Urban Libraries Council recently provided an audio conference about effective youth services in our branch libraries. The featured libraries were able to spearhead an Everyone Serves Youth philosophy that shaped their environment, allowing them to provide quality services to teens. I would like to discuss a few strategies that were highlighted in the conference, and comment on the situation of librarians that lack resources for serving teens.
 

A best practice mentioned repeatedly in the presentation, was an Everyone Serves Youth Training. Key speakers argued that youth service is dependent on staff involvement from all levels. This process includes our library administrators, who essentially define our level of commitment to youth. If serving teens is not an integral part of library service, then we lack the work culture necessary to make it happen.
 

The conference presenters challenged us to examine our work culture in regards to youth services.  Are teens a high priority in the library? Is youth development written into the strategic plan? Does all staff serve youth, or is the youth librarian held responsible for all teen issues (*sigh*, as if one person can make all the difference…)
 

For some of us, these questions reveal a need for organizational change that turns youth development into a top priority. If teen services is not valued, then what can we do about it? How much difference can an entry level librarian or paraprofessional staff make in this regard?
 

When this question was brought up during the Q & A of the audio conference, it was suggested that well prepared arguments and presentations would make any reasonable manager stop and listen. Merely vocalizing dissatisfaction is not enough, and instead our efforts should be concentrated on building a case. One presenter went as far to suggest teen involvement in this case-building process, by asking teens to stand-up and speak out to the board and administrators.
 

I wish all managers were reasonable enough to listen and take action when the above strategies were used. But this would not happen in at least a handful of libraries (maybe more than we’d like to admit…)! I have met librarians that received disciplinary action at some point in their career, specifically for addressing the systemic problems that dumb down teen services. What can be done as a staff person in an environment that frowns upon organizational change?  Is there any hope?
 

I want to say YES! I want to say – one person can make a difference. And honestly, any librarian that cares and puts forth effort will positively impact teens. But as stressed in today’s ULC conference, it takes more than one person to serve youth. If you are the only person that is making an effort, then teen services in general will fail…
 

Maybe our question will lead to this: is it better to work in a functional, progressive work place where one can be effective, or to stay in a disconnected environment, knowing that by doing so at least ONE advocate will be able to help teens.