Marketing Magic: Tech-savvy Teens Share Expertise with Seniors Connecting Teens and Library Programs Teens Mark Their Territory at Rosebud County Library New Lewis and Clark Library program helps promote interaction between generations By Joyce Doyle, Youth Services/Public Relations Librarian, Missoula Public Library By Cherie Heser, Director, Rosebud County Library By Alana Listoe, Helena Independent Record Don’t you wish you could wave a magic wand and At Missoula Public Library, we off er Chelsea Brauer, then a sophomore at Forsyth High Derek Breeden do- fi ll your teen programs with excited, energetic an array of programs such as writers School and a regular user and volunteer at Rose- ing presentations Sharon Skagen, 60, got her cell phone about three “It’s neat,” he said of watching the interaction. youth? Well, you can’t. Fairy godmothers aside, groups, video gaming, poetry pro- bud County Library, knew that she had to have an on their trips to years ago, but answering it was just about the ex- nobody has a magic formula for attracting teen- grams, book-to-movie events, and outstanding community service project for FCCLA Mexico and Spain, tent of her cellular knowledge. That was until she Jerin Stanger, Capital High School senior, enjoys agers. But with a combination of off ering the right craft projects. Each one is a market- (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America). respectively, com- spent a Sunday afternoon at the Lewis and Clark working with older people. programs and marketing the heck out of them, ing opportunity. Every time you She asked a friend to join her, and they consulted plete with foods Library. you can cast a small spell for success. have an event, publicize the next with library staff and me to make a plan for a new from those coun- program or new service with hand- teen center. tries and interactive Skagen was among the Helena seniors who re- Get in their faces, and Facebooks outs and a quick announcement at the games related to ceived technology instruction from teen tutors A teen program that’s a fl op one month can be a beginning and end of the current event. They began by surveying the students to make sure their presentations. at the Lewis and Clark Library in Helena at a pro- hit the next. What’s the diff erence? It’s in the mar- And don’t forget that signup sheet to they met real needs and wants. After the survey re- gram called Teen Tech Tu- keting. get their email addresses! sults were in, they began planning the area. Along In March 2008, tors for Seniors. with state aid money off ered by the library, they Derek hosted an Not to knock traditional methods of press releases Sometimes the program is its own advertisement. secured a grant that was used to buy furniture and electronic gaming Tech Tech Tutors for Se- and posted fl yers – both are essential techniques The best way of deciding what kind of program ar- equipment for the area. Then they had some really tournament, com- niors is a new program at I employ regularly – but teens are most likely to ray you want to off er is by asking the teens them- fun meetings with other students and me to choose plete with brackets, the library that pairs Hel- listen when you get in their faces. Are you more selves. Our Young Adult Librarian took advantage and order comfy furniture (bag chairs, denim “rocker” in which students ena young people with likely to attend a program listed in the newspaper of Teen Tech Week to off er an online media survey chairs, a tall ice cream parlor type table and chairs, played diff erent seniors wanting to learn or a program you were personally invited to? Stop asking what videos and music the teens would and a set of sectional chairs with a matching “coff ee games in four parts of the library. He arranged for about e-mail, cell phones, the teen you see making a beeline for the com- like to have in the library. She plans to build off table.”) They also ordered a large slat wall divider to food from parents and prizes from local businesses. digital cameras, or surfi ng puters and give a one-sentence spiel on an up- that survey and create an advisory committee to defi ne the outside corner of the area and to display the Web. “It’s interesting to hear their perspectives on com- coming event, and hand him a fl yer while you’re help select media materials. This is the perfect new items of interest. Students in grades 7-12 from Forsyth High School, puters,” she said. “Some seem frustrated, but they at it. It’s straightforward, but an opportunity that example of using new technology to reach out to Hysham High School, and Rosebud High School are Skagen learned how to send a text message to want to learn.” gets missed far too often. teens who might not have otherwise taken part The library provided two non-Internet computers welcome at any of these events. Chelsea has made her 13 year-old grandson in Rapid City, S.D., and in the library, while simultaneously showing them with software for homework help and enrichment a real eff ort to involve the younger students in plan- how to take pictures with her cell phone. Dora Maynard brought her digital camera to the Another great chance for face-to-face marketing: we care about their interests. That’s good market- ning, so that the programs and momentum will con- library and Sam Grassy, a Helena Middle School school visits. Nothing gets in their faces like hav- ing. tinue after her graduation this spring. Future plans “That phone does a whole bunch of stuff ,” she said. eighth-grader, happily assisted her. ing their teacher force them to listen to you. A include a mural by art students, more displays, some “Everything was explained to me nicely.” captive audience is a godsend