Transcript Making Youth Participation Work for Teen Spaces… Dr. Anthony Bernier San Jose State University [email protected].

Making Youth Participation
Work for Teen Spaces…
Dr. Anthony Bernier
San Jose State University
[email protected]
Shelving Basics:
What we get used to in library school
book “butts” out
left-to-right
same-level shelving
open space on right
everything to shelf lip…
Shelving Basics 101:
What we get used to in library school
Everything in alphanumeric order
Shelves are for books
Order preserves access
“Consistency is the
foundation of virtue”
Library
Aesthetics:
•“Order”
•“Structure”
•“Balance”
•“Flow”
•“Unity”
•“Consistency”
Teen Aesthetics:
~asymmetry
~contrast
~exaggeration
~irony
~reuse
~totems
Library
Aesthetics:
•“Order”
•“Structure”
•“Balance”
•“Flow”
•“Unity”
•“Consistency”
Teen Aesthetics:
~asymmetry
~contrast
~exaggeration
~irony
~reuse
~totems
“HotShelving” Review:
Book Cover Art:
Shelf Space:
Shelving Appliances:
Off-the Shelf Applications:
Book Covers:
“While we might feel that no one should judge
a book by its cover, the truth is that everyone
does. It doesn’t matter how popular the
content will be with young adults if the cover
design keeps them from picking it up.”
Dorothy Broderick, (former editor,
Voice of Youth Advocates - VOYA)
Book Cover Art:
Face out book covers
Repetition
Vary height and color
HotShelving as Communication
Shelf Space:
Use entire shelf, every inch
“Wrap” shelves
Use back of shelves and “end caps”
Use airspace
Vary shelf heights
Use “Book bricks”
HotShelving as Communication
Stacking and Grouping:
 “Pancaking”
 Author or series “stacking”
 Genre or theme building
“Merchandizing your YA
collection means taking an active
role in making the collection one
that teens will want to browse
through and spend time within.”
-Mary Ann Nichols, 2002
“Cover a portion
of your wall with
heavy paper and
use that as an
ongoing canvas for
poetry, doodling,
or composing.”
-Susan Levitt
Teen Feng Shui,
2003
Libraries
are spaces of
exploration
not spaces of
collections!
“HotShelving” Concepts:
 book cover art
 shelf spaces
 shelving appliances
 off-the-shelf-applications
Repetition
Angularity
Color
Threedimensionality
“HotShelving”
helps poor
readers
“HotShelving”
helps teens
reluctant
approach our
desks
“HotShelving”
entices teens
into picking
up material
they ignore
otherwise.
Phase I: Research
4 Steps…
1) Spatial diagnosis
2) User satisfaction survey
3) Develop décor and space change options
4) Focus group
Phase II: Collaboration and Review
3 Steps…
1) Briefing with selected (youth) staff
2) Vetted plan for administration
3) Presentation to system-wide staff
Phase III: Execution and Evaluation
3 Final Steps…
1) Implement accepted plan
2) Do post-occupancy study
3) Final written assessment (for
administration and staff)
Teen Advisory Groups
Indeterminate size/number of participants
Regular or on-going meetings
Broad range of activities and interests
Teen Space Focus Group
(10 key factors)
1. Participant limit between 10-15
2. 1 or 2 meetings only
3. Narrow topic range
4. Not brainstorming but responses
5. Discipline the agenda
Teen Space Focus Group
(10 key factors)
6. “R-form” the group often
7. Show examples more than once
8. Lots of ways to record responses
9. See sample agenda in packet
10. Have fun!