A fellow librarian handed me an article this morning from this past Sunday's Boston Globe titled, "Come for the xbox, stay for the books". A few hours later as I was browsing the most recent issue of School Library Journal and I came upon an article titled, "Standing Room Only." They got me thinking. Both articles were addressing the hooks we librarians use to get teens into the library. I started contemplating all the services we offer at our library such as a room just for teens housing computers with Internet access and video game programs. Then I thought about the affect this has had on the library environment. While some may view the noises emitted from the teen room as a disturbance, I see it as a sign that we are doing something right. We're reaching an underserved population and building a relationship with teens that will create life long library users. We're demonstrating our commitment to the community at large. When we have 12 kids waiting to use a computer, while the noise can sometimes distracting, it's a distraction I'm willing to work with if it means we're engaging one of the toughest to reach populations.

For those of you who may think teens have free reign of our fine establishment, I do want make you aware of our Teen Room Code of Conduct created to help keep the peace, and make our library an environment suitable to all ages.

Teen Room Code of Conduct
While in the library you must be occupied with a library related activity and not just 'hanging out'.

Examples of acceptable library behavior:
*reading *doing homework *quietly playing a game *using a computer

Keep the noise level down. No shouting.

Follow the posted computer use guidelines.

Food and drink are only allowed in the library lobby and new book area.

No roughhousing. No swearing. No throwing objects.

No writing on and/or defacing library property.

Violation of these guidelines may result in a loss of privileges and/or expulsion from the library.