This article illustrates one of the major directions libraries are taking in their attempts to get teenagers and "youngsters".
AS I TYPE this, R&B singer Jaheim's new album "Ghetto Classics" is blaring from a speaker overhead. A dozen or so teenage boys are clustered around a honeycomb of computers, chewing the fat while a couple of them watch an Akon music video and the rest surf Myspace. And just a little ways over, by the Xbox projector, a group of boys and girls decked out in their finest goth attire are brainstorming the video game of their dreams.
"It should be set in a futuristic past and you could speak a mix of French and Italian!" throws in another boy.
"You know what?" cries one girl. "You should be able to squish insects. I love killing nasty bugs."
As we keep struggling to bring young peopl into our branches more public libraries are resorting to the innovative strategy of giving themn what they want(!). These are mainly games and an environment where they can get together with other kids to share their gaming experience. This is innovative for libraries mainly because it means bending or breaking some cardinal rules we used to associate with libraries. Food is in the library and so is noise.
Well that is the direction I am thinking we have to go in, but getting there is a slow process. There is a culture in my profession which has been built up over centuries and is only breaking down slowly. We cling to our cardigans and index cards like , like... big clinging things. It must be too early in the morning. I need more coffee
