TEEN LIBRARY (MIS)BEHAVIOR 101Presented by Beth Gallaway

PAIN IN THE BRAIN:

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Library Behaviors

Groups Blocking entrance

or access Roaming Taking up space

“Courting” Behavior

Backtalk and “disrespect”

Eating & drinking Cell phone use

Library Behaviors

Language Sex Vandalism Theft Violence Cyberbullying

Differentiate between the 2 Ds: Disruptive

Normal Annoying

Dangerous Abnormal Harmful to self & others Illegal

Influences on Teen Behavior Cultural Sociological Personal Psychological Biological

Frontal Lobe

Facilitates: Planning Decision-making

Results in?

Myelin Sheath

Facilitates: Intelligent response to

gut reactions Learning new things Concrete to abstract

thought

Results in?

Dopamine

Controls: Smooth motor skills Pleasure center

Results in?

Serotonin

Controls: • Temperature• Mood• Appetite• Emotion

Results?

Melatonin

Controls: Sleep/wake cycles Biological clock

Results?

On Rules

Create a behavior policy Same rules for everyone No rules set up to fail The less rules, the better  Word rules in a positive way  Leave rules open ended

3 Rules

1. Respect Yourself2. Respect Others3. Respect the

Library

Set Boundaries

1. State unacceptable behavior2. State consequence of continuing

unacceptable behavior3. Ask patron to make a choice

Correcting Behavior

3 Strikes & You’re Out! Target the Group Leader Good Cop, Bad Cop Invade Personal Space

Follow Through

Welcome back Introduce Discuss behavior incident Reinforce consequences of actions Start with a clean slate

Example: Disrespect

“A group of five or six teens are sitting together after school in the library. They are talking and laughing very loudly, slouching on the furniture with their feet up on the coffee type table. How do you approach them (and what do you say so that you don’t sound like their mother?)”

Example: Disrespect

“I've noticed when I tell them to do something, like leave the vending area, they act like they haven't heard me.”

Example: Disengaging

“I try to remember to "disengage,” and not get sucked into an argument or discussion but it really hard. Any tips?”

Example: Outreach

“We are engaged in a lot of outreach right now before summer reading. How do you encourage adult library staff to support teen outreach and programming?”

Develop Personal Relationships Talk to teens when they do something

RIGHT Introduce yourself, repeatedly  Greet patrons by name Get out from behind the desk Get out of the library 

Give Them a Room of Their Own

More than just a shelf and a poster

Convert a meeting room to a homework center or program room a few days a week

Designate a staff person to serve teens

Program Them to Death

Engage them in meaningful participation

Give teens positive ways to expend their energy Offer after school

activities Cultivate a

volunteer program

Be an Excellent Librarian! Customer Service Reference Reader’s Advisory

Reminders for Librarians

Stay calm It’s not personal Teens are job security Learn to RAP  

Thank You!Slides: www.informationgoddess.info

Links:

www.delicious.com/informationgoddess29/brai

n

Email: informationgoddess29@gmail.com