Brooklyn Public Library "Talk to Teens"

Two weeks ago, I went to the Brooklyn Public Library to set up a time with the YA library to talk to teens about reading. I spoke with the YA Librarian Molly who explained some of the teen programs that take place during the summer and explained the best times for me to come by. The teen time, the program Molly suggested I attend, is scheduled on Tuesday from 4-5 for ages 13-18yrs. or grades 7 to 12. Other weekly programs for teens included: Reading is Fundamental (RIF) where teens can earn free books and Knitting for Kids and Teens presented from 4-5 on Thursdays for 9-18 yrs.

While I was speaking to Molly I noticed the presents of a teenagers sulking and conspicuous and I do not mean that in the pejorative sense. After discussing what teens do and some of what they may like, I was very happy to be with the real teens even for this first short time. The boys walked slow and sort of shuffled along while holding up their pants. They wanted to know about the monthly Manga Mania Club that takes place on the last Friday on the month from 4-6 for ages 10-18yrs. It was not taking place that night. That night was chess night. These teens were not interested in chess. (I remember loving chess. :)

I came back that Tuesday with Molly's permission to talk to teens about their reading habits and their other hobbies. Getting to the teen space is at Brooklyn Public Library's Central Branch is rather awkward. I had to go back through security, guess at which door to take, walk up a spooky stair case and guess again which door to enter. While I understand the libraries are working within, for the most part, extremely limited budgets, a sign posting on the doors would have been a help to promote the program and help others locate the area. The teen space was made up of a wood that was stained with a yellowish brown 1970's varnish. The shelves were staked with arts and crafts supplies, board games and nicknack's. There were board games such as Connect Four and Life. Also two television sets on rolling metal carts, one connected to a Wii and one to a PlayStation, were causally placed at either side of the room. The library assistant or Librarian, I wasn't sure which, was signing karaoke to a Madonna song. She definitely had talent. She introduced my to Nyomi 13 and Chris 12, but going into the 7th grade and therefore counted at a teen according to Brooklyn Public Library.

Nyomi acted about 5 years older than Chris. She was reluctant to talk to me until after I explained my homework assignment fully. I told her that I was studying to be a librarian and that if I were to be any good at my job I have to know what teens like to read. She first thought that I was going to ask her to think or write or something equally silly, but then decided she was doing the rest of the world a favor, and I wouldn't take up much of her time. Chris was shy and didn't say very much. Here is what we talked about:

INTERVIEW CHRIS 12

What do you read?

Chris: I like fantasy.

What kind of fantasy?

CHRIS: I don't know. hehehe

What authors do you like?

CHRIS: I read Harry Potter. I am now on the Goblet of Fire.

That is great. Do you read newspapers, magazines or anything else.

CHRIS: I don't know. hehehe

Do you read the Times, the Post, the Daily News.

CHRIS: I don't know. I don't pay any attention to what paper I read. I just pick up whatever is laying around and read it.

Oh, cool.

How often do you read?

CHRIS: I read all day long.

Really. (I find out later that his video game system at home is broken. He is reading Harry Potter and it is summer, so I believe he could be reading all day long.

What do you think reading means?

CHRIS: I don't know. hehehe. It is a break from boredom. I like to read before I go to bed.

What do you like to do when your not reading?

CHRIS: Ummm... I don't know... (as soon as we are done the interview he gets up to play Dance, Dance Revolution.)

Are you going on vacation this summer?

CHRIS: Yeah, I am going down to North Carolina to see my cousins. I really like to travel.

Do you swim?

CHRIS: Yeah, I like to go swimming. (He smiles.)

Where do you go swimming?

CHRIS: I like to go to the beach, Coney Island. I go with my brother and my mom. I also like to come to the library when I am not reading. (We both laugh at the irony. I think it is great that a teens think of that highly of the Brooklyn Public Central Library.)

What books out of all these would you read? (I have laid out before him all of titles we are reading for class plus Hugo Caberet and The Power of Lucky.)

(He looked through these books periodically for some time while we were talking. He first was drawn to the Avatars book. I can see that now that it might have been hard for him to look through all of the book. I think I brought too many and that the choices might be overwhelming. Also I had all the books sitting flat, so they may have been difficult to see.)

