Volume 35 - Issue 9 - Young Adults: What Have You Done for Them Lately?

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Jacob

A library program article argues that young adult services in Connecticut public libraries are too scarce and must form an unbroken bridge between children’s and adult resources. Using Stratford Library as a model, it highlights support for young adults through dedicated spaces, targeted reference materials, and a structured homework desk staffed by part-time librarians. It also presents five guidelines for quality reference service, emphasizing friendly assistance, information independence, follow-up, and frustration reduction.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time14 min

AccessFree to download

Young Adults: What Have You Done for Them Lately?

Reference Services

Regions 1 and 4 Merge

Opinion

Volume 35,Number 9 ## Young Adults:What Have YouDone for Them Lately? Stratford's Program Suggests Ideas for Servinga Neglected Constituency Debby Billings Welldeveloped and adequatelysupported programs of young adultlibrary services are scarce in Connecti-cut public libraries.There is universalsupport for the idea that children'sservices are essential in libraries ifgood reading habits and library skillsare to be established when children areyoung.Adult services are acknowl-edged to be equally important,provid-ing support for continuing educationand independent research,as well asentertainment.But what about youngadults?Should there not be a bridge oflibrary services connecting childhoodand adulthood so library users cantravel on an unbroken path of libraryuse throughout their lives?If a childreaches age twelve and finds noresources and programs to fit his needs,willhe not assume that the library hasnothing to offer and stop coming?Is itreasonable to expect that at the age ofeighteen the turned-off library user willreappear magically,with enthusiasmand an interest in the library's adultresources?Not likely. Connecticut's public libraries need toexamine their service philosophytoward young adults.Even in a time ofsevere budget restraints,some provi-sion should be made to provide qualityservices to young adults to build andstrengthen that unbroken path.TheStratford Library has received both stateand national recognition for its out- standing program of young adultservices and can serve as amodel for reviewing basicservices all libraries mightconsider providing for youngadults. ## Reference Services In his book Connecting YoungAdults and Libraries,PatrickJones lists five guidelines forquality reference service: ■ Help students find the informationthey need; ■ Be friendly,both verbally andnonverbally; ■ Help students increase their“infor-mation independence;" ■ Follow up(checking with a studentlater to see that the informationfound is useful,and,if not,to locateother materials); ■ Try to reduce frustration whennecessary. To meet these guidelines,the StratfordLibrary(SL)decided that physical spacedevoted specifically to young adultswas crucial to the library's success.Students have unique reference needs,and an area supplied with referencebooks targeted to their age group andgrade level would make completingassignments easier.In December 1992,renovations were completed thatprovided space for a young adult area.in addition to a reference desk,studytables and chairs are surrounded by YA liYA librarian,Barbara Blosveren,introduces seventh gradegraders to reference sources geared toward theirspecspecial needs. October 1993 shelving with YA periodicals,books,shelving with YA perodicals,books,and other materials.and other materials. Once the area was set up with furnitureand library materials,a homework deskwas instituted.(Prior to its currentlocation,the desk existed as part ofadult services in another area of thelibrary,but there was no young adultreference collection.)A young adultlibrarian staffs this desk from 2:00-5:00p.m.every day after school,and onSaturday from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.Students know the three part timeyoung adult librarians and are comfort- Continued an page 6 ## Regions 1 and 4 Merge Region 1 CLSU and the Southwest-ern Library Council have merged tobecome the new Western Con-necticut Library Council.Officesare located at 530 MiddleburyRoad,Suite 210B,P.O.Box 1284,Middlebury 06762-1284;phone577-4010,Fax 577-4015.四 Laugh a Little,Cry a Little As someone who haswritten here previ-ously on ourprofession's need toapproach selectionand censorship issuesin a more flexible and William Uricchio less dogmatic way,I was at oddswhether to laugh or cry when I saw thecover of the August,1993 LibraryJournal.There,in front of a steamyred-orange backdrop sits stern-visagedMartha Cornog,editor of Libraries,Erotica&Pornography,surrounded byan assortment of books ranging fromDaddy's

FAQs

Why does the article say young adult library services need attention?

It argues that without resources during the transition from childhood, teens may stop using the library, and there is no reason to expect them to return at adulthood without a bridge of services.

What model does the article highlight for serving young adults?

It describes the Stratford Library’s dedicated young adult area, renovations completed in 1992, and a homework desk staffed by young adult librarians with specific hours after school and on Saturdays.

What guidelines for quality reference service are listed in the article?

The article lists five guidelines: help students find needed information, be friendly verbally and nonverbally, increase information independence, follow up to confirm usefulness, and reduce frustration when necessary.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Jacob