Identifying the Special Requirements of Teen Library Users: An Analysis of Current Research Studies

RMSN Ratnayake

doi:10.51983/ajist-2023.13.2.3541

Authors

RMSN Ratnayake Senior Assistant Librarian, Institute of Human Resource Advancement, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51983/ajist-2023.13.2.3541

Keywords:

Teen Library Users, School Libraries, Public Libraries

Abstract

Though the researchers and librarians paid attention to children and adults, they have not recognized adolescents as a special category as library users till recent times. The researchers have emphasized that teen library users have special requirements in addition to conventional ones. Basically, they expect the libraries to act as an Information Gateway as well as acting as a provider of information and information access from the internet and database access to book circulation and reference services etc. They expect the library to act as a Social Interaction or Entertainment Space with a special area assigned to them to meet with each other and do group activities. Since the teens are expected to be prepared for future employment, the libraries should act as a Beneficial Physical Environment by providing information and training for jobs and skills development. To fulfil these requirements, the researchers suggest a collaboration between school and public libraries, since both cater for the same group of clients.

References

Adams, H. R. (2002, November). Privacy and confidentiality: Now more than ever, youngsters need to keep their library use under wraps. American Libraries, 44-48.

After School Alliance. (n.d.). After School Essentials: Research & Polling. Retrieved from http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/documents/2012/Essentials_4_20_12_FINAL.pdf.

Agosto, D. (2007, May/June). Why do Teens Use Public Libraries: Results of a Public Library Use survey. Feature, 55-62.

American Library Association. (2013). State of America’s Libraries Report 2013: Public Libraries. Retrieved from www.ala.org/news/state-americas-libraries-report-2013/public-libraries.

Aplin, S. M. W. (2013). Using technology to connect public libraries and teens. SLIS Student Research Journal, 12(2). Retrieved from http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/slissrj/vol2/iss2/6.

Asemi, A. (2018). A Survey on the Teenagers’ Need for Public Libraries’ Resources and Services. Journal of Library & Information Technology, 38(4), 295-301.

Becker, S., et al. (2011). Opportunity for All: How Library Policies and Practices Impact Public Internet Access, report no. IMLS-2011-RES-010. Retrieved from imls.gov/assets/1/assetmanager/opportunityforall.pdf.

Corradini, E. (2006). Teenagers analyze their public library. New Library World, 11(12), 481-498.

Dorell, L., & Carrol, E. (1981, August). Spiderman at the library. School Library Journal, 17-19.

Fisher, H. (2003). A Teenage View of the Public Library: What Are the Students Saying? Australasian Public Libraries and Information Services, 16(1), 4-16. Retrieved from search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/ielapa.971882240794092.

Giffen, F. C. (2020). A space to belong: space and a sense of belonging among teen and young adult patrons in the Fresno County Public library system. Doctoral dissertation, California State University, Fresno.

Gratch, B. (1981, December). Research can lead to change. School Library Journal, 35.

Howard, V. (2011). What do Young Teens think about the Public Library? Library Quarterly, 81(3), 321-344.

Meyers, E. (1999). The Coolness Factor: Ten Libraries Listen to Youth. American Libraries, 30(10), 42-45.

National Center for Education Statistics. (2011). Digest of Education Statistics 2010, raw data. Retrieved from http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2011015.

Public Library Association. (2012). PLDS Statistical Report, 2012. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/yalsa/teens-need-libraries.

Rainie, L. (2013). Teens and Libraries. YALSA Summit on the Future of Libraries and Teens, Seattle. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/PewInternet/teens-and-libraries.

Schmidt, A. (2005, October). The young and the wireless: A new study offers clues on how to turn teens into library users. School Library Journal, 44-46.

Shenton, A. K., & Dixon, P. (2004). How do youngsters use public libraries to find non-fiction books?: The results of a recent research project. Public Library Quarterly, 23(3/4), 77-98.

Shenton, A. K. (2007). Attitudes to Books and School Libraries among Teenagers in an English High School. Children’s Literature and Librarianship, 13(1), 31-57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/136145 40701439891.

Stephens, W. (2015). Shifting teen services for new school space. Young Adult Library Services, Spring, 13-14.

Synder, T., & Hoffman, C. M. (1995). Digest of Education Statistics 1995. Washington, National Centre for Education Statistics, USA, 443.

United Nations Development Program Sri Lanka. (2014). Sri Lanka National Human Development Report 2014; youth and development: towards a more inclusive future. Colombo, United Nations Development Program Sri Lanka.

Walter, V. A. (2003). Public Library Service to Children and Teens: A Research agenda. Library Trends, 51(4), 571-589.

Wun, C. (2016). Unaccounted foundations: Black girls, anti-Black racism, and punishment in schools. Critical Sociology, 42(4-5), 737-750.

Zickuhr, K., Rainie, L., & Purcell, K. (2013). Younger Americans’ Library Habits and Expectations. Retrieved from http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/06/25/younger-Americans-library-services.