for marketing. Be Even your building is a form of marketing. A com- innovative programs, and more. “The instructions on this camera are something sure to bring handouts and a signup sheet for fu- fortable space is a major factor in getting the Pad McCracken, teen services librarian, said the else,” she said. “I just wanted someone to show ture email program alerts. teens back into the library after their fi rst visit. It And what about the rest of the month? This area is program is something other libraries have been me how to do it.” tells the teens what the library is about more than always in use, mostly by teens after school and in successful at and the need seemed apparent in Finally, I’m not above using a little peer pressure to any words ever could. Missoula Public Library is the evening, relaxing with teen magazines and teen Helena. She left feeling a bit more educated about her get my point across. Get teens you know to tout redesigning the young adult space to off er a more books, visiting, listening to music, and working on purple Polaroid and says she’ll soon be taking pic- the next movie or readers club meeting to their welcoming atmosphere by adding walls and in- computers. The high ice cream table and chairs are “Seniors need the help,” he said, “and with kids it’s tures of her grandchildren and scenery. friends. For that matter, do the same with the par- troducing comfortable seating areas to encour- very popular for sitting with laptops for studies or second nature.” ents you see browsing while waiting for the kids. age them to spend time and relax. We’re also in- e-mail. An unexpected use happened when several McCracken said the library is considering more Use social networking like MySpace, Facebook, troducing a YA Café monthly craft program aimed families, including teens and preteens, started com- McCracken said the side benefi t is the interaction Teen Tech Tutors for Seniors sessions, but haven’t and blogs to reach beyond your normal audience at defi ning the YA section as a place for creativity ing in to relax together in the comfy chairs and read of Helena’s senior citizens with the community’s scheduled any yet. scope. The more people you can get talking up and individualism. Of course, you don’t need a ing together or separately. young people. the library, the more teens will hear you. fancy space to off er something like this, just some for various academic areas, as well as a CD/MP3 ingenuity and energy. And we all know young player. Chelsea and friends came up with posters This project won “Gold” at both state and national Teens and Technology Repeat Business adult librarians have that in abundance! and decorations, including painted lettering for FCCLA conventions two years in a row, once for the “Teen Territory,” their chosen name. planning stage, and once for the implementation Your work isn’t done just because you got them Attracting teens to library programming is not a stage. And of course, the students involved have to one program. First, you have to make sure they ● Gaming Lists & Activities - sponsored by the YALSA Teen Gaming Interest Group matter of “if you off er it they will come.” But if you The second year was spent on implementation. wonderful community service records for college have fun. Then you have to bring them back for http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/Gaming_Lists_%26_Activities off er it, and tell them about it, and remind them The “grand opening” just after school started was entrance and scholarship applications. the next one. about it, and tell them again – they might stop by. a smashing success, with 45 students eating pizza ● Selected Videos and DVDs - sponsored by the Selected Videos and DVDs Committee And that’s a bit of magic right there. and pop provided by the library, playing games, and http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/Selected_Videos_and_DVDs having discussion groups on what they would like Library 2.0 Services to Teens - Best Practicies ● YALSA’s Social Networking Tools to do in the area. I even got a turn to introduce new http://del.icio.us/bstef87 http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=Library_2.0_Best_Practices_to_Teens books and other resources for teens. That night the students in attendance also got to choose 15 favor- ● Teen Tech Week (March 2-8, 2008) - sponsored by YALSA’s Teen Tech Week Committee Examples of blogs, myspace, podcasts, vodcasts, rss, and fl ickr accounts being used by ite authors for standing orders of their latest books http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/Teen_Tech_Week libraries to connect with teens. from Ingram, fi nanced by the library. ● Teen Tech Guides - sponsored by Teen Tech Week committee ● Blogs for Teens - library blogs for teen patrons. http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/Teen_Tech_Guides ● Flickr for library Teens - A list of Flickr spaces for library teens. Every month during the school year, students plan ● MySpace & Teens - a list of library MySpace profi les oriented towards teen patrons. an event, ranging from electronic games to board ● Web 2.0 & Libraries - sponsored by YALSA’s Technology for YA Committee http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/Web_2.0_%26_Libraries ● Podcasts & Teens - a list of podcasts created through partnership with public libraries and teens. games to movies to really special events. A recent one ● RSS & Teens - a list of libraries using RSS feeds to deliver digital content to teens. that really drew a crowd featured Chelsea and friend ● Vodcasts for Teens - a list of vodcasts used within teen library environments. Page 4 Big Sky Libraries Newsletter Volume 98, March 2008 Page 5