WebJunction - Programming & Outreach

Teen Advisory Boards (Groups, Committees....)

Ashtabula County District Library, Teen Advisory Groups: This site explains what a Teen Advisory Group (TAG) is and includes suggestions for activities. There is a good example of what should be included on the application for involvement in a TAG.

Chapman, Jan. (2003). The Care and Feeding of a Teen Advisory Board. Voice of Youth Advocates, 25 (6), (February), p.449-50. This article describes the elements which bring together youth and explains the problems which arise and the solutions for those problems.

Herald, Diana Tixier. (1996). Buy more books! & other bright ideas from a teen advisory board. School Library Journal, 42 (7), (July), p. 26-28. The Teen Advisory Board (TAB) of the Mesa County Public Library in Grand Junction, Colorado eventually grew to 141 members. This article highlights the activities and success of the group. It includes "8 Tips for running a successful Teen Advisory Board."

Honnold, RoseMary. (2000). The Who, What, Where, When Why and How of Managing a Teen Advisory Board. This is a very helpful and thorough article including everything the title says. It also includes information about joining the listserv: Teen Advisory Groups - Advisory Discussion (TAGAD-L) A Discussion forum for the advisors of any public library teen advisory.

Matte, Lisa. (2001). Libraries and Teen Advisory Groups. I don't hesitate in dubbing Lisa Matte the queen of Teen Advisory Groups. Many other people point to her work for resources and I found out why. She works at the Jervis Public Library in Rome, New York. She brings together examples of TAG mission statement, projects and applications. She also highlights the listserv (TAGAD-L) Libraries and Teen Advisory Groups. See especially, Even for the Faint of Heart: Getting Teens to Participate in a Teen Advisory Group and Teen Web, where you can find all that is Lisa Matte influenced.

Mid-Hudson Library System: Teen Advisory Groups/Boards (TAGs/TABs).

Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Teen Volunteers and Advisory Boards. This includes all the nitty gritty for setting up an advisory board or working with teen volunteers. It includes no other links, but still good for inspiration and ideas.

YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) on YALSA wiki. Along with resources for starting TAGs, this great site includes a list of TAGs who have been spotlighted over the past years. They include an interview with the group advisors and their tips for resources on starting and maintaining a TAG.

Program Success
To evaluate the success of Teen Advisory Boards, I went back to the YALSA site and looked more closely at their list of TAG Spotlights. They have highlighted 5 different successful programs around the country. Some of the recurring points mentioned throughout the examples are listed here:

Recruitment success stories included: mention in the local press; tap into other youth organizations at school, churches, service clubs; ask teachers and librarians for referrals; regular patrons and teen volunteers; flyers everywhere; and peer promotion.
Don't treat them like kids and make sure to give them ownership of the process of deciding who they are and what they will do.
Recognize their busy schedules (especially the older high schoolers), be flexible, and use email to stay in contact.
Have a list of all the potential activities the group could do.
Make sure you have the support of library administration and fellow staff.