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This book discusses the benefits of working with teens to create technology-related library programs for them and for other patrons.

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Library Journal Review

Braun, an educational technology consultant with LEO: Librarians and Educators Online and author of Hooking Teens with the Net, offers ideas and planning tools for encouraging youth participation in libraries by involving young people in technology-related projects. Using the Search Institute's philosophy of "developmental assets," an approach that has become increasingly popular in youth services literature, Braun emphasizes the importance of including young people in every stage of the planning and implementation process. The projects she outlines include having young adults build web sites for the library board or Friends group; organizing chat sessions about library policies and services; creating online tutorials to teach seniors or kids how to use computers; teaching younger kids how to add online pictures to reports; developing fan sites and book-related web logs (blogs); producing email newsletters for the library; and researching wireless technology and making recommendations to the library administration. Each project is accompanied by a checklist for designating responsibilities and following through on necessary steps, but much of the other information (about developmental assets and levels of participation) is repeated with each project and might have been better left to an appendix. Many of the projects are described in general terms, discussing why kids might be interested in such a project and what they might get out of it. An appendix lists examples of six organizations that have used youth participation in technology projects; only two of them are libraries. Braun's book would have benefited from more detailed profiles of actual library programs to demonstrate how such projects might actually work. Many public libraries, for example, are bound by their municipality's overall technology plan and must depend upon nonlibrary staff to upgrade or alter the library's computer services. While Braun does address these sorts of stumbling blocks, she does so only superficially. Still, there are enough good ideas here to inspire librarians to adapt some of the projects to their own circumstances. Libraries that have the resources and institutional support for new technology projects will find this a source of good ideas and practical suggestions for involving young people in library services.-Rachel Q. Davis, Thomas Memorial Lib., Cape Elizabeth, ME (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

School Library Journal Review

In this clear and informative title, Braun encourages librarians to involve teens in technology-related activities and projects that will benefit them and others. She responds to questions regarding participation, benefits to patrons and libraries, and training. The author provides numerous suggestions for activities (book-oriented blogs, fan sites, online tutorials, e-mail newsletters, etc.), and templates for specific programs. For each program outlined, she answers the who, what, where, and why of youth involvement and includes a thorough responsibility checklist. Chapters also deal with overcoming obstacles to achieve success. Appendixes include a list of the National Youth Participation Guidelines (YALSA), a "Youth Participation Technology Checklist," samples of volunteer and self-assessment forms, and suggestions for software. This excellent volume is a must for libraries with teen groups, and a consideration for those that don't have them.-Jana R. Fine, Clearwater Public Library System, FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.