Be jealous.
Ramblings too long? Kriss Kross will make you jump, jump.
The first part of this symposium that you need to know about is that it was pretty awesome before anyone actually started talking, for the following reasons:
1) Sarah Couri got me in by the goodness of her charity. Miss Beth is interning at Teen Central, told me that Sarah was speaking at this conference, and then when I did this \o/ and danced, asked Sarah if I could come.
Sarah said yes. Cuz Sarah is awesome.
2) Someone had the brilliant idea to combine danish and jelly donuts into one pastry. Like, a danish with a slap of jelly donut filling right on top. I may have had two. And a muffin. And several cups of coffee.
Awesome.
So I was in a pretty damn good mood to begin with, but then we actually got to the presentations. 30 minutes each, all by dynamic speakers with something interesting to say.
1) Death by Booktalk
Barbara Moon talked about inventive ways to booktalk. Which would have all worked on me, because I totally want to read all of the books she mentioned already.
Some of her ideas/techniques included: have your booktalk victims/subjects/whathaveyou try and guess which book goes to which song lyrics, have them guess which page of the book your pulling text from, giving them a book quiz to match personality with READING DESTINY!, have them put a bag over their heads with the title written at the top and try and guess based on everyone else's hints.
Very interesting, thought it didn't feel feasible for an urban library setting; I can't imagine any of the Teen Central guys putting a bag over their heads and playing BookCharades.
Several handouts, which by the end looked like this:
And this: 2) Library Services to Incarcerated Teens and Adults in NYC
Speakers: Vikki Terrille, Jim Huffman, Anne Lotito Schuh, Anja Kennedy, all members of the METRO Prison SIG.
The bottom line of this panel? These people do some really hard work. Like, emotionally draining, fighting the system, "Why do juvenile delinquents need librarians? Let the little convicts sit in their cells and count their arm hairs!" work. Fighting a system that doesn't want them there, working against staff members who are at best permissive and at worst downright unresponsive, and being in an environment where hardcover books can't be given to the teens under their care because that book can be a physical weapon.
After listening to them talk, I have come to the conclusion that I couldn't do this for a living, but I have a huge level of respect for those who are strong enough to. Like pediatric surgeons, or district attorneys: noble fighters on the side of good, who I could definitely not be one of.
3) Trend Spotting: Youth, Libraries, and Learning
Speaker: Brian Kenney
Note: Not Brian Kinney.
Interesting, though I will say that my favorite part of this presentation was:
1) Picture of The TROVE at White Plains Library
Other than that, I'm just mainly jealous of pretty pretty libraries with pretty pretty "destination" focuses and pretty pretty budgets.
4) Street Librarianship: Do You Have What it Takes to Work with Urban Teens?
Speaker: Christian Zabriskie
Okay, so Imma level with you: I saw this guy sitting in on the Book Talk speach and I thought "Oh my God, he has amazing facial hair, and is kinda awesome just sitting there. He's fun."
And then he gave a panel, and yeah, he totally was.
Chris's perspective can pretty much be summed up by: "Do a good job, give the teens a lot of energy, or get the heck out because we don't need more apathetic people getting in the way." Which I totally respect and agree with.
He also made the great point of "Respect is currency in the inner city." And to gain respect, you as a teen librarian have to enforce the rules, make sure the teens know you're there to help them, and don't try and be a friend-- try and be a librarian. Give it every ounce of energy you have, because that's what they deserve.
Perfect Pre-Break-For-Lunch Speaker. I approve.
5) LUNCH
With Sarah, and Miss Beth, and Annie. There were burgers, and eggs benedict, and New York clam chowder. I have no idea why I remember all that.
There were also awesome stories of home towns, engagements, library school, and siblings. A great time was had by all.
(And then we went back out in the rain. *death gurgle*)
6) To the Jedi Council-- and Beyond! How Older Teens/Young Adults and Revitalizing SErvices at the New York Public Library
With Jesus watching over us to ensure quality learning, it was time for Sarah's presentation!
Lots of questions asked, lots of comments, and a great deal of information shared.
Basically, it boils down to this: teens age out of their Teen Services. And then public libraries, or at least the NYPL, kinda drops them flat. There's little adult programming that they will find relevant or helpful or engaging, so they stop coming. A teen who's built this whole community and safe place at the library all of a sudden loses it forever, and doesn't return.
ENTER SARAH AND TEEN CENTRAL!
Now with the Jedi Council/TAASP Group, Older Teens can have an active role in the library, by interning and helping to run Teen Central. Instead of dropping them on their own when they hit 19 and saying "Good luck and God speed, here's a new library card to celebrate you losing that support system" Teen Central lets them have an active role in helping to run the place that they've made their safe haven over the last however many years.
Cool ideas they've come up with?
1) The Play Pen (Not Actually Called That)
Picture a room full of instruments, sewing machines, snow shovels, cake pans-- everything you want to play with. Now picture that you can do these things at the library.
2) The GSA
Teen Central's Gay Straight Alliance. Featuring awesome discussion, videos, hanging out, and a warm supportive place for teens/twenties of all orientations to chill. How great is that?
3) Anime Club
See the earlier post where I got my butt handed to me and was educated about Yaoi. It's so awesome that this exists.
Sarah answered questions, people looked satisfied (and like they agreed that Grown Up Librarians Don't Work as Hard as Teen Librarians), and then the day ended.
Fighting my way in the rain and sleet and dark of the early morning was so worth it. I feel like I learned more in five 30 minute segments than I have in entire courses! Which says sad things about the state of library education, but still! Awesome courses, awesome presenters, and fun company.
What more can you ask of a Saturday?
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