Home  May 2004 Spotlight
The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County - Official Teen Advisory Board (They call themselves “The OTAB”) and the Seven Hills Review Teen Editors
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Group Name:
Official Teen Advisory Board (They call themselves “The OTAB”) and Seven Hills Review Teen Editors
There are two separate groups of teens helping us to expand and enhance our teen services at The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. I’ve answered the question for each group – information on our traditional TAG is first, with information on the informal TAG (The Seven Hills Review Teen Editors) listed second!
Library Name:
Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
What year did the TAG start?
2002 for The OTAB
1963 for The Seven Hills Review Teen Editors
Group Advisor's name:
Paula Brehm-Heeger
How often does the TAG meet?
Both groups meet for two hours on the first Saturday of each month, year-round.
How many members does your TAG currently have?
22 for The OTAB
16 for The Seven Hills Review Teen Editors
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Members of the Seven Hills Review Teen Editors.
(Below) Members of the Official Teen Advisory Board.
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How do you recruit members for your TAG?
The OTAB is open to people grades 6 – 12, however most of the members are 7th, 8th and 9th graders.
Initially, I used flyers at our 42 locations, combined with a lot of staff effort recruiting and talking to potential members. This first attempt brought in about 13 teens. Because we did not, at that time, have any active TAGs at our branches I had a very large recruiting base. Since then, word of mouth and our teen web page have been the major ways new members have joined The OTAB. Recently, two news stations briefly mentioned The OTAB - this small amount of TV coverage generated more than 30 calls and 12 new, active members.
While the group is larger than I thought it would be, I’ve been very happy with the meetings and the group dynamics. Several of the long-term members (at least 8 have been involved since the original meeting) now act as informal mentors and leaders.
The Seven Hills Review began in 1963 as a book review journal featuring reviews from people grades 7 – 12. The reviews were selected and arranged by teen editors – teenagers in grades 9 – 12. Teens editors were recommended by teachers or selected based on the quality of their writing.
In 2002, funding for the print version of the Seven Hills Review was not available, so we decided to convert the traditional print version to an ezine, with a renewed focus on teen involvement. All teens, grades 9 – 12, interested in being an editor are welcome to participate.
Does the TAG have a particular focus? For example, do members work primarily on collection development projects, intergenerational projects, reading projects, technology-based projects, and so on? If so, how did this focus come about?
The OTAB usually spends one hour of our monthly two-hour meetings doing “Library business” and the other hour hanging out and having fun. Our focus includes offering input and feedback about various Library projects and in 2003 – 2004 we have stepped up our involvement in volunteering at Library and community events.
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OTAB assists at the Cincinnati Museum Center for Dr. Suess' birthday.
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What recent projects have TAG members developed?
- Teenspace. The OTAB was instrumental in the design and development of our Library’s teen web page (teenspace.cincinnatilibrary.org). They were formally recognized by our Library Board of Trustees for their efforts
- ReadQuest. The OTAB helped design the Library’s Summer Reading Program for Teens by offering feedback and suggestions on prizes, reading time requirements and program ideas.
- Library/Museum Collaboration. Our most recent OTAB meeting featured a groovy slide presentation by the Cincinnati Art Museum. This was an introduction to get the teens thinking about possible joint programs/projects the Library and the Museum could develop with and for teenagers.
- Read Across America Day. OTAB members helped kids with crafts and games as part of the Library’s participation in the celebration held at the Cincinnati Museum Center (picture) for Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
- Family Fun Fest. OTAB members worked game booths, painted faces and applied temporary tattoos at the Library’s annual Family Fun Fest.
- Act Out! with OTAB. Every summer The OTAB plans and presents a family story time in the Main Library’s Children’s Learning Center.
The Seven Hills Review Teen Editors focus heavily on our ezine. However, since 2002 the group has evolved into an informal TAG with a focus on high school students. Seven Hills Review Teen Editors still read and select material for our ezine, but they also offer input about Library material and volunteer at Library/Community events. One of the Seven Hills Review Teen Editors served as a member of the middle school title selection committee for our citywide book club, On The Same Page.
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What is a favorite or unique project that your TAG developed?
