Design for the Clarion Free Library: a drawing activity for the local youth

Li, Xiaofeng; Ha, Yoojin; Aristeguieta-Trillos, Simon

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Description

Title

Design for the Clarion Free Library: a drawing activity for the local youth

Author(s)

• Li, Xiaofeng
• Ha, Yoojin
• Aristeguieta-Trillos, Simon

Issue Date

2021-09-20

Keyword(s)

• Library design
• Teen space
• Drawing activity

Abstract

While public libraries have a long history of providing services to teens (Bernier et al., 2005), research has shown contemporary youth have mixed feelings towards libraries. Agosto et al. (2016) studied a group of urban teens in the U.S. and their library use, revealing that urban teens viewed public libraries as irrelevant to their everyday lives because they have access to digital devices with abundant resources on the Internet. Similarly, Howard (2011) found that Canadian teens had a positive impression of their public libraries but they did not use libraries frequently for various reasons. Situated in this background, this project intends to study how rural teens perceive their public library and how they would design it differently. This presented project is timely and necessary as libraries face an increasingly uncertain future due to the pandemic and lack of funding. Understanding teens’ perspectives on what they wish to see in public libraries may help practitioners and researchers envision how to build a resilient future for the library community. In this project, the researchers invite the local teens at Clarion, PA to participate in individual virtual interviews that incorporate a drawing activity (Hartel, 2014) to develop an in-depth understanding of their ideal local public library. Currently, the project is work-in-progress and encounters some challenges in recruiting participants. Challenges in using the drawing activity with teens will be discussed.

Series/Report Name or Number

• Public libraries
• Young adult services
• Community engagement

Type of Resource

Text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/110891

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