Steele Memorial Library Project - New Teen Space

The Kimberly Bolan and Associates' team is excited to be working with the Chemung County Library District on the planning and design of their new teen space at the Steele Memorial Library in Elmira, NY. 

We've spent the last few months working with Ron, Doris Jean, and local teenagers to create a plan and design that is sure to be a home away from home for Elmira teens.

We can't wait for it to come to fruition! 

Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award

I'm very excited! It was just recently announced that one of my projects, The Queens Library for Teens, part of Queens Library (NY), won the Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award.

In Spring 2008, Queens Library presented me with the challenge of converting an empty storefront (located two blocks away from the full-service branch)into a 3,500 square foot teen library. Together with and Queens Library administration and Demco Library Interiors, we worked over the course of 6 months to create a vibrant and positive environment enhanced with a slew of technology and programmatic offerings for the kids in the Far Rockaway community. The teen library was opened in December 2008 and was met with tremendous enthusiasm.

I'm very proud to have been a part of this project and the work done for teens in this community. Congratulations to Queens on this fine award and thanks for asking me to be part of it.

For more information see my article Just for Them in Library Journal that discusses the project. The Queens Courier also has a nice article.

Get it Loud in Libraries

A friend and colleague Stewart Parsons has been integral in the "Get It Loud In Libraries" initiative, a campaign run by Lancashire County Council in the UK. They have been putting on gigs in libraries for four years now, but the Juliette Lewis show has been the most popular so far. Check out this article.

Board and Card Game Ideas for Teens

Here is a great list of board and card game ideas compiled from the YA-YAAC listserv. I thought this might be helpful to those of you looking for ideas.I hope it helps.

YA-YAAC Board and Card Game Ideas

CLA 2008

What a great teen space training session in San Jose, CA. Thanks to all those who participated in the full day workshop.

Here are the links to the text only slides.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3


Congratulations again to the prize winners:

Grand Prize - Cafe Table and Scooper Stools from DEMCO
Megan Birdsong from Monta Vista High School

1st Prize - $100 DEMCO gift certificate
Cindy Miller from Long Beach Public Library

2nd Prize - $50 DEMCO gift certificate
Eno Schmidt from Cupertino Library

My Week In Missouri

What a great week in Missouri! Thanks to Marge Kudrna and the State of Missouri for asking me to train on the topic of Teen Third Space. It was a great adventure. I flew into Kansas City on Sunday, presented the first workshop on Monday in Carrollton, then moved onto Springfield for the Tuesday session, Farmington on Wednesday and, last but not least, St. Charles on Thursday. I had a terrific time! Thanks, Marge, for driving me around the state and for exposing me to Jack in the Box. :-) Thanks too to all the library hosts and hostesses, and to all the workshop participants. I enjoyed meeting everyone (and seeing several of you once again).

Here are the links to the text only versions of the PowerPoint presentations. Remember that all the photos of the model libraries aren't included here, but they will be available after November on the companion website for the 2nd edition of Teen Spaces.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3


Also, here is the list of creative program ideas we brainstormed. If any of you want to elaborate on your suggestions please post as comments. If you want to add a program to the list that I missed, please email me.

Missouri Libraries - Creative Programming Ideas that Work


And...the best for last...the winners of the grand prize drawing. Thanks again to DEMCO for all their generous donations.

Grand Prize - Cafe Table and Scooper Stools from DEMCO
Karen Sieber, St. Louis County Jamestown Bluffs Branch

1st Prize - 2 floor rocker chairs from DEMCO
Rebecca Crame, Marshall Senior High

2nd Prize - $150 DEMCO gift certificate and teen books from the State Library
Deanna Mercille, John A. Evans Middle School

3rd Prize - $50 gift certificate & lamp from DEMCO & books from the State Library
Cindy Rinker, Barry-Lawrence Regional Library, Mt. Vernon Branch

Congratulations everyone!!!!

Spring Teen Spaces Workshop

As promised, here is a copy of my full-day teen spaces workshop for Spring 2008. It includes text slides and vendor images. Due to permissions restrictions, all of the model library photos from the presentation will only be available on the companion website of the 2nd edition of my Teen Spaces book (due to be published by ALA Editions in late summer/early fall 2008).

Teen Spaces - Spring 2008

Get Blended

I am so impressed by this Zine project. It's one of the best examples of teen participation and teen/adult collaboration I've seen to date. Not only did these teens write their own proposal for this project, they prepared a marketing plan and presented their idea directly to ConocoPhillips. They received a $17,000 grant as a result. And, equally impressive, they produced this publication by themselves. Minimal adults involved!

Find out more Blended by reading about it in their local paper.
Get blended : Area young people publish literary magazine for teens

Click here for a sneak peak

Congratulations to them!

