A Year of Programs for Teens

Planning teen programming is a lot of work, so why offer programs that teens don't want?

Teens need especially exciting and dynamic programs to encourage them to use the library and its resources. In A Year of Programs for Teens, two young adult specialists take teen services to a new level with step-by-step instructions for planning teen programs. Each chapter covers one month of the year and includes four to five program ideas appropriate to the season, as well as suggestions for games, passive programs, and book displays. All programs included in this collection have been tested in real libraries with live teens and offer

• Scalable program ideas for limited library budgets
• Tips for gearing the program toward older or younger teens
• Program-specific details about supplies, preparation time, setup, and marketing tactics
• Strategies on how to avoid potential problems
• Stand-alone programs and display ideas for facilities

Following the practical suggestions laid out here, young adult librarians in public libraries, school library media specialists, and adult and young adult services staff serving teens can easily build a core teen audience and help attract new members to programs and to the library.