14-5 by April M.

Fell , Baltimore County Public Library

Generation Z video on YouTube (4+minutes) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qypKjzUOhBM
Generation Z baby on YouTube (1+minute) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhGDb_3r8WI
TEEN TECHNOLOGY
I have been full-time at the North Point branch for a year and a half. During my initial months
at the branch, I discovered there were no teen programs. In talking with the librarians at the branch,
many of whom have been at the branch for 10 plus years, the consensus was it was difficult to pull teens
into this particular branch. There just was not a large pool of teens visiting our branch and hence, little
teen programming.
After being at North Point for about 6 months, I decided to post an idea to our Innovations
Committee-a place where ideas around BCPL can be heard and subsequently evaluated. My idea was to
begin a Teen Tech Program at North Point. This idea came to me when I was studying at Clarion
University, their MLIS program. I was in a course for serving the tween/teen population and I wrote a
paper about bringing teens into library branches using Teen T-experts. I have the research paper with
me if anyone is interested in looking at it or may be interested in trying something similar at their own
branch(es). It was a library in Loundon County, Virginia and a librarian by the name of April Layne Pavis
initiated and developed the program in hopes of getting more teens into her library branch.
Essentially, the idea behind this program is to have teens who are very interested in technology
and tech saavy to assist customers with basic computer skills such as setting up e-mail accounts, loading
books onto e-readers, formatting papers, filling out applications on-line and any myriad of requests our
customers bring to us. Generation Z as they are called, kids born between 1995-2009 are basically born
wired-they are called digital natives because they have instant information at their fingertips and need
instant gratification. Technology is something they have never been without. What better person to
assist with technology than a Generation Z kid?
We contacted all of our local middle-high school librarians to assist us in getting the word out
to students about the program. Here is the Ad we sent to the schools for them to post in their libraries.
We also got in contact with our Marketing and Public Relations Department to have them post an Ad in
our Datelines alerting teens that our program was underway and if they were interested to give our
branch a call for interview and training. It took about 2-3 months for word to get out and actually one of
the teens we now have for the program was one of the teens from my Anime/Manga group-another
group I coordinate at our branch. Our second volunteer actually did come from an alert that was placed
on our website.
The other piece of our program involved getting in contact with the Human Resources
Department. We needed to get some guidelines about what we wanted the teens to do while they
were helping at the desk, specific paperwork that would be required of them and guidelines for how
much time we could give them. After talking with HR, we did want them to fill out a Volunteer
Application along with an Emergency Card. We basically took our Summer Reading Volunteer
Application and tweeked it for our Teen Tech Volunteers. We put their volunteer sign in sheet in our
Circulation office along with those of other volunteers we have working in the branch. They know to
sign in first when they arrive and get their volunteer badge. They only work for 2 hour blocks of time
and currently we have 2 Teen Tech Volunteers, Rebecca and Monique. HR wanted to have the initial
application and a copy of their monthly hours.
The following protocols were established by HR:
Job would be for a limited time (a quarter/a summer)
Temporary or short-term
At least 10 hours and maybe 25-30 per quarter
Under the guidance of staff, volunteers will assist customers in our classes and will serve as a technology
tutor.
I have been orienting each of the volunteers to the branch on the day I interview them-if I
think they look like they will work out and I like their demeanor/how they interviewed, I will take them
on a branch tour and introduce them to our staff. I explain also where they will sign in and the desk
where they will be stationed during their shift.
NEWS RELEASE
Would you enjoy sharing your love of technology with those in the community who need help learning
computer skills? Are you patient and understanding? Do you have a solid background with and interest
in technology? This may be an opportunity for you to earn your service learning hours and help the
public with technology. Please call the BCPL's North Point Branch if you would like more information
410-887-7255.
You will help library patrons with tablets, e-readers and other handheld devices. You will assist our
patrons learn computer skills and during our computer classes. (sent out to our local high schools-
Sparrows Point, Dundalk High) and News Release sent out in Datelines (our internal quarterly
programming book) as well as the banner that is on our main webpage.
Elevator Speech:
Are you a Teen Techie? Are you looking for a place to share your techie talents? We have a place for
you here at the North Point branch. We have an opportunity for you to gain your service learning hours
while helping our patrons with technology: e-mail, job searching, e-readers, formatting documents,
Internet searches and more.
Part of our outreach plan here at NO is Job Seekers and this fits right in with that specific Workplan. Our
Mission Statement includes providing virtual spaces and being an essential information resource-this
program fits in perfectly with that Mission Statement.