Community Engagement

Although you may not see or interact much with the parents and caregivers of the tweens and teens you serve, it is important to remember the vital role they are playing in the lives of your tween and teen library patrons. Many studies show that tweens and teens consider parents, caregivers and teachers to be their most important role models and influencers. Finding ways to work with these adults can help you make stronger connections to your library patrons and provide more relevant programming and services.

Some examples are:

• Host a Family Game Night and spend time chatting with both teens and their caregivers.
• Reach out to the local high schools about participating in any family engagement activities they have scheduled.
• Plan a weeknight cooking program that focuses on deciding what to eat, buy, and cook as a family each week.
• Create programs specifically for families and caregivers, perhaps around parenting topics and college prep/post-graduation career planning.