Teen services is so exciting in libraries these days. All the effort and emphasis put on young children and early literacy comes to fruition when we keep them coming back....especially when it gets tough. Tweens, teens and young adults can be a challenging demographic. It's important to get to know your teens (they differ from community to community) and to be fearless, courageous, and willing to try new things (and accept when they fail). I believe in reaching "beyond the bookclubs" with teens by expecting greatness of them. It's amazing how often they will rise to the occasion.
Teen Community Club
The Teen Community Club is a program I started to keep our teens coming in for community-service based programs. Community Club meets once a month and the goal is "feeling good by doing good". Some of our most recent projects have been sending cards to hospitalized kids, letters to troops and veterans, and offering tech-tutoring to our adult patrons. And there is much more to come!