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Children's and YA Services: Transforming Teen Services T3

Transforming Teen Services

Teens are notoriously hard to please, and even harder to keep focused, especially these days. While there may be no one-size-fits-all solution, hopefully we can share some tools and approaches to engaging and providing for your teens, whether in a school or public library.

Transforming Teen Services (T3) is a series of trainings designed to help improve library services for teens across four basic content areas:

  • Connected Learning
  • Computational Thinking
  • Child and Youth Development
  • Educational Equity

In the winter of 2020, state and local library staff from around the country were trained to implement the Transforming Teen Services trainings in their states. Kymberlee Powe, Children’s and Youth Adult Consultant at CSL DLD, and Mia Orobona, Teen Services Librarian from Darien Library, were trained to facilitate T3 in Connecticut.

Join Kym and Mia along with your teen librarian colleagues from around Connecticut, to learn, build, and develop services for and with teens that will guarantee the adolescents you support have what they need now, and for future success.

As T3 is in the process of pivoting to virtual delivery, we are pleased to launch the first two content areas in October, Connected Learning and Computational Thinking.

This series was developed as part of an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant partnership between Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) and Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA).

Course Objectives

Connected Learning

  • Understand the philosophy of Connected Learning as it relates to educational and career opportunities
  • Explore the principles of Connected Learning
  • Think about how to operationalize Connected Learning theory into practice

Computational Thinking

  • Articulate core concepts of computational thinking
  • Begin designing activities for and with teens that connect to CT
  • Understand the value of integrating CT into activities for and with teens
  • Connect CT to pre-existing library activities and services. 

What you need:

  • A working webcam for live sessions to provide an opportunity for peer engagement. as we want you to share your work.
  • A working computer microphone.
  • Platforms – Canvas and Zoom (web based)
  • A dedicated space so that you may be fully present during the live sessions.

What you need to do:

  • Attend all live sessions. The live sessions rely on your participation to help guide everyone’s growth and understanding.
  • Commit to completing all self-paced material. To booster our collective learning in an online environment, we will use discussion boards and virtual assignments in addition to the live sessions.

Schedule and Structure

  • October 2 – 30, 2020
  • A 4-week facilitated online course
  • 15 learners per cohort
  • 2-3 hours of time each week (1-2 hours self-paced and 1-hour live session)
  • Connect Learning will be offered in October and Computational Thinking will be offered in November.
  • Mandatory live sessions meet for four Fridays beginning October 9.

Live sessions

  1. October 9, 2020 12:00-1:00 What is Connected Learning
  2. October 16, 2020 12:00-1:00 Self reflection on Connected Learning
  3. October 23, 2020 12:00-1:00 Connected Learning and Your Library
  4. October 30, 2020 12:00-1:00 Connected Learning: What's Next

Questions? Contact

Kymberlee Powe

Children’s and YA Consultant | Connecticut State Library

kymberlee.powe@ct.gov | (860) 704-2207

Mia Orobona

Teen Services Librarian | Darien Library

morobona@darienlibrary.org | (203) 669-5225

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