Why is RA for teens important? Build lifelong readers –“Home run” books can make a big difference –Teens who read become adults who read Reading fills three crucial, overlapping needs –Connection: Read to feel you’re not alone –Escape: Read to take a mental vacation –Information: nonfiction AND fiction informs about hobbies, history, issues, other cultures, etc

Why is RA for teens important? Safe risk taking –Low risk way of exploring “risky” behavior or unfamiliar ideas: belief systems that differ from their parents or peers, sex, interracial romance, homelessness Improves school work –Readers have better vocabularies and improve their critical thinking

How is teen RA different from adult RA? Basic concept is the same A conversation about books where the patron leaves with something that they want to read Balance of power is different –Not naturally a peer-to-peer relationship –Authority doesn’t have to mean preachy –Librarians don’t just make change!

How is it different? Be clear in the language we use “There is a sex scene” rather than “It’s kind of spicy.” The teen brain v. the adult brain Facial expressions, subtleties are processed differently.

How is it different? Teens have a shorter reading history than adults Teens may never have been asked about their reading preferences Prefer more plot description and info about who the character is than general mood related appeal factors. The cover really matters!

RA for YA in 5 easy steps

1. Be welcoming Make eye contact. Smile genuinely when they walk into the area. Relax! Check the tension in your jaw, your shoulders, your posture. (Teens are like dogs, they can smell fear!) Use your body language and word choice to demonstrate that you are happy to help.

2. Listen carefully and ask questions to clarify Focus on the person, not the problem Don’t always settle for the first response. Ask clarifying questions. “Do you like a lot of action?” “I guess.” “What can I help you find?” “History books.” “If this was an adult asking a reference question, would I proceed any differently?” Pull out your tried and true reference interview skills!

3. Respect your teens’ interests and opinions Working with parents may change the equation. Really stumped by the request? Ask more questions. Bloody horror, gritty urban, gossipy fluff, flowery unicorns, whatever - just help them find it! Suggest further or alternate reading when you feel the reader may want more.

4. Draw on as many resources as you can Don’t limit yourself to the teen collection or the fiction collection. Use databases, reference books, Internet to search. Find your favorites beforehand. Bring them along for the ride! Let them join you on the search - it helps them learn and humanizes you!

5. Just do it We are the adults. We need to start the conversations! We’re used to talking with strange adults, they’re not. Get out from behind the desk, take a walk, and give it a try. They don’t bite!

Any questions?

“I never know what to ask!” Adapt your familiar patter to meet the needs of your teen patrons. Ex: “What are you in the mood for” is not as useful with teens. Think ahead to be prepared. Anticipate needs based on trends. Not a script, but think about what info you want when forming your questions.

General questions Purpose: IS IT HOMEWORK? –Doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyable –Get as much info about the assignment as you can Reading/comfort level –Ask age/grade level –Do you like to read or not so much? –Last book you read (but be careful) General direction –Fantasy/realistic/nonfiction etc

Character questions Is character important? –If looking for plot, not as much –Relatable character? Someone different? Rich & famous? Character helps define narrative style –Lots of dialog? Novel in verse? 3 rd person? Narrow down genres –If they like dragons, then street lit is not going to work

Plot questions Determine general mood –Lots of action? Humorous or serious romance? Find themes and keywords –Especially helpful in homework RA –Sometimes teens have firm ideas of the story they want to read which can be accommodated or give you something to build on Complexity –Are multiple plot lines appealing? Flashbacks? Straight narrative?

Pacing Questions How dense should the book be –This may matter more to teens than adults. Find formats to seek out or eliminate –Books with dialogue, poetry tend to read faster What type of reading experience do they want? –Lazy vacation read or assignment due yesterday?

Frame Questions Narrow within genre –Funny book? Funny how? Find topics that cross genres –“A Great and Terrible Beauty” (gothic Victorian fantasy set in a boarding school) –“Looking for Alaska” (edgy and contemporary, set in a boarding school) Useful for teens who aren’t sure what they want (and especially for parents) –Have a hobby/sport/interest/favorite movie?

The elephant in the room

Pitching a book to a teen Use more plot description. –“It has really vivid descriptions of Florence and a lovely, gentle tone, plus a sweet romance” may work for adults but teens will more likely want to know what happens. Give them concrete information –who is the main character –when does it take place? –What happens?

The pitch Use appeal factors they can relate to. Relating to a third party connects them to the book. Reference appeal factors that the teen mentioned. Indicate how the one you’re suggesting is similar to what they have described. It shows that you were listening and gives them a touch point for deciding if they’ll take it home.

The pitch Never, never, never lie. –The goal is to establish trust in the relationship. –If you don’t know, say so – it’s ok! –You don’t have to have read the book to pitch it (but it does help). –If they really want something scary, don’t make a book out to be scarier than it is just because you want them to take it. If the romance is chaste, don’t sex it up because it sounds better that way.

Making your exit When you’re done talking about the book, put the book down – don’t make them take it from your hand. Keep it open ended - for this time or next time. “I won’t be offended if you don’t like these.”

Thank you! Good luck with your future Teen Readers’ Advisory interactions. Try one before you leave work today!

Any questions? Please me with any questions that come up later: