Civic Labs for Kids and Teens
Leah Langby
September 17, 2018
Keeping Up With Kids
Civic Labs:  Think, Learn, Connect

Over the past year, after much gnashing of teeth on my part and the helpful advice of several IFLS-area librarians, I created a resource for libraries to use when hosting programs and displays that promote civic dialogue and engagement about pressing issues.  I am interested in figuring out ways to make that resource useful for people working with kids and teens, too. 

It seems to me that kids and teens get a few more opportunities (in school and maybe in other youth groups) than adults do to practice discussing challenging topics in a respectful way.  But it also seems like a natural fit to have displays and programs for all ages in this arena.  And probably some cool ways to incorporate STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) concepts and civic concepts together, like the Girls Who Code project that encourages kids to create coding projects that will address a community problem or concern.

So, look for more in this regard (after significant additional teeth gnashing by me), and if you are interested in helping me think about it, please let me know!

search all blog posts using keywords or title, date, categories

Archives

Categories

Related Articles

IFLS Youth Services Check-In: Play!

Great questions were asked, great ideas were swapped!  Here are a few highlights (sorry if I’m forgetting something):   Karen Magnusson (formerly of Woodville, now of Baldwin) gave a report about her experience at the Play, Make, Learn Conference in...

Great Halloween Cupcake Bake-Off in Phillips

Thanks to Linda Johnson, the new youth services librarian in Phillips, for sharing this fun collaboration.  Leveraging her existing connection with the school and with the Family and Consumer Education teacher, Linda organized a Great Halloween Cupcake Bake-Off for...

The Power of Partnerships (guest post by Valerie Spooner)

I had a great chat with Valerie Spooner, the youth services librarian in Ladysmith, this afternoon.  I LOVED hearing this story about the ways putting in the time for partnerships and relationships can pay off! In 2020 I was able to fulfill one of my library dreams -...