The Truth about Teens:Young Adult Services Training for Children’s

LibrariansJULY 8, 2003

That was Then, This is NowAdolescent DevelopmentMarketing Programs & Books to TeensReader’s Advisory for TeensBooktalks

Our Staff is Trained to Kill

Overreaching Tasks for Young Adults

• Developing Identity– Can be characterized by the question, “Who are you

and what do you represent?”

• Seeking Acceptance– Teens will look both to peers and to adults outside of

the family for acceptance as they constantly redefine their identity

• Managing Excitement– Partially a result of hormones, teens can have an

abundance of energy which needs an outlet

• Gaining Independence– A gradual increase in independence, responsibility,

decision making, and instances of rebellion

Early Adolescence (12-14 years)

• Movement Towards IndependenceStruggle with sense of identityMoodinessImproved abilities to use speech to express oneselfMore likely to express feelings by action than by wordsClose friendships gain importanceLess attention shown to parents, with occasional rudenessRealization that parents are not perfect; identification of

their faultsSearch for new people to love in addition to parentsTendency to return to childish behavior, fought off by

excessive activityPeer group influence interests and clothing styles

• Career Interests Mostly interested in present and near futureGreater ability to work

Early Adolescence (12-14 years)

• Sexuality Girls ahead of boysSame-sex friends and group activitiesShyness, blushing and modestyShow-off qualitiesGreater interest in privacyExperimentation with body (masturbation)Worries about being normal

• Ethics and Self-Direction Rule and limit testingOccasional experimentation with cigarettes, marijuana, and alcoholCapacity for abstract thought

Middle Adolescence • Movement Towards Independence

Self-involvement, alternating between unrealistically high expectations and poor self-concept

Complaints that parents interfere with independenceExtremely concerned with appearance and with one's own

bodyFeelings of strangeness about one's self and bodyLowered opinion of parents, withdrawal of emotions from themEffort to make new friendsStrong emphasis on the new peer group with the group

identity of selectivity, superiority and competitivenessPeriods of sadness as the psychological loss of the parents

takes placeExamination of inner experiences, which may include writing a

diary

• Career Interests Intellectual interests gain importanceSome sexual and aggressive energies directed into creative and career interests

Middle Adolescence

• Sexuality Concerns about sexual attractivenessFrequently changing relationshipsMovement towards heterosexuality with fears of homosexualityTenderness and fears shown towards opposite sexFeelings of love and passion

• Ethics and Self-Description Development of ideals and selection of role modelsMore consistent evidence of conscienceGreater capacity for setting goalsInterest in moral reasoning

Late Adolescence (17-19 years)

• Movement Towards Independence Firmer identity Ability to delay gratificationAbility to think ideas throughAbility to express ideas in wordsMore developed sense of humorStable interestsGreater emotional stabilityAbility to make independent decisionsAbility to compromisePride in one's workSelf-relianceGreater concern for others

• Career InterestsMore defined work habitsHigher level of concern for the futureThoughts about one's role in life

Late Adolescence (17-19 years)

• Sexuality  Concerned with serious relationshipsClear sexual identityCapacities for tender and sensual love

• Ethics and Self-Direction  Capable of useful insightStress on personal dignity and self-esteemAbility to set goals and follow throughAcceptance of social institutions and cultural traditionsSelf-regulation of self esteem

Ten Core Values for Library Service to Young Adults

From: New Directions for Library Service to Young Adults by Patrick Jones. Chicago: ALA Editions. 2002. (p. 17)

• Developmental Needs• Example: online chatting fulfills teens’ need for social interaction• Youth Development• Example: librarians can support healthy, positive youth development by offering programs and promoting reading through

booktalking.• Developmental Assets• Example: connecting teens with the information they need promotes healthy relationships and has a positive impact on the

community as a whole..• Youth Advocacy• Example: making a case for materials that appeal to teens, such as Graphic Novels, is one way to advocate for them within the

library; another is simply showing them the same respect you would a child or adult.• Youth Participation• Example: use teens to assist with craft programs and take suggestions they make for improvement to library service seriously.

This shows respect for their point of view.• Collaboration• Example: anytime you coordinate with a school to do a special program, you are collaborating on behalf on teens, such as the

planned Research Methods unit for 8th graders.• Information literacy• Example: when you walk a teen through the process of a google search instead of handing over the information, you promote

information literacy and self-sufficiency.• Adolescent literacy• Example: by showing an interest in what teens are reading, librarians strengthen the relationship between a teen and a book.• Learning and achievement• Example: by supporting the school curriculum and assisting with research and homework, libraries play a critical role in the

learning and achievement of teens.• Equity of access and intellectual freedom• Example: by offering full and equal access to resources that help teens make the transition into adulthood, libraries support

teens.