News for PA Libraries
The Office of Commonwealth Libraries is offering Transforming Teen Services, a professional development framework focusing on youth development for youth ages 8-18, an initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) in partnership with Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA), funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). These module workshops are open to all school and public library staff and volunteers who provide service to youth ages 8-18.
Library teen services enhance civic and culture engagement, facilitate lifelong learning, promote digital inclusion, and support economic vitality. Staff who participate in these module workshops will gain skills in articulating the value of work they do for and with teens, building equity in teen services, and understanding the needs of teens in their local communities.
Four module workshops are available to Pennsylvania library staff. All module workshops will have both synchronous and asynchronous components with information and resources provided via engaging discussion and curriculum content in the Pennsylvania Library Staff Academy. Participants may attend any or all workshops. These virtual sessions will take place via the Microsoft Teams meeting platform.
Please watch the Compendium for updates on how you can join these collaborative and engaging discussions.
Transforming Teen Services module workshops will be offered to Pennsylvania library staff in 2026. Module series include synchronous and asynchronous components, with information and resources provided through engaging discussions and curriculum content in the Pennsylvania Library Staff Academy. Participants may attend any or all of the workshops. These virtual sessions will take place via the Microsoft Teams meeting platform.
Connected Learning,
Through understanding tween and teen interest, asset mapping, and making connections, library staff can support youth development and college and career readiness skills. This six part module workshop series will help participants to explore the principles of connected learning and how to put theory into practice.
Anticipated outcomes include:
Over the course of the series, participants will engage in large group discussions, breakout discussions, and collaborative activities to explore how to leverage relationships, interests and opportunities through asset mapping, service assessment, and action planning.
Computational Thinking
Breaking down problems, looking for patterns, and identifying solutions are all essential critical thinking skills for youth and can be supported with library programs and services. This six part module workshop series will help participants to engage in hands-on experiences and discussions on what computational thinking is and how it can be integrated into teen activities.
Anticipated outcomes include:
Over the course of the series, participants will engage in large group discussions, breakout discussions, and collaborative activities to explore the concepts of decomposition, abstraction, pattern recognition, and algorithms in real life and library services.
Ages and Stages of Youth Development
In order to work effectively with youth, library staff need a basic understanding of how youth develop, their needs, and their assets. This six part module workshop series summarizes key child and youth development research and focused on how to create programs that are appropriate for youth.
Outcomes:
The Pursuit of Educational Equity
Educational equity is a foundational concept for working with youth, especially young adults as they explore their identities. This six part module workshop series helps learners to develop an internal foundation toward an equity mindset to support teen services for libraries.
Outcomes:
The Office of Commonwealth Libraries is implementing 8-8TEEN Quarterly Conversations, a series of virtual community of practice sessions to discuss all aspects of library services for youth ages 8-18 in Pennsylvania. These conversations are open to all library staff and volunteers providing services to young people, including school librarians and library school students. These virtual sessions will be held via the Zoom meeting platform.
The goal of the community of practice sessions is to empower library staff to deliver effective, community-focused programs, services, and resources for youth ages 8-18 and their families and caregivers. These sessions will provide a platform to exchange knowledge, experiences, and best practices within and between libraries across the state enhancing the programs and services offered. While there will be general guiding questions, conversation topics, and breakout rooms, these sessions will be dedicated to free-flowing discussion, human-centered solutions, and relationship building for library staff.
The August 2025 8-8TEEN Quarterly Conversation will be announced via the Compendium at a later date.
Participants are strongly encouraged to have access to a working camera and microphone as the purpose of these conversations are to connect and collaborate in active dialogue rather than simply listening, receiving information, and instructional content.
Who can participate in these opportunities?
Participation is open to all individuals committed to library service for youth ages 8-18. This includes staff from public libraries, volunteers, library directors, school librarians, and library school students concerned with all aspects of library service to youth.
How will the conversations benefit participants?
The conversations are designed to be dynamic information exchange sessions, facilitating the sharing of best practices, innovative ideas, and successful strategies for tween and teen services in libraries. Participants will build valuable professional connections with colleagues across the state, collaborate with peers to address common challenges and explore innovative solutions, and develop understanding and confidence about engaging with tween and teens in their communities.
Do I need a working microphone and camera to participate in either opportunity?
While not explicitly required, it’s extremely helpful to have access to a working microphone and camera. Sessions are highly participatory with group conversation, breakouts, and collaborative activities. While participants are learning about serving teens, building professional relationships with one another in a supportive environment is a fundamental element of communities of practice.
Will the sessions for either opportunity be recorded?
No, the sessions will not be recorded. We encourage active participation and engagement during the live sessions to foster dynamic discussions and knowledge sharing among participants.
Why should I participate in a Transforming Teen Services module workshops?
The Transforming Teen Services curriculum has deep impact on individual library staff, library services, and tween and teen youth. Participants develop knowledge about how to work with teens, develop a positive mindset about teen interactions, and engage in discussions about issues of equity impacting their community and teens. For more information on the impact of this opportunity, view the 2023 Evaluation Summary on this YALSA and COSLA sponsored and IMLS-funded project.
Why should I participate in 8-8TEEN Quarterly Conversations?
The 8-8TEEN Quarterly Conversations are Pennsylvania’s opportunity to engage in deep, free-flowing conversation about library programs and services to youth ages 8-18. Similar to the Early Childhood Conversations (ECCs), these conversations will focus on empowering library staff to deliver the most excellent and equitable library services to their communities with a foundation of community engagement, collaboration, and compassion. A central anticipated outcome of these conversations is relationship building amongst library staff.
Can I participate in more than one Transforming Teen Services module workshop series?
Yes, participants are invited to engage in any or all module workshops. While attendees have the flexibility to choose any or all module workshops, we highly encourage you to attend all dates within the selected module workshop, as each session is designed to progressively build on the previous, providing a comprehensive and enriching conversation.
Can I get a Continuing Education Certificate for attending either opportunity?
Participants will receive a Transforming Teen Services certificate of completion for all modules attended. CE will not be offered for the 8-8TEEN Quarterly Conversations.