CONNECTING THE LIBRARY AND THE COMMUNITY TO BENEFIT TEENS Teen Outreach & Teen Programming Jamie Ward/ Magna Library/ Salt Lake County Library Services Brenda Lower/ Salt Lake City Public Library

MAGNA LIBRARY OUTREACH  After School Program After School Program  A place for kids to go and be in a safe environment  The time between 3-5pm is a peak time for troublemaking and mischief. OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: Released on December 21, 2010.

SLCO YOUTH SERVICES BACKGROUND  Big organization that has many facets, including the Afterschool Program that we help out with  Meets every school day from 2:45-6:00pm  Lots of different programs, including summer programming

MAGNA LIBRARY/ SLCO YOUTH SERVICES COLLABORATION  Magna Library has a program for these kids every Monday  For Magna Lib: It helps the library get program numbers as well as getting to know teen patrons better  For SLCO: I have written grant proposals for their program, they don’t have to plan an activity every single day

MAGNA OUTREACH  Kiwi Bakery  Local Bakery right across the street from the library  Everyone (all ages eligible) can get a donut for five reading sessions  Anywhere from 50 to 200 patrons of all ages participate in this program, usually quarterly

MAGNA OUTREACH  Art on You Tattoo Shop  Very active in the community  Note: this is Magna  They do very popular programs at the library that teens love!

LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS  Use your meeting room!  Chamber of Commerce  Local government meetings  “Outreach Night” with community members that work with teens  Library Science students

LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS THAT COULD BE FOUND IN ANY COMMUNITY  Partner with a Senior Center  Teen/Senior Clubs could benefit both groups  Knitting Club would be a cute idea  Partner with a local school  Stuffed Animal Sleepover.  Do a fun assembly for students  Local bookshop/ store for a book group

TEEN PROGRAMMING IDEAS RELATED TO OUTREACH  Ask people you know from partnerships for ideas that have worked well  Recruit your TAB to outreach & bring in programming ideas that work in the community  Do programs that promote growth & development such as community service projects, volunteer opportunities and work with charity

TEENS WHO MAY NOT FREQUENT THE LIBRARY How can outreach & programming reach these patrons:  Home-schooled kids  Incarcerated teens  Disabled teens  Immigrants  Pregnant teens

SOCIAL NETWORKING OUTREACH  Goodreads  Booklists, contests & event publicity  Facebook  Contests, polls, book quotes  Twitter  Pinterest  Flickr  Foursquare

UPLIFT IDEAS 16 Apr. 2013, Advanced Uplift: Collaboration- USL  We will focus on answering the following questions: What valuable assets, resources and attributes do libraries provide for collaboration? Why is it important to collaborate? What are the benefits of collaboration? How do you develop effective partnerships? How do you identify partners for collaboration?

INITIATING PARTNERSHIPS  Why?  Who?  How?

WHY?  The foundation for successful libraries lies in ensuring that libraries create public value  No organization can solve every community problem  Do you want to have fun new, diverse programming ideas? Different approaches  Are there new community partnerships in your community that could bring new patronage?

WHY?  What other reasons can you think of that have not been included?

WHO?  Existing Relationships  What are other libraries doing?  What are other communities doing?  Go outside the library  Where are the people that you want to interact with?  Can they come to you? Probably not

HOW?  Pick up the phone  Very simple, professional  Mention what you like about them and how you can help them out  Promote your own events

HOW?  Develop relationships with other library leaders, community leaders, educational organizations, community groups and agencies. These collaborative relationships will lead to support and ideas for new and existing programming to meet the needs of your community.

POSSIBLE PROBLEMS  Poor communication  Lost in the Why? part of initiation  Partnerships are too different  Not enough help or time  Hidden agendas/ high cost  Not getting enough out of the partnership (either side)  But it’s worth it!

WE HAVE PROGRAMS! What do we do with partnerships?

PROGRAM TIPS  Have variety!  Be consistent.  Advertise well, far in advance.  Pinterest

ADVERTISING- HOW?  Social Media and Technology  In House Advertising  Outside Resources

SOCIAL MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY  Twitter  Texting  Reminders  Facebook  Create Events on the page, not just give notices  Post regularly: time and schedule different posts- Plan ahead!  Interact! Ask questions, give recommendations, answer questions  Be natural, not stuffy

IN HOUSE ADVERTISING  Posters  Fliers  Library Newsletter  Talking it up to people, including parents!

OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY  Neighborhood and community newsletters  Radio spotlights  Community centers  Schools  The partners (give fliers and posters)

ADVERTISING- HOW?  Social Media and Technology  In House Advertising  Outside Resources  Include the parents!  If they are on board, the teens will be coming to the programs!

QUESTIONS?