Visual Attractions

This table shows some of the most common eye-catching visuals that libraries create for teen spaces. Also included in this table is the question of whether to include all teen materials in the teen center or whether to locate some of them elsewhere.

Findings

Displays

• Percent of Libraries With No Merchandised Displays: 36%
• Percent of Libraries With Some Merchandised Displays: 46%
• Percent of Libraries With Many Merchandised Displays: 18%

Almost any American consumer can list the trademark differences between visual merchandising in a retail store and what passes for book displays in a library. As a result, the responses to the ‘adequate displays’ column is a relative comparison of the degree to which the various libraries created book displays for new items, used face outs, and utilized creative shelving methods and/or structures. Those libraries with better displays tended to have more teens visiting as well as higher circulation numbers.

All Materials

• Percent of Libraries With All Teen Materials in the Teen Center: 31%
• Most Likely Collections to be Located Elsewhere: Video, Music, and Non-Fiction

Many libraries segregate materials by format rather than by age group. Some libraries just do not have sufficient space in the teen center for all of the teen materials without sacrificing the area as a living space. While there was no apparent correlation between the presence of all the teen materials and any of the visual attractions, there was such a correlation with higher circulation numbers. This probably results from the ease of finding materials, as well as the ability for teens to browse without moving around the entire library. However, the presence of all the teen materials is inversely proportionate to the number of computers for use by teens, and does not correspond to those libraries with the most visitors.

Art

• Percent of Libraries With Art on Display: 58%

The mere presence of art on the walls of a teen center did not appear to correlate strongly with any other statistic. The effect of art in a teen space is inconclusive.

Themed Space

• Percent of Libraries With a Design Theme: 36%

A teen space with a theme is one modeled on a particular establishment. Popular spaces include malls or other retail looks (such as bookstores), internet cafés, coffee houses, lofts, or clubhouses. Some of the larger libraries, including Phoenix and Los Angeles, opted for several themed spaces to separate the space. Librarians ⁵ have suggested that teens tend to prefer small spaces in which they can feel both control and comfort as opposed to larger, impersonal spaces. Themed spaces, however, are another inconclusive area for teen centers. There were no strong correlations between having a theme and visitors, circulation, merchandising, or other data.