New Directions for Library Service to Young Adults

Picking up where the best-selling Bare Bones Young Adult Services left off, this exciting new book has an ambitious intent - to help libraries, with their communities, develop their teens into healthy, competent, and caring adults. Applying the tools in New Planning for Results to the goals outlined in Information Power, YALSA has teamed up with writer Patrick Jones to provide direction on how to deliver YA service that is proactive and holistic. Approaching the service mission holistically means linking the developmental needs and assets of these young adults with the overarching goals of the library. With passionate, authority, this book presents a checklist for strengthening community-wide bonds to young adults through policies, collections, programs, services, technology, facilities, hours, and, most importantly, human resources. This book changes the context for thinking about services to young adults in school and public libraries from a reactive series of programs aimed at increasing use of the library, to a well-planned initiative that focuses on outcomes. Laying down twelve goals and ten core values of YA service, New Directions inspires you to renew your commitment and: - Start from scratch or revitalize your existing program - Plan, develop, implement, and evaluate top-flight services to young adults - Create a partnership with the young adult population in your neighborhood - Boost the achievement and esteem of these young students - Allocate and cultivate resources to meet real needs Eighteen real-life success stories show programs from around the country that have engaged their kids - in drama groups, in homework programs, in college planning programs - all with tangible outcomes. Packed with useful resources, the appendix includes YALSA's key action areas and guidelines, adolescent developmental assets from the Search Institute, and standards for information literacy. All of these resources come together to help you foster a thriving young adult constituency and a new direction for your services.