What do teenagers really want? : investigating both sides of young adult services

Abstract

This study examines the provision of young adult library services in New Zealand from the perspective of both young adults and the specialists who serve them. Two focus groups were conducted with teenagers, and an interview held with the young adult librarian of the public library in the same city. From the focus groups three major themes emerged: teenagers attitudes towards libraries are coloured by a perception that library staff are predominantly concerned with enforcing rules; current library designs fail to allocate space in which teenagers can "be themselves" by eating, talking and listening to music; and that the primary appeal of the library for many teenagers, but technology, in the form of computers for information and recreation. A comparison with the comments of the young adult librarian revealed a strong awareness of staff as an issue, but very peripheral awareness of the importance of technology and library design.