Library Teen Advisory Groups

by Diane P. Tuccillo, Joni Richards Bodart (Foreword by)

Overview

Teen advisory groups (TAGs) may flourish in many libraries today, but many others are newly initiating them or hoping to revitalize ones that are floundering. But even successful groups need tips and best practices to make their TAGs even better. This updated and revised second edition remains the go-to guide for planning, running, and evaluating TAGs in both school and public libraries. Its wealth of positive advice and information leads TAG teens and their peers to meaningful experiences that encourage reading, library use, and library support—into adulthood.

In this indispensable guide, Diane P. Tuccillo carefully explains and explores the current, wide landscape of TAGs, covering funding to bylaws; getting a new group on its feet to rejuvenating an old one; planning traditional TAG projects to creating unique roles; and community involvement to voting on adult library boards. Vivid profiles of successful teen groups, organized into public and school library sections, tell each group’s story along with pertinent teen feedback. Sample documents covering mission statements, applications, parent permission forms, publicity flyers, and teen book review ideas, as well as evaluation advice, can be borrowed or adapted. A helpful bibliography and webliography is included.

Library directors, school administrators, library educators, and librarians who work directly with teens in school and public libraries will be unable to resist such compelling testaments to the value of TAGs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538104637
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	04/05/2018
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	276
Product dimensions:	7.02(w) x 10.01(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Diane P. Tuccillo was the long-time young adult coordinator at the City of Mesa Library in Arizona, and then served as Teen Services Librarian at the Poudre River Public Library District in Fort Collins, Colorado beginning in 2007 where she co-led the Interesting Reader Society (Teen IRS) TAG. Tuccillo has been actively involved in many professional organizations and activities, including YALSA and ALAN; and has been a book reviewer and article contributor for professional journals including School Library Journal and Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) magazine.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Joni Richards Bodart
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter 1: Leading Teens to Books and Libraries…for Life
Chapter 2: Where Will the Money and Materials Come From?
Chapter 3: Ready, Set…Get Started! And Keep Going!
Chapter 4: TAGs Encourage Teens to Stretch Their Wings
Chapter 5: More Dynamic TAG Approaches and Perspectives
Chapter 6: TAG Leadership Roles and Teen/Adult Participation
Chapter 7: The Perks of Being a TAG Member
Chapter 8: Here’s How They Do It in Public Libraries!
Chapter 9: Here’s How They Do It in Schools!
Chapter 10: Evaluating Your TAG and Its Activities
Appendices

Editorial Reviews

An iconic YA librarian shares her forty years of experience in this new updated edition of her definitive work, a treasury of resources and know-how on starting, funding, maintaining, and motivating young adult advisory groups.

Patty Campbell

08/01/2018
In the second edition of her work from more than a decade ago, Tuccillo draws on her own experience and integrates anecdotes from adolescents and librarians across the United States to describe the process of creating a teen advisory group (TAG). Once again, the author models the same open, engaging tone she advises librarians use when forging bonds with young people. Her suggestions are friendly and helpful, never heavy-handed. With substantial expansions to each of the sections from the first edition, this new volume places more emphasis on "fresh recommendations, ideas, and encouragement from both librarians and teens in a diverse representation of libraries." TAGs should be, she says, a solution-based partnership that can be adapted to serve the needs of any library community. Readers will find examples of TAGs that spawned diverse and location-specific projects, including student social justice campaigns, arts initiatives, and literacy-related extracurricular meetings. Tuccillo embraces the view of the library as a meeting place, a makerspace, and a facility that can (and should) encourage connection among patrons. VERDICT An inspiring resource for all librarians who work with adolescents; those who already own the first edition should strongly consider purchasing this updated version.—Jen McConnel, Queen's University, Ont.

School Library Journal

Library Teen Advisory Groups is a must-read for anyone working with teens in the library. Both public and school libraries benefit from the practical, actionable advice and concrete examples from successful teen advisory groups (TAGs) around the country. Use this guide to start a new TAG, or take an existing TAG to a new level.

Bethany Lanphere

Library Teen Advisory Groups remains practical, insightful, and encouraging.

Booklist

Library Teen Advisory Groups remains practical, insightful, and encouraging.

Booklist

Tuccillo (University of Mesa Library) offers advice on starting a young adult advisory committee, suggests activities and projects for the committee, and discusses the benefits teenagers gain through their involvement. The experiences and structure of several example teen advisory councils are described, including several active in middle and high school libraries.

Reference and Research Book News

In Library Teen Advisory Groups, youth expert Diane P. Tuccillo shares practical advice for librarians running such groups, including how to establish, fund, and run an advisory group, along with profiles of successful teen groups and examples of possible projects. She also includes sample missions statements, applications, membership cards, publicity flyers, and newsletters.

American Libraries

Tuccillo, who has headed up a teen advisory group (TAG) for the past quarter century, delivers a new bible for teen services. Library Teen Advisory Groups is our profession's first title about TAGs, and it will surely become one of the great touchstone works on our shelves....A must-read for library staff with an interest in youth participation and input.

(Yals) Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)

No teacher-librarian can hope to fill all the needs for teens from the school library, so this title is highly recommended for both school and public librarians, particularly if it leads to real action, excellent programs, and a major draw for teens in the community. In times of drugs and gangs and other major problems, we cannot think of a more important mission for libraries than to help raise the teen animals around them. Bottom line: Highly recommended for teacher-librarians and public librarians.

Teacher Librarian

Tuccillo, who has headed up a teen advisory group (TAG) for the past quarter century, delivers a new bible for teen services. Library Teen Advisory Groups is our profession's first title about TAGs, and it will surely become one of the great touchstone works on our shelves....A must-read for library staff with an interest in youth participation and input.

Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)