YALSA: National Teen Space Guidelines

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association, has published “National Teen Space Guidelines,” a set of standards for creating quality public library spaces for teens. The guidelines are based on the following nine points:

Physical Space:

1. Solicit teen feedback and input in the design and creation of the teen space.
2. Provide a library environment that encourages emotional, social, intellectual development of teens.
3. Provide a library space for teens that reflects the community in which they live.
4. Provide and promote materials that support the educational and leisure needs of teens.
5. Ensure the teen space has appropriate acceptable use and age policies to make teens feel welcome and safe.
6. Provide furniture and technology that is practical yet adaptive.

Virtual Space:

7. Ensure content, access and use is flexible and adaptive.
8. Ensure the virtual space reflects 21^st century learning standards.
9. Provide digital resources for teens that meet their unique and specific needs.

The document can be viewed at:

http://www.ala.org/yalsa/sites/ala.org.yalsa/files/content/guidelines/guidelines/teenspaces.pdf