ALA: Teen library usage has risen

More than 30 percent of kids visit public libraries at least 10 times a year.

CHICAGO — Teens have plenty of options for entertainment: gaming, social networking sites, TV On Demand and much more. So how do libraries stack up?

Better than ever, according to the American Library Association.

Teen library usage is flourishing partly because of efforts such as Teen Read Week, which will be Oct. 14-20.

Now in its 10th year, Teen Read Week is the only national literacy initiative aimed at teens, their parents, librarians, educators, booksellers and other interested adults.

The Young Adult Library Services Association sponsors the initiative. This year’s theme is “LOL @ your library,” which encourages teens to read something humorous or light, just for the fun of it.

Teens will also be encouraged to participate in the Teens’ Top Ten (www.ala.org/teenstopten) a nationwide vote for their favorite books.

Survey’s results

A poll conducted for the ALA by Harris Interactive, which surveyed 1,262 youngsters between the ages 8 to 18 on library use, found that a significant amount of respondents used both their public library and their school library media center for personal use. Thirty-one percent visit the public library more than 10 times a year and nearly 70 percent use their school library more than once a month.

Of those who regularly use their libraries, more than three-quarters (78 percent) indicated they borrowed books and other materials for personal use from public libraries, while 60 percent sought out materials for personal use from the school library. “Teen Read Week offers libraries a great opportunity to reach out to teens in a focused, targeted way. This important national initiative provides libraries the chance to try new and exciting ways to connect teens and reading,” said YALSA President Paula Brehm-Heeger.

As usage continues to grow, libraries are responding by increasing young adult library staff, programs and services. According to the Public Library Data Service Statistical Report, nearly 90 percent of the public libraries surveyed offer young adult programs, with more than half (51.9 percent) employing at least one full-time equivalent dedicated to fostering young adult programs and services, up dramatically from 11 percent in 1995.