Portfolio Info

I will be presenting my portfolio on Friday, May 2nd, at 10:45.

My presentation is entitled: Teen-Authored Spaces

My portfolio issue paper presented the need for teen and librarian collaborations, especially when constructing teen space. I argue that teen space is constructed in three parts: print, technology, and physical space. Each of these areas should be constructed with teen input, as that is the only way to meet teen needs. Basically, create with teens, not at them. In my paper I cite examples of ways in which libraries consulted with teens via teen councils, focus groups, and interviews to create their spaces, and that the results were often very different from traditional library services.

My presentation will again present the teen culture vs. library culture paradigm, but push it even further, into the philosophy of Web 2.0. While Web 2.0 has become a mantra for "technology is great!" the philosophy behind Web 2.o is of a culture of reciprocity and allowing the user to create content and interact with society. (The user can upload as well as download.) This philosophy surprisingly (to me) dovetails with my earlier assertions that teen input is necessary for creating teen spaces that actually meet teen needs. It seems ironic that while libraries are willingly to implement Web 2.0, as seen in Library 2.0, they are unwilling to see how the philosophy of Web 2.0 has a place in shaping library services.

I then show similarities between Web 2.0 and what the teens themselves want in their spaces. They want flexibility, and modularity, and they want to be able to foster communication and community within their own space. They want chat rooms where they can talk about their issues, they want library spaces with chairs with wheels and beanbags, so that they can re-configure their space, or conversely, shift everything to the side and sit on the floor. Teens are transliterate, in that they perform many different literary activities beyond simply reading books, so they want magazines, and the ability to have chat reference, and above all, they want to produce their own content (zines, fan fiction, blogging, posting online, etc). They also want to have teen councils, and talk about the books they like, and to be loud without being told off by a librarian. If the library gives them all of that, not only do teens see the library as a valid community space, but their unique developmental needs are also supported and fostered in a non-commercialized environment. Also, I show evidence that communities see libraries as being in a unique position to provide these spaces, and that there exists an expectation that libraries should provide teens with these kind of services, and that they are currently failling to do so.

Anyway, I only have 15 minutes to present, so I've got about 15 slides that I have to zip through, and then 15 minute of Q & A.

There, I just save everyone a trip to UCLA.

When is the next pub day?