Understanding Teens is a 3-part Talking Teen Services series facilitated by members of the Teen Services team at Arapahoe Libraries in Colorado. All three sessions do go together but they can also be attended independently. Attendees do not have to be present at a previous session to benefit from the content of the next. Teens are important patrons in our libraries, with unique and evolving needs. In this series of webinars, we will share our approach in working towards welcoming, inclusive teen services by using staff training. Our goals with our staff training are to establish a base of empathy through better understanding of teens and their current experiences, and to offer practical strategies in working with youth. Each session will include working through a different part of the training. Our second session will explore biases and stereotypes, both about teens and library workers, and how they impact teen experiences in our libraries. We will cover some foundational information, activities that aid us in identifying biases we and teens might feel, and practical strategies in supporting teens. See Oct 29 for part 3.

If you have any questions about the event or how to register, please contact Kate Brunner, CSL Youth & Family Services Principal Consultant, at brunner_k@cde.state.co.us OR 720-595-9248.