My Library

2 The need to involve young people in the services that affect them Large county – 73 libraries, 11 mobiles Reaching young people Focus groups – 1 library – sustainability –expectation –delivery, staff intensive Questionnaires – short term Mystery shopping

3 But……. Young people already involved as volunteers – eg SRC Work experience Stock purchase projects

4 My Farm! My Library!

Aims To involve young people in genuine decision making and to gather feedback on our services To help young people learn about the realities of managing a customer-focused library service To help young people develop critical thinking and evaluation skills To promote library services to young people and their families 5

Structure 12 questions – 1 per month for a year Had a series of questions prepared but kept feeding in new ones Meet each month to decide on question and plan action and response to previous question Used constant contact software – question every month 6

Recruitment Press Website Secondary School Librarians Involvement Team Facebook and Twitter Aimed at year olds -parents had to give permission some used parents 7

90 young people – 72 participated 52 female and 20 male Average age at the end of the project year 14.6 Average response rate was 7.8 questions 15 answered every question 8

questions October –Reading ideas November – Budget December – Reward for completing metropolis January -What areas of the library they used February –Promoting You Tube channel March – Activities for SRC volunteers 9

April – YA/Cross over section May –Difficult situations June –Promoting library services to a friend July – websites to help with homework August – Recommended read of the year September - Evaluation 10

11

Every person who responded to the final evaluation question felt that taking part was worthwhile A chance to express feelings, opinions and ideas 49% Help change/improve the library service 46% A voice for young people 27% Feel involved 16% Realise how libraries run 16% 12

Why the project was worthwhile I liked helping the library and some of the questions like the one about books for difficult situations really made me think I enjoyed giving feedback to the library and it felt good to know that my opinion counted I could see what other people thought about the different questions and if they agreed with my view It was nice to see the changes the library may be making because of the people who took part 13

It’s hard to believe I’ve been doing this for a year and I have looked forward to the monthly . 14

Recommended reads by young adults taking part in My Library Agatha Christie – Murder is Easy It is a gripping tale by a renowned crime writer and I feel that everyone should be given a chance to indulge in it. Alex Scarrow – Time Riders I recommend this book because it is very action-packed and adrenalin-pumped. This also contains lots of information on history and science. The plot is very detailed which shows a brilliant mind behind and within the pages of the book. You Tube trailer Alice Sebold – The Lovely Bones It is a tense storyline full of twists, turns and emotion and explores ideas never thought of before. Ally Carter – I’d Tell You I Love You But The I’d Have to Kill You It is a very funny book and although the main character is a spy, it is very relatable book for teenage girls. 15

16

17