Better Serving Teens through School Library–Public Library Collaborations

In this practical guidebook, experienced librarians—a public librarian and a school librarian—share advice and ideas for extending resources, containing costs, and leveraging capabilities between school and public libraries, offering insights and strategies to overcome today's economic challenges.The current economic crisis has had a drastic impact on both public and school libraries. As budgets shrink, resources become scarcer, and the job of the librarian becomes harder. The conundrum of doing more with less challenges even the most seasoned professionals whose institutions face service cutbacks, disappointed patrons, and possible job eliminations or closures. This book asserts that a collaboration between school and public libraries can effectively serve the needs of two populations—teens and the community at large—while minimizing the cost to do so.Better Serving Teens through School Library–Public Library Collaborations offers thought-provoking advice and ideas for practical use in real-world libraries. The authors provide step-by-step guidance for those who wish to start, strengthen, or extend a partnership with colleagues at a sister library, covering topics ranging from teen advisory boards and collaborative programs to homework help and professional development. Veterans in the field, as well as beginners, can utilize the wealth of tools within—including worksheets, timelines, and checklists—to leverage the capabilities of other agencies tp fortify both their own and their institutions' value.Offers detailed instructions for initiating a collaborative relationship between public and school librariesExplains how to navigate tricky political situations that can arise when trying to please two distinct administrative boardsIncludes practical advice from both school and public perspectivesBest Practices section offers successful case studies and real-world tested ideas and tipsWhat We Wish You Knew! sidebars provide examples of challenges encountered and problems to avoid as well as hints for success

"When libraries work together and share resources, the benefits can truly make a difference to the populations being served. Pandora and Hayman provide guidelines for those who need constructive and feasible ideas in order to begin, broaden, or enhance and strengthen this collaborative effort. . . . [T]he helpful advice offered in this resource will strengthen any library program." - School Library Journal, "School librarians and teen librarians in public libraries will find practical ideas for working together to better serve their common patrons and communities in this title. . . . [T]his manual will guide new and experienced librarians through the steps needed to create and maintain a strong collaboration that will enhance the mission of both types of libraries. . . . Ideas for programs, using social networks, and grant writing will be useful not only for those looking to collaborate, but for individual librarians as well. This is a well-written, practical guide that should be in most school and public libraries." - VOYA, "This book is recommended for the professional reading shelf of any school librarian or public librarian who is looking for a way to make an impression in their community and is not sure where to begin." - ARBA

Cherie P. Pandora is instructor at Bryant and Stratton College, Akron, OH. Stacey Hayman is reference desk librarian at Rocky River Public Library in Ohio.