Teen Library Events?

Howdy strangers!  Long time and all that, eh?
   Some random thoughts on library events for teens.
   So, in the summer I asked a bunch of teens, "What nights - or days during the school year- are best for teen events?"  And the answer I got was "Never on a school night."  "Saturdays in the day - not so good."

Well, this leaves me in a bind since the library is only open Mon. through Thur. nights and it closes at 5 on Fri. and Sat.  So, I countered, "Would you come out for an event on a Friday night?"
And the answer was an enthusiastic, "Yes!"
OR so I remember. 

Last night, I held my first ever school year "after hours" teen program on a Friday.  (I have held two Saturday night programs during the school year in my 2 decades at this library.  They were not well attended.  Summer Saturdays are better.)
Last night, the presenter did a fine job of marshaling the creative juices of the audience and we wrote the first verse and chorus of a song! The event was fun and well prepared and carried out.  A Songwriting Workshop with a knowledgeable and experienced musician, who has a degree in music and broadcasting experience - this should bring in a lot of teens, right?. How many teens signed up?  A mere handful, alas.  How many showed up?  Half of those who signed up.  There was food and I gave out door prizes - including a guitar strap with the name of the band, "My Chemical Romance" etched on it.  (Oh and a pirate pistol!!! and Burt's Bees lip gloss and a couple of books and some other stuff.) 

I'm blaming the lack of teen presence on football.  And in January, the excuse will be the weather.   In the spring, there is soccer and SAT prep and prom and date nights and the mall.  There's always the mall.  I'm thinking that the library is just not where the teens in our library's service area want to be "after hours".  UNLESS, I let them dress up in costumes and scare little kids....OR stay up all night reading and making me insane.    Hmmm, insurance nightmare?  OR mental nightmare? Which should I choose?

It's a conundrum.  That's what it is.  HOWEVER, the lyrics of the song will be posted on this blog on Monday because they were GOOD (if I do say so myself).  Perhaps, we can have a contest to see who can write the best second and third verses.  I recorded most of the song with my little pocket sized video camera and if the musician agrees, I might post that here as well.  Just so you know how the melody goes.

 In the meantime, I will continue my attempts to offer meaningful, fun teen events that teens will actually attend. Wish me luck.
Oh, I want to make sure you don't get the wrong idea. Our library is FULL of teens, reading, working on school stuff, and volunteering.  They are in and out of the YS office all the time.  If they can get volunteer hours for an event, I can gather a huge bunch of them.  But no credit, no show. Sigh.  What happened to FUN?