Last year The OTAB presented a murder mystery/courtroom program. We started with the script “Murder at the Library: Coroner’s Inquest” by Sharon Lamberson and adapted the characters for different OTAB members. They decided what to wear, what props to use, learned their lines and presented the murder mystery.
The new Seven Hills Review is very cool and almost totally teen inspired. Their next goal is to discuss ideas for jazzing up the design of the ezine and getting more art submissions.
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What advice do you have for someone starting a TAG?
Concentrate on making everyone feel comfortable. So many of The OTAB members are from different schools and different backgrounds that they naturally feel a little weirded out when they first come to a meeting and don’t know anyone. I think its a remarkable step for a teenager to have the courage to attend a meeting – they come to the Main Library on a Saturday, many of them via bus, and walk into a room where they don’t know a soul. They’ve done the hard work! Now it’s my job to make sure the risk pays off by making the experience positive and meaningful.
I do have an agenda for each meeting, although I’m not a stickler for sticking to it if the teens go down a slightly different path. But, I’ve found an agenda does force me to think out the different stages of the meeting and also helps the The OTAB realize what my expectations are.
I’m torn on the wisdom of having a separate group limited to high school students. But, based on my experience the last 2 years, being a teen editor for The Seven Hills Review does have appeal to older teens (16 – 18). Because this older group is often difficult to reach with traditional programs or even with TAGs, I’ve found The Seven Hills Review to be an invaluable resource for getting older teen perspective and input.
The Seven Hills Review Teen Editors have quickly grown beyond a literary editorial board to an active TAG, even if they didn’t realize it right away!
Finally, I would encourage everyone to supply fun simply supplies for impromptu and informal art during TAG meetings. Cover the tables with paper, put out markers, crayons, modeling clay, paperclips, feathers – my teens really, really love this aspect of our meetings. I adapted the idea from Teens & Libraries: Getting It Right by Walter and Meyer. Their section “The World Cafe Process and the Library Teen Bill of Rights” offers some great ideas for setting up conducive to generating ideas.
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OTAB group photo used on the library's web site.
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What do you think is the hardest part of running a TAG and how do you handle that difficulty?
Making sure I have the time to plan meaningful meetings. I “plan as I go” by keeping a running list of ideas each month. Then, I go back and plan the meetings from my list. I jot down notes after each meeting to keep track of what we talked about and any ideas the group may have generated – no matter how bizarre- just to make sure the teens know I’m listening and paying attention to their thoughts. I’ve found this is an important to OTAB members, and when I email/call to remind them about an upcoming meeting, many ask what’s on the agenda. If they miss a meeting, some will email and ask for an update or any notes about what we did and what was discussed.
Attendance is always more difficult with older teens. I try to be very flexible, assuring them that they won’t be “kicked off” if they miss a meeting. I’ve also found email to be an important tool for communicating.
While two groups, loosely divided based on age, may not be the idea I stick with, it does allow for a larger number of teens to be involved and offers a different perspective on many aspects of teen services, including TAGs!
What is your favorite part of running a TAG?
The chance to really get to know teens. A few have asked that I write letters of recommendation for college applications and honor society memberships. I think The OTAB is a remarkable tool for getting the Library on teens’ radar screens and for making them think of their Librarian as an important part of their community support network.
I also love the accepting environment that it The OTAB. I have a wide variety of teens and I can honestly say that, with a few unusual exceptions, everyone is comfortable and accepted at OTAB. That is a very important part of the group for me and something I emphasize, when possible and appropriate, to members.
Working with an all high school group is a very different experience. The developmental differences are always striking, particularly because I meet with both my traditional TAG and the older Seven Hills Review Teen Editors on the same day!
I really enjoy the freedom the high school students feel in expressing themselves and discussing issues when they don’t feel inhibited by younger teens.
Are there materials you suggest librarians planning a TAG read/access to help them get started?
I’ve seen some great suggestions on the YALSA site, and would add that I found it very valuable to spend time searching for applications/information about individual TAGs on the web. When I started OTAB in 2002 there was a lot of information available about individual Library TAGs and I’m sure there is even more now! TAG Librarians have some great ideas – take advantage of that resource pool.
If you would like to talk to Paula about her TAG she can be contacted at paula.brehm-heeger@cincinnatilibrary.org
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