CHRIS: I like this one. (He points to the Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian.)

I like that one too. Why do you pick that one?

CHRIS: I don't know. I like this part. (He points to the blurb on the inside jacket.)

Thanks so much for helping me with this Chris. You have been great.

CHRIS: Okay.

NYOMI 13

Nyomi has been watching us from across the table. I don't know her at all. I have no idea what to expect. Nyomi is one cool character. I later find out that she is a volunteer at the library, but I can see it all over her face- she runs this place. She watches as I right done her name and corrects my spelling of it. "That is NYOMI" "Okay, thanks" I tell her.

Thanks for doing this by the way. What do you read?

NYOMI: I like gossip books.

Like what?

(Here are the titles and authors she likes:

Shepard, S. (2006). Pretty little liars. New York: HarperTempest. Series

Books about relationships.

Real life stories.

Godbersen, A., & Ottens, E. (2007). Deluxe. Haarlem: Gottmer.

How often do you read?

NYOMI: I read everyday. I usually read at night before I go to bed. I am reading two books now. One in the Little Liars series and one of the Gossip Girl books.

What do you think reading means?

NYOMI: I don't know. I just love to do it because it interests me. Reading means using your imagination.

What do you do when you are not reading?

NYOMI: When I am not reading I babysit my brother.

That doesn't sound like too much fun. What I meant to say is what do you do for fun?

NYOMI: I like to knit. I can knit while I read.

Really I can't do that! I like to knit, but I keep making the same scarf over and other again.

NYOMI: I also like to make bears. One of the children's librarians taught us how to knit and make bears. Let me show you. (She goes to get a bag.) We are all doing different things. Some of us are making scarves with ribbing and some of us are creating images using different patterns we have downloaded from the internet. This person has made a cat, and this person is doing a special kind of ribbing. See knit, pearl, pearl, knit.

Oh, that is all pretty terrific. You guys are pretty good already. You are inspiring me to keep it up.

What else do you do when you are not reading?

NYOMI: I like to travel. I am going to visit my aunt in Virginia, and I going swimming at my cousin's house in New Jersey. In 19 days I will be going to Disney World.

What? That is awesome. (Yes, I am being totally genuine here. I am impressed with Nyomi's very cool summer.) Do you play video games?

NYOMI: Yes, I like to play Halo 3, Assassins 3 and Guitar Hero.

What do you play Halo 3 and Assassins 3 on? (She looks at me like I must have been asleep for the last year.)

NYOMI: You can play Halo 3 and Assassins 3 on an XBox, a lot of the games came be played on any system?

Oh really, I had no idea....Out of the books in front of you, which one would you read?

NYOMI: I would read these?

Lockhart, E. (2008). The disreputable history of Frankie Landau-Banks: a novel. New York: Hyperion.

Cameron, P. (2007). Someday this pain will be useful to you. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Blank, J. (2007). Almost home. New York: Hyperion.

Why did you chose those books?

NYOMI: Someday This Pain will be Useful to You- I really liked the cover and the title.
Lockhart was recommend by a friend, and I will always try a book recommend by a friend.
Almost Home looks like it is a really life story.

As I was finishing up and packing up my things the teens were relieved to get back to playing hanging out and having fun. They had a lot of younger kids in the program during teen time because of the lower program turnouts that happen over the summer. They didn't seem to mind with the video games and free orange juice and animal crackers. The program looked well under control, but the teens children and teens seemed carefree.

Also, I talked to my niece on the phone and asked her some of the same questions?
Katie-16

What do you read?

Katie: I like to read magazines.

Which ones?

Katie: I have a subscription to Teen Vogue.

What else?

Katie: I liked Sloppy First Second Helping by Megan Mccafferty

What do you do when you are not reading?

Katie: I go on MySpace. Watch TV. Go Camping. Play softball.

I read her a list of books and described each one to her. Of those she explained which one she liked.

She would read:

The Absolutely true story of a part time Indian.
The Disreputable History
Almost Home
Tyrell