I had the opportunity to attend National History Day festivities in College Park, Maryland last week. Wow, if you ever need some great inspiration about some amazingly dedicated, smart, interesting, and enthusiastic teens, this is a terrific place to get it. It was fun to listen to the side conversations about historical minutia while waiting in the dining hall line. It was incredible to watch the documentaries and performances done by the national finalists–truly amazing what kids can do. And it was super-fun to see the buttons and t-shirts on the folks from Iowa. Their quote: “When in doubt, go to the library.” An homage to Hermione, of course, but also to the librarians and collections that supported brilliant work on the part of students.
Teen Program Success in Altoona
I talked with Regina Arndt, the long-time youth services librarian in Altoona recently and got inspired by some of her programs. Teen programs can be tricky, and some of these ideas seem like they might work well for other libraries! Ping Pong and Pizza Nights Every...