Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Encourage the teenagers in your life to discover what is new at their local library during TeenTober™ month!
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), designated October as TeenTober™ month, a new nationwide initiative. TeenTober™ aims to celebrate and promote the services libraries offer year-round to help teens learn new skills, fuel their passions both in and outside the library, and foster a sense of creativity and belonging within library spaces.
YALSA has always sought new ways to champion the integral teen services and literacy initiatives librarians work hard to bring to their community. They have put together an invaluable TeenTober™ toolkit for librarians, educators, and other organizations to utilize. This toolkit includes everything from social media templates and examples, to programming ideas and checklists, advocacy tools and surveys, and more. Check out the TeenTober™ web page at https://www.ala.org/yalsa/teentober for the toolkit, free web graphics, poster/bookmark digital files, and to sign up for ongoing TeenTober™ updates.
Teen programs take many different forms, and appeal to diverse teen interests – from STEM and art, to gaming and literacy. Perhaps most important of all, Wisconsin libraries offer teens a chance to socialize, connect, and grow – in a safe, welcoming space.
Many examples of stellar Wisconsin teen programs exist throughout our state. This October, Kenosha Public Library and Eau Claire’s L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library will be offering drop-in craft and art programs, while Marathon County Public Library is leaning into the season by offering teens a chance to make their own “Franken-slime”! The Carneggie-Schadde Memorial Public Library in Baraboo is celebrating both teens and National Novel Writing Month by offering a “Write Your Own Book!” workshop for young adults. Video games remain as compelling as ever to teens, with Madison’s Lakeview Library inviting teens and tweens to come play PlayStation 4 & Nintendo Switch.
Visit your local library to learn more about the teen programming offered, and be sure to check your library’s website or social media and help celebrate Wisconsin teen services this October!
This item was submitted by Elizabeth Tomev, Assistant Director of Library Services, and Monica Treptow, School Library Media Consultant, both of the Wisconsin Department of Publc Instruction.