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Lock the Library! Rowdy Students Are Taking Over
By Jeremy | January 2, 2007
An institution that, like many nationwide, strives to attract young people, even offering beading and cartooning classes, will soon be shutting them out, along with the rest of the public, at one of the busiest parts of its day.Having spent more time in public libraries in the last two months that in my previous 32 years combined, I understand the frustrations referenced in this article. Large numbers of unsupervised children and quiet adult reading rooms don't mix well. But with fewer options after school, increasing numbers of young people are seeking refuge in public libraries. Rather than recognize a unique opportunity to engage kids and provide meaningful alternatives to the streets, some townships, like Maplewood NJ, are responding by closing the libraries during peek after school hours.
Librarians and other experts say the growing conflicts are the result of an increase in the number of latchkey children, a decrease in civility among young people and a dearth of “third places† neither home nor school  where kids can be kids.The most upsetting thing about this article are the dozens of young adults and neighborhood institutions that would gladly open their doors to these kids and/or assist the libraries in engaging students productively, but for the fact that they are overlooked as potential partners by the powers that be. I'm thinking there might be an opportunity somewhere in here for organized urban youth workers to open the eyes of library, school, and municipal leaders and more effectively reach kids.
Topics: youth, youth ministry | No Comments »
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