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February 3, 2013 by Karen Jensen, MLS

Sunday Reflections: Making Promises To Our Teens

February 3, 2013 by Karen Jensen, MLS   5 comments

Dear Teens,

I promise to add books to the library collection that make me uncomfortable, if I think you might like them.

I promise to add books to the library collection that I love, if I think you might like them.

I promise to add books to the library collection that I know you want now, even if I know no one will in a couple years.

I promise to smile at you, even when I’m having a bad day.  I promise to keep my bad day to myself when I’m out on the floor.

I promise to smile at you, even when I had to kick you out last time you were here.  I won’t hold grudges, even if you do.  Every day is a new day here and I won’t take your bad mood personally.

I promise that if you mess up really badly, I will enforce the library policy, even if that means you can’t use the library for a while.  It’s because I care about you and the other teens here that I need to keep this place as safe and welcoming as possible.

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I promise to keep the collection in good shape because I know you don’t want crappy looking books and when the shelves are overloaded it’s harder to find what you want.

I promise to keep the teen space in good shape because I respect you enough to keep your space at least as fresh and tidy and inviting as the other areas of the library.

I promise to look at you and ask you questions, even when it’s your mom standing next to you telling me what you want.

I promise to take you seriously, even when I don’t know about the topic you’re so interested in, even when the musician is not my type, even when I’m not a fan of the genre, even if you’re not sure what you’re looking for.  You and your information needs & interests are important to me and that’s what matters.

I promise to listen if you want to talk and help if I can.  I promise I’ll find someone who can help if I can’t.

I promise to be myself, because I want to show you that being yourself is the best thing you can be.

I promise to keep trying until I get it right.

I promise I don’t know it all, but I’m willing to keep learning.

-Heather

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About Karen Jensen, MLS

Karen Jensen has been a Teen Services Librarian for almost 30 years. She created TLT in 2011 and is the co-editor of The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services with Heather Booth (ALA Editions, 2014).

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ms. Meyrick says

    February 3, 2013 at 7:23 pm

    I *love* this. We all should take this pledge.

  2. Anonymous says

    February 3, 2013 at 9:19 pm

    Heather. Wonderful promises. We should all take these promises, change the audience to match our own clientele, family, neighbors, etc and live by them. Your views, observations, acceptances, actions and words make this world a better place. Gayle Booth – Heather's Mom

  3. Teen Librarian's Toolbox, Karen says

    February 4, 2013 at 1:19 pm

    Heather,

    This is such a great post. I have seen it being Tweeted out and some have said they are going to print it out and keep it by their desk. I have a promise of my own to add:

    I promise not to judge you based on the bad behavior of a few teens, but to let you be authentically you and start each interaction with a clean slate, regardless of what has just happened with another teen

  4. Teen Librarian's Toolbox, Karen says

    February 4, 2013 at 1:20 pm

    Hi Heather's mom, thank you for doing such a great job raising Heather. I am so glad she is here on the blog and in my life both personally and professionally. She is a great addition to it all and such a great blessing to libraries and teens.

  5. Janet Lee Carey says

    February 4, 2013 at 6:42 pm

    Thanks for the great post showing the heart and truth-telling of being a teen librarian, Heather. One reason we like to Roar for librarians like you at Library Lions http://LibraryLionsRoar.blogspot.com

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