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Teen Advisory Board up and running in Poland
By TIM CLEVELAND
The Poland Teen Advisory Board has only been in existence for four months, with the group meeting once a month to discuss ways Poland library can better meet the needs of area teens.
“Teen Advisory Board is to get teens involved in the library more,” Poland library youth services librarian Mallory Wiand said. “It’s developed around what they want, what they want to do, so each meeting you discuss books.”
At each meeting, the teens talk about what books they’re reading and discuss ways to increase their interest in the library. They also do a craft project.
The Poland Teen Advisory Board has five members. The main method of advertising is word of mouth, but efforts are being made to increase membership by going into the schools this fall.
In addition to Poland, there is also a Teen Advisory Board in Boardman library. Wiand said there may be more in the other libraries in the future.
“They’re slowly expanding to see the interest level,” she said.
Wiand said giving a voice to the teens has proven to be a good way to increase their interest in the library.
“I think they just like having people to talk to about what they’re reading and what they’re interested in and what they want to see,” she said. “I think the more they have a say in what they’re doing the more they’re willing to do it.”
Wiand added that teens can also learn new things about the library they previously didn’t.
“I know some kids were surprised to find out that they can get books from other libraries sent here, if there’s something they’re interested in,” she said.