Saturday, March 29, 2008

Too Many Teens: Blessing or Burden?



Facilitated by Kent Johnson and Susan Spicer, Salt Lake County Library's Kearns Branch

First, find an ally, a co-worker who thinks like you for support.

Raise cultural awareness.

Clarify library use policy. Talk to kids. Distribute the use policy. Created a paired-down version. Essentially, Be respectful, no swearing, no fighting.

Create a plan
At Kearns Branch, every teen that comes into the library must go through a 10-minute Powerpoint presentation on the use policy. Explain the Trespass policy. They must go through this training AND get a sticker on their library card proving that they've taken the training BEFORE they are allowed to use internet PCs for the first time.

An off-duty sheriff's officer is paid by the library and is present from 2-6pm daily. If possible, work with the officers assigned to your local high schools. They already know the students and how to work with them.

Kearns' Teen staff focused on Behavior until it was under control, before considering any program planning.

Staff went to elementary schools and sent letters home with sixth graders (most letters made it home) explaining behavior expectations in the nearby Kearns branch for students, as well as the library and parental responsibilities.

***Get a copy of the local Middle and High school yearbooks. Photocopy pages; learn and use the names of your teens.***

At Kearns, all staff roam during peak teen hours.
No staff in offices between 3 and 5pm.

There is a "zero-tolerance aggressive-behavior policy"—-even when it is two friends roughhousing.

If teens are put out of the library for an extended amount of time, they must return with an adult and talk to a review panel before they are allowed to reenter the library.

If teens are outside observing a fight on library property (as has happened at Kearns), the librarian said I am so disappointed in you for watching. Go in the library or go home. Since the librarian had built relationships with these teens, this statement worked for their group. Fear of disappointment worked better than threats of banning.

When enforcing policy, be consistent and never argue.
Don't get into a debate about whether, for example, a teen did or did not swear.
Instead, crouch beside a seated teen and say In the library, I really need you not to swear.

OR

Drop your tone and say It seems like you're having a hard time, I'll have to ask you to leave. I'm going to give you 5 minutes and then you have to leave, but we can't wait to see you tomorrow.

Then, and this is important, leave the area for 5 minutes. You need to give teens a chance to say goodbye to their friends and gather their books. Lingering might only escalate the situation. Return after 5 minutes.

OR

...if it is a noise issue in a large group and you know who is being loud, say You have 5 minutes to gather your materials and move to another table or you'll have to leave the building.

Remember, there is nothing gained by having the last word with ANY patron—adult or teen. Let it go.

Give teens the time and space to do things on their own after you've given a directive.

There are issues of brain development and chemical changes in this age group. You can see shifts in behavior—-for the better or worse--over a period of a few short months.

Remember, that developmentally, teens change quickly and they do grow up.

Take a look at some of your problem teens and at their lives.
Chances are you may be the only adult who actually talks TO them, and not AT them.

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