Urban Teens in the Library: Research and Practice

Agosto (information science and technology, Drexel U.) and Hughes-Hassell (school library media, U. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) bring together 13 chapters that explain how librarians can build better school and public library programs for urban teens. Library and information science and teen specialists from the US detail model library programs and describe how to use current research about urban teens, their information habits and preferences, and their use of libraries to improve services. They emphasize collaboration with other agencies; understanding youth development; inclusion of culturally relevant resources, street lit or urban fiction, and teens' voices and opinions in design and delivery; advocacy; community outreach; understanding how social interaction and entertainment outlets advance mental and physical development; exploring new media; and providing health information, basic information, and literacy services. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)