By Jennifer Burek Pierce
American Libraries Columnist
Assistant professor of library and information science, University of Iowa, Iowa City
youthmatters@ala.org
January/February 2008
The Next Big Thing
Youth specialists seek tomorrow’s trends under the radar
As I was writing this, I was anticipating the December 7 movie release of The Golden Compass, so you know that I was also looking forward to the new year. Wondering what else 2008 portends for youth services (my guess is less Harry Potter mania, plus an ever-increasing number of electronic innovations), I asked Jane Marino and Paula Brehm-Heeger—respective presidents of ALA’s Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)—for their perspectives in late November.
Q: What youth media is on your must-read or must-view list in 2008?
The 2008 youth media awards, to be announced at ALA’s Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia, were on both women’s minds. “I usually try to read all the notables and award winners that I didn’t get to read before they were announced, so I’ll do that again this year,” Marino said, noting that the title that has piqued her interest is The Invention of Hugo Cabret.Brehm-Heeger said that prizewinning titles would also dominate her reading at first; her fondness for fantasy, though, puts Anthony Horowitz’s Snakehead at the top of her list.
Q: Do you have a technology resolution for 2008?
Both youth-division presidents talked about making better use of recent innovations. Marino’s resolution is “to learn about and understand RSS feeds and see how I can incorporate them better into my working world.” Brehm-Heeger said, “I’d like to increase the number of podcasts I download to my iPod. My New Year’s resolution is to make it a habit.”
Q: What continuing education will you take advantage of in 2008?
For Brehm-Heeger, YALSA’s inaugural young-adult literature symposium, slated for November, will be a highlight. Marino noted that continuing education can take us back to basics. “With my busy, crazy schedule for ALSC, the only continuing education I can take advantage of is through books, and I’ve taken advantage of many of ALA’s Public Library Association books, like the ones by Sandra Nelson. Outside of ALA, that will be my only source,” Marino explained.
Q: What issues will need youth librarians’ attention?
“I was reminded by a news story, which talked about the lessening numbers of readers in this country, about how important—how vital—early literacy is for success in reading,” Marino said. “We need to keep reminding our patrons, especially young parents, how important it is to read aloud to babies and very young children and what a difference it can make for their love of books and their literacy.”
“Teens embrace technology at an astounding rate,” Brehm-Heeger noted, and she wants to ensure that libraries provide both “virtual space and physical space for teens.”
Q: What are you looking forward to?
“I’m looking forward to seeing teen-library cooperation,” Brehm-Heeger said. “Be creative,” she advised. “Draw them into our environments.” Technology is also a factor for children’s services, Marino observed. “Technology can empower kids. As it becomes more interactive and allows children different ways to learn and experience things, we need to become as familiar as we can with it and make it part of our service to kids.”
Q: Will something old be new again in 2008?
Both Marino and Brehm-Heeger stressed the experience of hearing stories. “I hope that reading aloud to very young children will be new again,” Marino responded. Brehm-Heeger talked about the potential of audiobooks to attract teens, describing young people as “a whole new audience” for the medium.
As your library reads its compass and discerns its future, share your story at youthmatters@ala.org