This comment created a mixture of emotions for me. I was sad for this man, but it also made me stop and appreciate the opportunities I have. More importantly, it made me stop and ask myself what aspect of my job was the driving force behind my passion. When I pondered this, my answer was serving tweens. Which then led me to question, what have I done lately to support this group?<\/p>\n
Even though I am most passionate about this group of patrons, I feel like sometimes I fall short of serving them. As librarians we are all passionate about what we do, but when it comes to retaining tweens as patrons, we sometimes lose them within our day-to-day to-do lists.<\/p>\n
In one busy evening we might have a mixture of toddlers coloring on tables, complaints about teens singing Hamilton <\/em>too loudly, or teachers looking for suggestions on books to read to their 1st grade class. We are all over the place and we might not have time to stop and have a meaningful connection with tweens.<\/p>\n Fortunately, one of the best ways to reach tweens is through something we already do. Here are some quick ways you can improve this interaction with tweens in your day-to-day interactions:<\/p>\n One of the best ways to build connections with a tween is by building on skills you already have in reader\u2019s advisory. Keep a running a list of popular read- alikes, and be familiar with what is new. This way, the next time you see a tween with a book, you can comment, \u201cOh hey, that book is so good! What is your favorite part? Have you read this one?<\/em>\u201d Many tweens struggle with finding the next book to read. They are generally in between children\u2019s literature and young adult literature and they struggle with finding a series to bridge them up to young adult. It is helpful to be aware of some young adult books that are similar to popular middle grade series. If tweens can\u2019t find a series in young adult, these patrons could get frustrated and stop coming to the library. It is vital that we make connections with tweens to make them feel comfortable for them to ask questions about books and other concerns that might have, and talking about books is one way to build that connection.<\/p>\n I have always secretly been a geek. I am an avid Disney watcher, Marvel Fan, and Potterhead. In my other jobs, I always felt like I had to hide my inner geek. When I started to work at the library, I was surprised to find that I worked among a geeky culture. I would often hear my co-workers singing Disney songs and having open discussions about Dr. Who over lunch. The more I work with tweens, the more I realize that many of tweens are even more passionate about the same things as adults are. Tweens find identity and their interests through pop culture. As librarians, it is important to stay informed on what is popular. This will help with reader\u2019s advisory and will even help you better connect with your patrons. For many of us, this is something we already do. Another way to stay up on tween pop culture is to pay attention to what your tweens are wearing<\/strong>. Tweens wear things that they passionate about. Use this as an opportunity to talk with them. You could say things like: \u201cHey, I see you are wearing a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic t-shirt. Who is your favorite pony?<\/em>\u201d \u00a0Or maybe start a discussion. \u201cYou have the coolest Tardis backpack. I think David Tennant is the best Doctor. Who is yours?<\/em>\u201d These little comments show that you are taking an interest in something that tweens are passionate about. When tweens know that you are taking time to try to connect with them on something they are passionate about, they are more likely to open up to you and the library.<\/p>\n Like most librarians, I am an introverted person. Due to my personality, I am more likely to not share personal things about myself. When I got out of that taxi cab, I was surprised that the taxi driver could see my passion, something that is very personal to me. I think sometimes we are more translucent than we think we are, and tweens are a group of people who are going to pay more attention to what you are saying and doing to gain an understanding of who you are.<\/p>\n Remember to be genuine with your tweens & to treat them with respect. Try to talk about things that you are passionate about and be honest about your feelings. Your tweens will pick up on your passion and they will know if genuinely care about them and their conversation. If they feel like you care and you are interested in the things they are interested in, they are more likely to come back to the library again.<\/p>\n As we approach the end of the year, please don\u2019t forget about your tweens! With their upcoming holiday breaks, you might have more tweens in your department and it is the perfect time to start to build a relationship with them.<\/p>\n **************************************************************************************************************<\/p>\n Our guest blogger today is Pamela Groseclose. Pamela is a member of both ALSC and YALSA and is passionate about working with tweens at the Library. Visit her blog at\u00a0 tweenlibrarian.blogspot.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC.<\/em><\/p>\n\n
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