The Whole Library Handbook for teen services

CHICAGO — ALA's popular and respected Whole Library Handbook series continues with “The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services,” published by ALA Editions. Specifically geared towards those who serve young adults, in this volume editors Heather Booth and Karen Jensen gather stellar articles and commentary from some of the country's most innovative and successful teen services librarians. Sections focusing on practice, theory and the philosophical underpinnings of the profession are supported by current research and historical perspectives. Both instructive and reflective in scope, this essential handbook:

• provides a comprehensive introduction to the background and day-to-day realities of teen librarianship for LIS students and those new to the field;
• offers expert tips and wisdom invaluable to those already working with teens;
• highlights trends, challenges and opportunities in the changing world of how teens interact with libraries and what they expect;
• emphasizes advocacy across all spectrums, including in local communities and among fellow staff who may be anxious about teens in the library;
• guides staff in providing readers' advisory to teens;
• includes ready-to-use marketing resources, templates and sample teen services and teen volunteer plans.

Booth has been a teen services librarian in the Chicago suburbs since 2002, currently at the Thomas Ford Memorial Library, in Western Springs. She is the author of “Serving Teens through Readers’ Advisory” and several chapters on readers’ advisory for teens in other professional works. She reviews books for youth and audiobooks for Booklist. Her article “RA for YA” won the feature article award from Public Libraries in 2006.

Jensen has worked with teens since 1993. She is currently a teen services librarian in Grand Prairie, Texas, where she is especially focused on using the “40 Developmental Assets for Adolescents” to advocate for teens in her library and community. She is the author of several articles in VOYA and wrote a chapter in the forthcoming book “Intellectual Freedom for Teens: A Practical Guide for Young Adult & School Librarians.” She is the creator and moderator of the website Teen Librarian Toolbox, where she blogs about pop culture, librarianship, and books.

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide. Contact us at (800) 545-2433 ext. 5418 or editionsmarketing@ala.org.

Related Links

"The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services"

"The Whole Library Handbook 5: Current Data, Professional Advice, and Curiosa"

"Booklist’s 1000 Best Young Adult Books since 2000"