I just had the pleasure of perusing the new Young Adult website, “My Own Cafe“, a teen web portal for the Southeastern Massachusetts Library System.

The web site not only features access to library materials, but provides an entertainment portal for teens. Teens can download mp3s of regional artists, write music reviews, post their opinions on the discussion board, and find out what’s going on in their area. There are some great discussions about authors and films going on in the discussion board, and these conversations are initiated by teens.I am very impressed with the amount of teen involvement that the web site calls for, and how it balances teen content out with access to Library materials and resources.

I like the idea of building a regional teen web site. A web site targeted towards library teens of an entire regional area, has more chances of prospering than a web site that targets a smalle area. This is because teens will be more attracted to a library teen portal whose participatory members span further than their local township. Teens might think of the web site as a way to make new friends.

One thing I also commend about the web site, is that teens themselves monitor and create content. There is a section of the web site that calls for teen volunteers to help moderate forums, review music submissions, and create polls. The teen involvement of the web site is the factor that will make the web site take off. It’s what will draw teens in and get them involved with library programs and resources.

There is an article on the VOYA website about the making of My Cafe that I haven’t had the chance to read yet. You can read it here.