If the moment doesn’t call for teaching them something, just help them.
Dr. Lucia Cedeira Serantes. October, 2016.
Many teens go to a library to read, but now, so many go to a library for reasons other than reading.
“…a roundup of studies, put together by the nonprofit Common Sense Media, shows a clear decline [in reading] over time. Nearly half of 17-year-olds say they read for pleasure no more than one or two times a year — if that.
That’s way down from a decade ago.” (Ludden, 2014)
Teens have so many other reasons to be at a library than to read. Do you know what they care about? If not, find out, if you can. They have an expectation of your library – find out what it is, and fulfill it if you can.
For teens who want to read, encourage and assist them. Readers’ Advisory done well will be very helpful and appreciation by them. Those who don’t like to read, it’s fair to ask why, without alienating them. Your questioning should strictly be to find out how you can help them instead. If, at some point, graphic novels might truly grab their interest, give it a try. But don’t push it. Help them meet their other needs that the library can provide. Don’t push them away by insisting that they read. Help them – that’s your job.
References
Ludden, Jennifer. Why Aren’t Teens Reading Like They Used To? 2014 . Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2014/05/12/311111701/why-arent-teens-reading-like-they-used-to
WORD. 