A lot has happened in libraries over the last decade. Since the first VOYA article on Teen Spaces of Your Dreams, the internet has exploded, and innovative libraries have begun to reinvent themselves as customer-centered public spaces that cater to teens, allow food, embrace the idea of different spaces for different types of library users, limit bureaucracy, and are seeking to create public value through relevant service to the community based on the community's terms. In light of many of these major changes, teens as a community have entered the stage of the public library. We are beginning to see teens as change-agents, as soon-to-be voters, early adopters of vital technology and popular media, savvy consumers, assets to children and the elderly, and often as translators for their parents. In short, many libraries are recognizing just how much we need teens.
While we owe a debt to all those teen volunteers, library pages, youth advisory board members, and book club participants for making us look good, we also do an enormous amount of good for teens. Libraries help with schoolwork, yes, but we also educate the whole teen, feed their interests, develop their social skills, job skills, literacy skills, and connect them to the greater community in a positive and nurturing environment. Of course, none of this give-and-take between public libraries and teens can happen if libraries do not show our support for teens with teen spaces, collections, staff, and services.
This particular study did not aim to identify any bare bones necessities for young adult spaces. Measuring the successes of the participating spaces is tricky, as it is difficult to measure increased visitation, circulation, program participation, and other library gains that derive directly from a new teen space. It is even more difficult to measure the community gains in terms of educational development, happier, healthier, safer teens, and new community connections created through the development of a teen space, at least not without seeing these successes in person every day. That said, there are at least a few clear recommendations for future libraries that this study supports.
- Libraries (especially teen spaces) should be designed for users. Teen spaces may benefit from being created by users. Bolan Taney (2002) , in the one book devoted to teen spaces in libraries, makes teen involvement a major focus. By showing teens what they can have and asking them what they want, librarians can legitimize teen space offerings. Bernier (2000) takes this a step further, insisting that libraries physically manifest our attitudes towards young people through our teen spaces. Teen input shows that the library values teens, and it ensures that libraries do not grope blindly. While teen input did not directly correlate to increased use, it did tend to lead to more computers, study rooms, televisions, and other enticements that did bring in teens. Excluding teens from the process, then, can only make teens feel unwelcome.
- Flexibility is important. Many VOYA participants stressed the desire for rolling tables, convertible furniture, or other ways to free up space. Lushington (2002) and Murphy (2007), in their discussion of teen spaces, both note a preference for flexibility. Since teen spaces are a relatively new development, and library buildings can last a lifetime, the ability to innovate a teen space without renovating is quite a bonus. In my discussion with Carolyn Moskovitz, the director of the Castro Valley Library, Moskovitz was pleased with the design of a mobile wall in the future teen center that will come down to connect the room with the room adjacent for programs and events.
- Even modern teen spaces are too small. While flexibility is wonderful, it should not take the place of dedicated space. In many communities, children and teens use libraries more than adults, and the space considerations for both groups should reflect their levels of use and the need for visual enticement when displaying materials for young people. Having less than 250 square feet per thousand teens should not be hailed as a success. A display shelf for new fiction and magazines is not a laudable improvement, but a first step that should be a springboard for a completely merchandised collection.
- Teen noise and supervision are big worries for libraries. Many libraries design spaces with glass, frosted, or otherwise see-through walls allowing remote librarians to monitor teen spaces. This situation may result in a Catch-22. Glass walls do not absorb sound, making separate teen spaces seem less separate, both for teens and for other customers. Without glass walls, a library staff member would need to be in the teen center to supervise during busy hours. Perhaps a staff member in the teen center would be a valuable addition, giving teen customers a face to go with their space. Another option is to manipulate the zones within a facility to maneuver quiet customers and noisy spaces farther from one another. One possible solution is the creative space at the Palos Verdes Public Library Annex (Orr, 2007), which found a home for its teen center outside the library walls.
Further Directions for Research
There are a number of avenues available for study in teen spaces. A few of these include the following:
-
Better identify and measure the qualitative and quantitative outcomes of teen spaces on a community. Of the utmost importance is a measurable set of standards by which to judge a successful teen center.
- Study the relative effects of different levels of teen involvement in the design of teen spaces. In this study no difference was noted between a teen group giving ideas to a librarian, meeting with an architect, or physically painting the teen center. It is likely that higher levels of teen involvement and ownership of the space would bring more visitors to the center, and would provide more opportunities for community-building.
- Look at the real effects of media stations and video gaming environments in teen centers on the community.
- More closely observe the difference in teen activity in similar-sized libraries with and without teen centers.
- Develop (statewide?) standards for teen centers based on community size similar to those for other library spaces.
It is clear that libraries will always be in need of innovative solutions to serve changing populations, including teens. The libraries surveyed in this study are just a few of the many facilities responding to the very real need to provide teens with appropriate, equitable, and relevant service and spaces to thrive in concert with their public libraries. As long as teen librarians are continuously attempting to better understand and connect with teens, looking out for the next innovation, and studying and staying open to the possibilities, we - and our spaces - can truly be some of the most valuable assets teens have.