ILS 522

Young Adult Services in the Public Library

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Planning, implementation and evaluation of public library services for young adults with emphasis on program planning.  Ages 13 through 18 is the target audience.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Students will:

1. Develop a strategic plan for library service to young adults.
2. Identify other information agencies in networking arrangements to expand access to information for young adults.
3. Design ongoing public relations program directed toward young adults, staff, other agencies serving young adults, and the community at large.
4. Develop physical facilities which contribute to the achievement of young adult program goals.
5. Provide a variety of information services (e.g., career information, homework help, web sites) to meet the diverse needs of young adults.
6. Utilize a variety of techniques (e.g., book talking, discussion groups) to encourage use of materials.
7. Instruct young adults in the basic information gathering and research skills. These should include the skills necessary to use and evaluate electronic information sources, and to insure current and future information literacy.
8. Encourage young adults in the use of all types of materials for their personal growth and enjoyment.
9. Identify current trends and emerging technologies, issues, and research in librarianship, adolescent development, education, and allied fields.
10. Identify professional organizations to strengthen skills, interact with fellow professionals, and contribute to the profession. 

 

COURSE OUTLINE

A. The community    

1. Assessment
2. Library facilities
3. Other agencies as related to young adults

B. Managing young adult services   

1. Mission statement
2. Policies
3. Staffing
4. Identifying common problems
5. Intellectual freedom and censorship
6. Design a young adult center
7. Design a homework center

C. Program planning      

1. Identifying specific age needs
2. Budgeting
3. Publicity
4. Accommodating special needs teens
5. Outreach programs
6. Cooperative programs

D. Professional growth    

1. Local, regional, and national professional organizations
2. Professional literature and online resources
3. Professional conferences

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Evaluation

• A community analysis;
• Analysis of policy statements and job descriptions;
• An evaluation of libraries with young adult centers;
• Develop a homework center;
• Develop a library web pages designed for young adults based on examination of other web pages;
• Design a young adult space in a library;
• Investigate unserved population and design a plan for outreach.
• Identify special needs teens and provide a plan for accommodating them in a library program
• 2 major program planning papers that will include: budget planning; publicity statements using local resources, objectives, description of young adult needs and how they are being met, evaluative process
• Examination of professional organizations and how to benefit from them. 

 

Approved by the ILS Department Curriculum Committee and Faculty, Spring 2009.