Summer Reading Programs for Teens

[Sue Hilgert]

I would like to start a Summer Reading Program at our public library just for teens. Has anyone done anything like this? What did you do and how did you do it? I would love to start some on-line but am not sure which direction to go? Should I start a Facebook group for our teens or what? Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions on what has worked would be appreciated. Thanks,

[Margaret Weigelt]

Hi Sue,

http://princetonlibrary.org/teens/index.html Princeton New Jersey's program. They used a
wiki in 2006 for teen program-book club reviews. Now they use their catalog as a forum for reviews.
http://princetonlibrary.org/teens/TeenProgramsPast.html (interesting ideas for programing)
Margaret Weigelt
Grove City Public Library

[Jen]

Hello Sue,

I'm just curious if you ended up starting a Summer Reading Program at your library for teens. We started one this year, but it is very basic. I'm hoping to expand on it for next year and perhaps create some sort of an online gathering place. I sort of like this place--NING.

[Diane Adams]

I have run a summer reading program just for teens at our library for two summers now. It is very simple. I solicit prizes from our local businesses (usually gift certificates for $20, the Friends pay $10 and the business pays $10) and purchase and collect some book collections (did the Ugly series among others this summer). I put an envelope with the name of each business or the titles of the books to be given away in the teen section of the library. Teens fill out a bookmark with the name and author of the book, their name and phone number and a thumbs up/down for if they liked the book and place in the envelope of the prize they would like to win. I run the program from the first week in June to the third week and August and then do a prize drawing and call the winners and post the first names of the winners and their prizes in the teen section. It has worked well for us. Let me know if you want more information.

I just started a group on Facebook for events at the International Falls Public Library, but don't really know how to get teens involved as I don't have very many teens that I am friends with. So I don't know how to get the word out that they can be notified of our gaming events. If I find any great way to get the word out, I'll post it.

Diane

[Jenna Barenthsen]

I have found the best way to get teens involved is truly word of mouth. I have done countless posters, online postings, newspaper articles and ads, but honestly the trick is getting them interested one teen at a time (they will bring their friends)

If you see a clump hanging out near your graphic novels, for example, you need to approach them and invite them to come (offer food). They don't read the posters you put up everywhere, even the ones conveniently placed at eye level in their favorite spots.

I hate to sound so cynical, but this is how I have gotten the best results.

This year for our Teen Summer Reading Program I am hoping to have a Teen Art Exhibit. I will be visiting schools talking to the youth and would like to make a special effort to get into art classes and invite teens to display their work as part of our program this Summer. We are also looking at doing an altered art book event where teens will alter (cut, paint, glue objects into, etc.) withdrawn books to create something new.

As for incentives to keep reading we generally do drawings similar to those described by others above. It seems to work out okay.

Jenna