2006 - 2007 Teen Focus Group Summary

Between October 2006 and January 2008, I held a series of teen focus groups and conducted two online surveys in communities across the United States. Over 800 teens responded. They were asked what they would like to see in libraries. The top fifteen common responses were:

• More space for teens
• Separate, distinct teen area
• Comfortable furniture
• Warm, welcoming environment
• More technology such as computers, TVs, listening stations, sound domes, gaming equipment
• Teen-only computers (like in the children’s room)
• Areas for talking and socializing as well as quiet study
• More nature light and better, “cooler” artificial light
• More up-to-date materials such as graphic novels, music, DVDs, popular books, magazines, and video games
• Good signs that look nice and make it easy to find things
• Color (no white walls)
• Food and drink options (e.g. vending machines or a library café)
• Better advertising of services and programs
• Cleaner, better organized library
• Helpful staff and good customer service

Over 75% of online survey respondents said having a space just for teens that is comfortable and welcoming where they could hang out would make them want to use the library more. Other top responses to increase teen library use included having a café (68%), bringing in more technologies such as listening stations, TVs, etc. (58%), adding music and DVDs (56%), adding more books (55%), and adding more computers (51%).

For more information see my new book on teen space and teen services coming in 2008 (published by ALA Editions).

Tech-savvy Gen Y also loves libraries

The new PEW study on library use seems to confirm what I've been saying for years... progressive technology, services, and youth-oriented policies by libraries creates more demand for those libraries.

I must say, it's all quite interesting and definitely food for thought. I do hear some of the same comments they reported in my focus groups, in particular from the older teens 16 - 19 year olds. What I really liked, and what I really feel is a widespread key point, is a quote that comes from StevenB on the ACRLog about libraries improving the overall user experience -- "I think it would help if the library, especially on our campuses, was a place people wanted to go—a destination—rather than a place they have to go."

See the following articles for more details:

Generation Y biggest user of U.S. libraries - survey

Where People Turn When They Need Information

Pew: Internet satiates but also creates "information hunger"

Young use library most despite the Net

See additional comments at: Ypulse

Teen Space Makeover Contest

Thanks to the generous support of The Friends of the Tompkins County Public Library and donations from DEMCO and E*vanced Solutions, Annette Birdsall, Finger Lakes (NY)Library System's Youth Services Consultant, and I were able to hold a workshop and teen spaces makeover contest for the libraries in the Finger Lakes, New York area on December 13.

Even though a winter snow storm hindered our attendance, several teen advocates still managed to trudge through the snow to hear 3 hours of teen spaces planning and design tips. Thanks to all of you who attended! For all of you who could not make the session, we hope to have something else in store for you during better weather.

The three winners were:

2nd prize - Southworth Library Association (Dryden, NY)
They won a Califone Spirit Stereo Listening Center from DEMCO and oversized decorative letters from Creative Arts that spell out R E A D.

1st prize - Tompkins County Public Library (Ithaca, NY)
They won a 1-year subscription to E•vanced Solutions Summer Re•ader software

Grand prize - Weedsport Free Library (Weedsport, NY)
• $500 in reimbursements for their teen space courtesy of The Friends of
Tompkins County Public LIbrary
• $500 in DEMCO products
• Design layout & support from Demco Library Interiors (DLI)
• 1-year subscription to E•vanced Solutions Summer Re•ader software

Congratulations everyone and thanks for involving me!

More Teen Spaces - Be a Model Library!

If you're still interested in being a model space in my new teen spaces book, there's still time. I have extended the deadline to November 1, 2007.

Also, in the interest of time, I've created a shortened submission form. I'd rather have you participate than not participate due to the paperwork.

More Teen Spaces Model Library Shortened Submission Form (.doc)

If you have a space that's in process and you won't be finished until December 2007 or January 2008, let me know. We can work something out.

Please don't hesitate to give me a call or send me an email to bolan_kimberly@yahoo.com if you have questions. I look forward to hearing from you.

The Pennsylvania Tour - Teen Spaces Planning & Design (9/17 - 9/19/07)

Here I am talking to a great crowd of librarians in King of Prussia (PA) on Monday, 9/17. I also presented in Wilkes-Barre and Clarion. You guys were terrific! Thanks to Susan Pannebaker and everyone who participated in the workshops. I had a great visit.

Teen Furniture, Misleading Advertising & Getting Patron Input

In the August 16 edition of E-Product News from American Libraries, I was a bit frustrated to see the following as the lead item: Teens Love the New Big Cozy Books Booths.

As someone who has extensively researched teen space design as well as talked to thousands of teenagers about library furnishings and design concepts, I have yet to come across a teen (grades 7 - 12) who positively responds to Big Cozy Books (BCB) booths. Don’t get me wrong, BCB products can be a good option for children’s spaces, but not necessarily for teenagers (especially in their existing format). And…I definitely wouldn’t go as far as saying that teens “love” BCB booths. In reality, when I show teens these the booths side-by-side with other booth options, they hands-down choose the other options.

