Library Services 6, no. 2 (2008): 24-6. http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.
-Article encourages librarians to support second annual “Teen Tech Week” and how libraries can partner with businesses and organizations to gain resources.
 
K.S., “What It Means to Be Born Digital.” American Libraries 38, no. 10(2007): 28. http://search.ebscohost.com/.
- Article features libraries (Hennepin County, MN, Evanston Public, IL, and Michigan Libraries Consortium, MI) implementing Web 2.0 technologies to attract and serve digital natives.
 
McLean, DC. “Building Teen Communities Online: Listen, Listen, and Listen.” Young Adult Services 5, no. 4 (2007): 21-6. http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.
- Article describes how YA librarians are using Web 2.0 technologies to build social online communities for teens.
 
Wernett, Lisa C. “Teen Space and the Community’s Living Room: Incorporating Teen Areas into Rural Libraries.” PNLA Quarterly 72, no. 4 (2008): 7-18. http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.
- Article discusses the importance of teen spaces in the libraries and the needs they fulfill for our teen patrons.
 
Websites:
 
ALA, Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)
 
PEW INTERNET & AMERICAN LIFE PROJECT Reports
 

“Teens and Social Media: The use of social media gains a greater foothold in teen life as they embrace the conversational nature of interactive online media” (2007) http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Teens_Social_Media_Final.pdf 

 

“Teen Content Creators and Consumers: More than half of online teens have created content for the Internet; and most teen downloaders think that getting free music files is easy to do” (2005)  http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Teens_Content_Creation.pdf
“Generations Online in 2009″