Ten Tips for Teen Summer Reading: #8

What's in a Name?

So there's a new feature on the SR website this year--a random name generator. This was an NYPL thing meant to protect users' privacy and it will likely result in many forgotten names and mass chaos.

BUT!!

Think of the fun you and your teens could have. There are lots of creative arts and writing projects inherent in a random name generator that's formatted like this one. Have your teens draw their names and hang the drawings around your space. Create a story chain involving the characters. You don't even have to use the names you have--build on it and have fun.

Oh! Have the teens create one of those books where the page is cut in parts and you can flip them so it could have a person's head/bird's body/lion's feet (etc) using the generated names.

Think of it this way--if you're going to spend your summer looking up silly names, shouldn't someone get a laugh out of it?

Cash in the Coffee Can: $474

Ten Tips for Teen Summer Reading: #7

So They're Signed Up--What Now?

Once the teens are registered, it's not over. Logging and reviewing books is a fun way to share what teens read while helping us track how much they read. The SR website makes the experience more like other social media experiences so it should be familiar for teens (as long as they can remember their username!!).

Consider highlighting the teens' reviews or work with them to create a new badge. Figure out ways to make their ongoing PARTICIPATION in Summer Reading fun and meaningful.

Cash in the Coffee Can: $460

Ten Tips for Teen Summer Reading: #6

A Friendly Wager

So you know how mayors of cities competing in big sporting events always wager something on the outcome of the game? Why not do that with another library?

Find a colleague in Queens (or anywhere, for that matter) and bet their teens what your teens will do this summer. You could wager on

• number of teens signed up
• number of books read/logged
• number of books reviewed

Have the two groups of teens figure out the wagers--make them fun and appropriate to your library. In the spirit of competition, both libraries will win!

Cash in the Coffee Can: $446

Ten Tips for Teen Summer Reading: #5

Outreach

Where are the teens in your neighborhood when they're not at school, home or your library? Find out and find them there. If the teens won't tell you, ask the adults--they'll be happy to let you know where mobs of teens are. Whether it's just by hanging a flier in the window of the pizza place or visiting the local community or rec center, bringing the library TO teens who aren't regular library users can open doors.

Day camps and vacation bible schools may have younger kids as campers but most will have teen counselors--make sure those teens get signed up. Get to know the non-profits in your community, especially those that work with teens and see if you can do a Summer Reading event there.

Cash in the Coffee Can: $432