Does anyone have any good suggestions for getting Youth involved in using our library? We have such good, current books for that age group but I fear the age of social media and electronic devices has taken over their interest in reading a mere book. Would a book club be a good idea? If so, any ideas?
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I think all librarians, church or no, have this problem! For our younger kids, last summer's reading program was a Battle of the Books. It wasn't hugely popular but it was the first year, so I'm waiting to see how it goes this summer before deciding whether or not to continue it.
We are also having a teen book club this summer. NO idea how that will go! but we're going to give it a shot.
We had a couple of teens on our library committee for a year or so and I had hoped that would bring in more teens but it didn't really...perhaps they weren't vocal enough!
I believe a lot of church librarians would ask the same question "where are the teens". The original question and statements are all relatable. I have moved in the direction to some extent of books that are classified as Adult Fiction, to put them in the YA, i.e. Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin. Also, good quality teen books include: Code of Silence, Take Your Best Shot, Book Thief, Curveball. I have an 8th grader that reads everything so I have to be careful in my choices. I read EVERYTHING before I put something in Youth. Even book #1 can the great and then BOOM, book #2 is full of swear words, etc. If you want a more complete list of books that I have to offer, send me your e-mail, and I'll give you a full list. Also, you can go to the NCLA website. The church librarians organization has folded do to financial concerns, but you can still look at the reviews. My list of book reviews will be helpful there as well. Good luck.
I have a couple of avid readers who are out growing (from reading) my junior section. What I need is clean stuff for an older junior reader11-14- I have directed the mom of this girl to classics (they homeschool) because a lot of what is written (as you said) is iffy. Do you know anything about Bryan Davis, Raising of Dragons? Anyway, I would definitely like you to send me your book ideas.hancfam2@verizon.net.
Bryan Davis's books are good for the church library. I have heard him speak and he began writing the "Dragons" series as a Christian answer to Harry Potter and some of the other things that were being published a few years ago. He has several series which we put in our adult section, but they could go in a youth section, or maybe an older J reader.
we have the entire Chuck Black, Kingdom Series, and I noticed the Oasis Audio has also published Bryan Davis' stuff also on audio. The public library has them so I'll check them out there.
Thanks
I am having the same problem. I do not think for a minute that books are dead even in the age of kindles and nooks, tablets, ipads etc. But, there is some change obviously. I usually lose them after 6th grade when they go up to Junior varsity. The varsity and college-bereans meet across the street in our "church annex". I welcome comments on the ideas below.
I spoke to our youth pastor- we have a unique situation as our annex is a building we bought across the street from the church. He said the teens wouldn't come over to the library- too much trouble. So I am starting a "social" library over there- all the books are classified with a T- he wants them to read classics in the faith as well as biographies, and current ones like Radical, Crazy Love etc. I don't know how it's going to work yet- my part is almost done. I've classified the books, and put on bar codes for the contingency that they might come back and to keep a record of that library. I will NOT be checking out the books. I've made the suggestion (an idea from prayer) that the "librarian" over there take a picture of the person holding the book. When the book is returned, the picture is deleted from the camera or phone. We'll see if that is accepted.
I have a 15 year old computer whiz who helps me on the desk; he began as a shelver; I have a 10-11 year old and a 12-13 year old doing shelving and he has also worked on the desk. A blog perhaps on your church's website?