A study by University of Chicago researchers suggests that communities, especially in low-income areas, should figure out how their public libraries can play larger roles in enhancing teenagers’ academic and social skills.
Read an executive summary of “New on the Shelf: Teens in the Library—Findings from the Evaluation of Public Libraries as Partners in Youth Development,” from Chapin Hall.
The study examined nine library sites in Baltimore; Charlotte, N.C.; Fort Bend, Texas; Issaquah, Wash.; New York City; Oakland, Calif.; Philadelphia; Reno, Nev.; and Tuscon, Ariz.
The researchers point out that although nearly a fourth of library patrons are generally teenagers, libraries traditionally have devoted proportionately less of their space, personnel, and financial resources to services for those in that age range.
