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Teen librarian spotlights outreach and growing teen engagement at Coralville Public Library
Summary
Teen librarian Karen Stierler told trustees the library is expanding teen outreach and collections, reporting 657 teens signed up for summer programs to date and ongoing partnerships to address behavioral needs and create safe spaces.
Karen Stierler, the Coralville Public Library’s Teen Services Librarian, told the board she has worked at the library for 28 years and that teen services remain a priority. She described daily outreach in the teen area, efforts to expand the teen collection with Spanish and Arabic titles, and an ongoing program of visits to 7th- and 8th-grade ELL students at Northwest Middle School.
"She feels very strongly about the importance of teen services, and believes it is very important to find safe spaces for teens," Stierler said, describing the Teen Hangout program and the library’s work with partners. She said attendance at Teen Hangout events has ranged from about 10 to 64 participants and that the Teen Advisory Board (TAB) helps plan summer programs and community initiatives. "657 teens signed up this year to date," she added, noting TAB members also prepare books purchased with a $1,000 Friends grant to distribute at a winter community meal.
Stierler told trustees the biggest ongoing challenge is serving young people who need a place to be and who sometimes behave in ways that are not appropriate for the library; she said the library coordinates with UAY on those cases and uses the TAB and volunteer shelvers to support programming. She described the "Around the World Cultural Celebration" scheduled for July 23 and a finale pizza party the following week as part of the summer wrap-up.
