After reviewing the RFPs and interviewing respondents, Wondercabinet Interpretive Design, Inc. was selected to lead this process. During the months of January and February, BPL youth services staff were surveyed to help determine current practices in BPL programming, space availability and options, best practices from other libraries and to gather feedback on what works best and what needs work. In the coming weeks, the public will be invited to participate in a survey to help determine their favorite programs, ideas for new programs, and feedback on what they think works best and what needs work.

In the meantime, do you have a favorite children’s or teen program at the Library or elsewhere? What are your favorite places for youth programming and what makes them special? Please share in the comments.

The teen room could remain where it currently is on the mezzanine level of the Johnson Building. The space could be redesigned to allow for collaborative work, enhanced and expanded technology, a refreshed collection, and updated furnishings. In addition, the current Mezzanine Conference Room could be renovated to become the teen programming room. A review of current teen programs would inform the needs of this space which could include new furniture, carpeting, paint, and a media creation booth.

A successful teen area would include:

• Book collections that respond to the educational and entertainment needs of Boston’s teens
• Comfortable, bright, furniture for lounging and studying
• Enhanced technology offerings
• Quiet study rooms for young people to gather in small groups to do homework or work on projects
• Staff work space in the public area as well as an office space
• Static and/or electronic display boards
• Wayfinding and signage
• Other services identified by teens.

The new children’s library would serve the youth of Boston from birth through elementary school. Dedicated spaces for babies, toddlers, and schoolage kids would ensure that each age group is given the collections they need, technologies to help prepare them for our ever!changing environment, and programming that is responsive to their academic and entertainment needs. The proposed new children’s library would be located on the street level of the Johnson Building.

A successful children’s library would include:

• Book collections for all ages, from board books for our youngest readers to chapter books, nonfiction and summer reading titles for school-aged kids
• An early literacy nook with learning manipulative toys to help with infant and toddler brain development
• Program space for story time, sing-alongs, puppet shows, and more
• Quiet study space for homework and reading
• Collaborative work spaces for kids to explore reading, learning, and gathering with family and friends
• Innovative technology and flexible space to allow for the next generation of technology
• Computers to help students prepare for the digital world
• Family restrooms with infant changing tables
• Staff work space in the public area as well as an office
• Comfortable furniture for children and their caregivers
• Stroller parking
• Static and/or electronic display boards
• Wayfinding and signage
• Bright, cheery, welcoming design that stimulates creativity.

1. Enriched library services and user experience

• Improved user services through better access and adjacencies
• Collections thoughtfully presented and accessible to meet demand
• Expanded and improved youth services through reimagined children’s library and teen room
• Expanded engagement opportunities through new functional spaces such as a conference center, “living room,” and potential commercial-use space

2. Improved visitor first impression

• Improved exterior transparency and engagement, with clear paths and intuitive wayfinding
• Reinvigorated entrance and lobby, and connection to the streetscape

3. Positive financial impact for BPL

• Leveraging of public investment with private investment
• Optimal and maximum use of the existing physical asset
• Revenue generation and cost sharing from commercial tenants
• Leveraging benefit of previously-deferred maintenance projects to support library service improvements

Today, Angela is thrilled to be a new children’s librarian for the Boston Public Library. “I want to make sure kids have a good time in the library,” she says. To accomplish that, she hopes to find “fun ways to connect” with young people, from story hours and showing movies based on books to providing out-of-school time experiences.

Serving a mix of age groups is one of the rewards of her job. “Seeing kids go from babies to teens is exciting,” she says. “Maybe someday one of them will become a librarian.”

In addition to the planning work of library professionals on the BPL’s Youth Services team, the library administered a survey to gain input directly from children and teens, along with a separate survey for parents and caregivers. The staggered survey roll-out schedule made it possible to incorporate comments from the children and teens survey (May 2012) into the adults and caregivers survey (June 2012).

Below are highlights from both survey instruments utilized. Adult and caregiver responses appear in blue; children and teen responses appear in orange. For the chart immediately below, survey takers were allowed to choose multiple program types in their response. The numbers along the left-hand side represent what percent of respondents chose a particular program type.

For the chart immediately below, survey takers were allowed to choose multiple activities in their response. The numbers along the left-hand side represent what percent of respondents chose a particular activity.

Work continues on the library’s out-of-school time program offerings. The surveys have direct influence on the out-of-school time programming model the BPL will unveil in September of this year. Programming will focus on themes such as arts, writing, science, math, and robotics each month during the school year. From September to May, the Boston Public Library will partner with other Boston-based organizations offering those types of programs. The library’s calendar (www.bpl.org/calendar) will list out-of-school time programs beginning in September.

Thank you to all who completed the surveys and who offered comments in the open response sections in addition to the objective questions. Ninety-five (95) young people completed the May survey and 191 parents and caregivers completed the June survey.

“The teen room is a place where we can hang out and have fun in a safe environment,” explains John Nguyen, a senior in high school in South Boston who is also a current member of the Teen Council. John discovered the library only a couple of years ago, when a sophomore project led him to the Central Library. He went inside and “the lines connected,” as he puts it. “I started enjoying reading books again.”

Currently, the Teen Council is spearheading the making of a Hollywood-style movie, from start to finish. “All the teens are involved in it,” says John. The Teen Council is also giving him an opportunity to practice public speaking— a skill he’ll rely on as he pursues his dream of becoming a community leader.

“The library is a fun place,” he says.