Advocacy, Access, Activity, and Agency: Librarian Practices That Position Adolescents in Public Library Spaces

• In Event: Roundtable Session 10
  In Roundtable Session: Learning Sciences SIG Roundtable: Issues in Identity Development

Abstract

This paper asks two research questions: 1) what practices are entailed in “services” to teens in public libraries? and 2) how do librarians position adolescents in their narratives about public libraries? Data includes 19 semi-structured interviews conducted with 20 librarians whose primary work function is providing public library services to adolescents. Practices utilized by librarians can be categorized into four interrelated areas: advocacy, access, activity, and agency. This study offers insight into a group of professionals that impact the learning pathways of thousands of American teenagers on a regular basis. When we better understand teen services librarians’ current practices, we can develop means for improving those practices so as to better serve adolescent learners.

Author

• Sarah Amber Evans, University of Washington - Seattle