If teens were presented with hard, traditional, wooden library furniture vs. the BCB booths, then, yes, maybe they would choose BCB. Anything is better than traditional, hard, wooden library furniture. Even adults that I talk to in my focus groups would go for anything over the uncomfortable, traditional options.

When it comes to furniture and design selection and “true” likes and dislikes of library patrons, this is why I am so adamant with library staff (whether dealing with teens or adults) about working directly with patrons, showing them all the options, and getting their direct input.

Tip #1: Work with your patrons, show them all the options (and make the options comparable), give them a choice and a chance to give their direct input. Research ALL the options so you can provide a good sampling. And…don’t sway their decision by only showing them one option, options that aren’t comparable, or options that are solely based on library staff likes and dislikes. In this case, I think perhaps librarians love the BCB booths, not teenagers.

My concern about this advertisement for BCB is that they are misleading people. Have they actually done any market research that suggests that teens prefer BCB booths over more traditional or modern booths? I don’t see any teen references or quotes or data suggesting as much.

Tip #2: When looking at any ad, ask yourself the above questions first and then go out and ask your customers before making any purchases. Don’t make assumptions!

Let me know if you need assistance with finding options. There are certainly a lot out there. See the vendor list on my blog to get a good start.

More Online Summer Reading

Take a look at what the Farmington (NM) Public Library is doing for children, tweens, teens, and adults for their 2007 summer reading program. They’re even promoting it via their online catalog.

Farmington Public Library – Main Summer Reading Page

Farmington Public Library – Online Catalog


The Columbus (OH) Metropolitan Library’s Summer Reading Club for Kids, Teens, and Adults is also wonderful.

Columbus Metropolitan Library


For more online summer reading info, see my posting from May 23.

Using Technology to Market to Young Adults

Thanks to everyone who attended "Using Technology to Market to Young Adults" with me and Michael Stephens at ALA in D.C. on Sunday. Below is a copy of my PowerPoint presentation as well as the great handout compiled by YALSA's Technology for Young Adults committee.

Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions.

And...don't forget to register for the drawing for free software. See my 6/15 posting below to enter.

Kim’s Presentation

YALSA's Technology for Teens Committee Handout

Look for more marketing ideas coming soon...

ALA Drawing - Using Technology to Market to Young Adults

If you attended Michael Stephens' and my presentation "Using Technology to Market to Young Adults" at ALA 2007 click HERE to enter for a chance to win a FREE 1-year subscription to E•vanced Solutions' Online Summer Reading Program software.

Enter now through June 30, 2007. A winner will be announced July 2, 2007!

Thanks to E•vanced Solutions for their generous software donation and to YALSA’s Teens & Technology Committee for working with E•vanced to secure this giveaway.

Handouts still to come...

Online Summer Reading - Kids and Teens

More and more libraries are getting on board and rolling out online summer reading for kids and teens. Not only is this a great way to draw in young customers and promote your library's website and online resources, it is also a terrific way to market to new participants and increase active participation of all involved through online registration, online logging, individual home pages, automated prize alerts, review and information sharing, and more. Remember Prince William County's success last year (See the Sept. 2006 posting)?

Automating summer reading is a huge draw for busy families. It is also a smart library management move as it streamlines tasks and saves countless staff and volunteer hours. No more counting cards, counting logs, tearing up slips of paper for drawings! Check out what some libraries across the nation are doing:

Great times in Massachusetts!

Thanks to all the wonderful people in Massachusetts for the warm welcome and wonderful stay during my week-long workshop tour. Special thanks to all the workshop participants, Carolyn Markuson, Rolf Erikson, Beth Gallaway, and Vickie Beene-Beavers.

As promised, here are copies of the notes from my teen spaces workshops as well as my alternative collection development for adults and teens.

SEMLS and Metrowest Presentations:
Young Adult Standards: Facilities (Teen Spaces, Cool Places Teen Spaces)
If You Buy It & Market It, They Will Come: Alternative Collections for Libraries

New England Educational Media Association (NEEMA) Presentation:
Teen Participation in Facilities Design
The Ideal Teen Environment: What Teens Need and Want

Beth Gallaway has also posted to the Metrowest blog - Metrowest News

Kevin King is Huge (in Alaska)

My friend and colleague Kevin King recently presented two terrific workshops at the Alaska State Library Conference. During "The four S's of Teen Services" Kevin spoke about effective and quality services to teens based on the four "S's" - Support, Staff, Space, and a Stash of cash. I unfortunately could not hear this talk as I was presenting on wireless technology at the same time with Rob Cullin in the room next door. Kevin told his audience that all the "cool" people were at his presentation, pointing out that I was in the next room doing a computer geeky thing. Although...he did proceed to give me and Teen Spaces a nice plug. What a comedian he is!

I was lucky enough to attend Kevin's second session, Comics and
Graphic Novels in the Library. It was excellent!

In case you don't know Kevin, he is Lead Librarian in Teen Services at the Kalamazoo Public Library. Kevin also writes a monthly column for VOYA about teen programming called "Get with the Program."