Teens and tweens — words usually spoken in a tone of exasperation and resignation. What do they want? Why do they act that way? Now what did I say? As Bugs Bunny said to Yosemite Sam, “What?! Sore again?! What a rotten disposition!”
But they can be delightful, funny, smart, forward-thinking and energetic… very energetic. The Pacifica Libraries have many teen/tween volunteers who are dedicated, reliable and do good work. One of our more successful endeavors is the Book Buddies program in which older kids are paired with younger kids to help the younger ones with reading. The younger kid likes the attention from an older kid and the older kid feels a sense of accomplishment, responsibility and achievement. In short, it works for everybody.
In public libraries, this age group, whom we term Young Adults, are a focus of attention and resources since we historically “lose” that segment of the population for a time, usually getting them back when they marry and start having children of their own. Libraries lately have been resourceful, creative and welcoming to young adults by providing dedicated spaces, putting on programs, designing collections, like graphic novels, that studies tell us young adults like and will actually read. One of the successful programs we have put together at the Pacifica Libraries is our Young Adult Nights.
Friday, Jan. 29, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Pacifica-Sharp Park, the library will be hosting another in its monthly series of Young Adult Nights that feature a movie and gaming. We’re showing “Napoleon Dynamite” downstairs and playing video and board games upstairs. We’re gearing it for kids in grades 5-8 and want parents to see it as a safe, fun place for their restless older kids to go for a couple of hours to hang with their peers (with supervision) and maybe get some alone time for themselves.