Presentation for NLA 2011 Conference.

1. Teen Advisory Boards and YOU!

2. Teen Advisory Board (TAB) Youth Advisory Council (YAC) Teen Advisory Group (TAG) Teen Advisory Club/Council (TAC) Teen Library Council (TLC) Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) Known by Many Names:

3. Get to know local teens Familiarity with interests and needs Encourages involvement Meet new people Provides staff with a better understanding of teens Sense of responsibility and accomplishment What Do TABs Accomplish?

4. Approval can occur in two ways: Informal Formal Approval for a TAB

5. Increases services to teens Allows teens to be involved Creates volunteer opportunities Gather teen demographic statistics Writing the Proposal

6. How formal will TAB be? Teen representation Educate peers Teen input Creative programs and activities Short-term and long-term goals Defining Goals

7. How will you select members? How will you recruit members? Marketing inside the library Marketing outside the library Setting Up the TAB

8. TAB = Fun but also serious TAB = important and special TAB = “exclusive” Determine basic operating standards Criteria for TAB Membership

9. Choose an effective advisor Someone who enjoys working with teens Advisor = friend/mentor/supervisor/objective adult all in one Qualities of an advisor: Sense of humor Enthusiastic and supportive of teens Treats teens with respect and sincerity Ready, Set, Get Started!

10. Biggest challenge to starting a TAB Determine exact age and/or grade level of members Basic means of recruitment: Talk to teens Have application form ready Promotional posters Visit schools Word of mouth Snacks! “Om-nom-nom” Nominate teens Recruiting Members

11. Meet in a comfortable place Create an agenda Have snacks Make teens feel welcome and important Decide how often the group will meet and when Follow up with written information TAB Meetings Tips

12. 10 – 15 minutes for socializing Discuss ongoing business General teen input Develop and plan for upcoming activities Snacks The Agenda

13. No one shows up Only a few show up Start off strong . . . now no one comes Teens can’t get along What If Things Go Wrong!

14. Mission statement TAB officers TAB projects: TAB Newsletter TAB Website Other Examples of Projects/Activities Libraries are NOT Boring

15. Life-Size Candy Land

16. Life-Size Candy Land

17. Life-Size Candy Land

18. Stuffed Animal Sleepover

19. Stuffed Animal Sleepover

20. Stuffed Animal Sleepover

21. Stuffed Animal Sleepover

22. Biggest difficulty = teen commitment Reasons why a teen should be on the library board: Teens are the future library supporters Teens bring fresh opinions Elevate the status of teens Teens gain support for ideas that will bring more teens to the library and promote teen reading Teen Representation on Adult Library Boards

23. Make new friends Get volunteer hours Membership looks good on college applications Special TAB-only member T-shirts Food is always a reward! Hold special events just for them Special events beyond the library help develop a cohesive group Perks of TAB Membership

24. TABs give teens great opportunities for building the 40 Developmental Assets Teens are the BEST resource for finding out what your library can do for them Teens are our future financial supporters Teens need to be heard and will become your friends and allies if you listen to them Why You Need a TAB

25. Give you new and fresh ideas Increase your knowledge about current teen patrons More relevant collection = increased circulation More relevant programs = increased attendance More relevant displays = increased circulation Attract teens who were not previously library users In the Beginning a TAB Will . . .

26. Increase passive marketing in the community Provide assistance at programs Shift the perception of the library as “lame” to a cool place to be Later On a TAB Will . . .

27. Provide more outreach possibilities Increase active marketing in the community Increase other programming As It Becomes Bigger TAB Will . . .

28. Give 5 – 10 minutes of socializing at the start of a meeting Take notes at meetings Provide snacks TAB = Fun = Serious Too Be honest with your teens Invite members of the staff, media, and city officials to meetings TAB Do:

29. Don’t get discouraged Don’t let the group be too vague or let them take on too much at once Don’t dominate the meeting by talking at the group Don’t make meetings too serious Don’t set unrealistic deadlines or obscure the difficulties of achieving certain projects Don’t become discouraged if the library budget precludes teenagers or your TAG TAB Don't:

30. TAB Application Form TAB Rules and Regulations Form Personalized Recruitment Letter Example of Print Newsletter Media Permission Slip Permission Forms for TAB Lock-In Copies of Forms

31. Contact: Lindsey Tomsu Teen Coordinator La Vista Public Library 9110 Giles Road La Vista, NE 68128 402-537-3900 ltomsu@lavistamail.mccneb.edu Questions?