sleep, but for teens the impact is even more severe – lack of sleep can be detrimental to their brain development. According to Chamberlain, “The brain chemicals that induce sleep also help build brain connections. Due to changes occurring in the sleep center of the teen brain, teens need more sleep than adults – approximately 9½ hours a night.” However, most teens don’t get enough sleep and are building sleep debts that are negatively impacting their body’s Circadian clocks (Dr. Mary Carskadon, Inside the Teen Brain, 33:58 – 35:10).
Another issue for libraries to consider is that research shows that when teens are given too many things to do, too many tasks, that they may not respond well. “When interacting with teens, communicate one task at a time and help identify priorities. Don’t overwhelm teens with too many decisions at once” (Chamberlain). Creating effective and welcoming spaces for teens benefits not only the teens themselves, but libraries as well. An increase in the number of teens that use the library will coincide with an increase in community engagement, and teens Catering to teens in libraries who enjoy the programs offered are likely to tell their friends about them. This can only help to The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) National Teen Space Guidelines is a report drive up circulation and library usage stats, which, ultimately, are the numbers that municipalities designed with the developing teen brain in mind. and other governing bodies want to see come The guidelines recognize that teens, more than budget time. adults, know the kinds of programs and activities they’ll enjoy, and accordingly, their first guideline is that libraries use and incorporate teen feedback. Bibliography Second is to create spaces that foster social, emotional and intellectual development (YALSA, Blakemore, Sarah-Jayne. “The Mysterious working of the adolescent 4). Other guidelines include offering a wide variety brain” TED: Ideas worth spreading June 2012. https://www.ted.com/ talks/sarah_jayne_blakemore_the_mysterious_workings_of_the_adof non-book and special collection materials, olescent_brain creating a welcoming environment, and using Chamberlain, Linda Burgess. “The Amazing Teen Brain: What Every furniture that is flexible and movable rather than Child Advocate Needs to Know.” Child Law Practice, vol. 28, no. 2, stationary. Apr. 2009, pp. 17-24. https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/ While libraries are typically calm environments, aba/administrative/child_law/clp/artcollections/juvjust/teenbrain. authcheckdam.pdf libraries can still take steps to address the teen need for novelty and excitement. This can be done Evans, Allyson. “How Understanding Teen Brain Development Can Help Improve YA Reference Services.” Young Adult Library Serby providing teens with challenging programs and vices, vol. 12, no. 3, Spring2014, pp. 12-14. http://yalsdigital.ala. org/i/298959-vol-12-no-3-spring-2014 activities. According to Teen Services 101 author Megan Fink, teens need to be challenged and Fink, Megan. Teen Services 101: A Practical Guide for Library Staff. intrigued by library activities and programming American Library Association, 2015. that encourages collaboration with adult mentors “Guidelines for Library Services for Young Adults.” International and peers to be creative (15) “By providing Federation of Library Associations and Institutions IFLA Professionresources and age-appropriate programs designed al Report, no.107, 2008. with the teenage brain in mind, library staff can the Teenage Brain | Frontline | PBS. PBS. January 2002. help ensure that the library experience is a positive Inside Season 20, Episode 11. www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/inside-theone for everyone” (Fink, 14). teenage-brain Former Young Adult Reference Services Knox, Richard. “The Teen Brain: It’s Just Not Grown Up Yet.” Committee Chair Allyson Evans suggests that NPR. March 2010. library staff treat teens as non-judgmentally as www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124119468 possible, and exercise sensitivity regarding their attimes precarious moods. “One result of the way the YSALA. “Teen Space Guidelines.” American Library Association. www.ala.org/yalsa/guidelines/teenspaces. 2012. teen brain works is that teens often feel insecure, judging neutral or ambiguous behaviors in others to be negative and threatening” (Evans, 12). YAACING | Summer 2018 28