Digital Lives of Teens and Libraries of the Future

Oh ALA.  I miss you so.

These are notes from two different sessions I attended about the future of libraries.  One related to teens and one related to libraries in general. 

The session about teens was all about how they develop and how we as librarians need to stay up on what's going on as far as technology so we can continue to be relevant in the lives of young people.  Some things from my notes:

• Adults are people who have their full frontal lobe completely developed and have practice with reasoning
• Teens don't have this yet
• Girls hit puberty earlier than boys and they go through it quicker
• Boys get 40% of their development between the ages of 8 and 10
• Boys get 40% of their development between the ages of 10 and 14
• The last 20% of their development they get later
• All of a male's development occurs when they are sleeping
• Don't forget the 40 Developmental Assets for Adolescents 

None of this was really new to me. I took an adolescent psychology class in college and learned all that AND MORE about the teen brain, but it's always good to get a review.  Next they talked about technology.  Sheesh, it's moving so fast.

They talked about personal phones versus family phones...I remember when I was a kid that phone in the back hallway was a very important staple in our household.  We wrote telephone numbers on the bare wall when we didn't have wallpaper.  I'm sure they are still there.  But there was a transparency throughout our family because of that phone.  I knew when my sisters got calls from their friends and mom knew if we were on the phone.  Teens today have personal phones giving them a lot more privacy, empowerment, and opportunities for all kinds of things.  We are also rapidly moving toward the model of each family member having their own computer vs. just one for the entire family (like our old phone!).  The speaker said DVDs are on their way out. 


Teens are good at managing relationships and networking.  They remember their friends from summer camp six years ago because they are still friends with them on Facebook.  They can handle multiple levels of relationships and higher quantities of relationships.  Is this changing how their brains are wired?  Hmmmmm...

The speaker also said that we are moving towards changing careers more frequently.  The average American will have 8 different careers in their lifetimes.  That's a big change from the past. 

He said we don't have a digital divide as much as we used to because of smart phones bridging the gaps...instead we have more of an urban vs. rural divide having do to with fast access to the Internet. 

Guess what else is coming?  Chipping your children.  Have you all read Feed? 

Give it a shot.


So what does this mean for libraries?  We need apps and we need them now.

Here are some notes from the "Libraries of the Future" program...

This is something the speaker said that I wrote down...this isn't really verbatim:  this is the last generation that we can engage with to help change our libraries.  We have to hold onto the young and align with the way they are NOW or we will keep falling further and further behind. 

Some good common sense advice?  Look at the 21st Century Common Core Standards to see what is being taught in schools and make your collections reflect that. 

Create an experience that causes learning...sounds like what I do when I program, but we have to do that in our spaces as well.  Digital Creations Lab anyone?

They encouraged us to have pictures of staff on the website and in the building.  People are our only edge over Google.  They also said you should use how you are serving men and boys as your measuring stick...not just moms and babies. 

Um...One True Media is a good way to mix video online. Going to try it for my Lego Star Wars program...doesn't have anything to do with what I'm talking about here...oh well.