Mayville Library Tries to Keep Teens Interested

(Adobe Stock via Prairie News Service)

(By Mike Moen. Prairie News Service) – Staffers at public libraries said it is not easy to convince teens to keep coming back to their branches when they have digital tools and other entertainment options at their disposal but a local spot in North Dakota reflects a renewed push to stay engaged with adolescents.

This October is recognized as “TeenTober,” a nationwide celebration to promote innovative ways libraries are connecting with middle and high school age kids.

Lexi Whitehorn, director of the Mayville Public Library, said programming often centers around reading comprehension for young kids. She argued it is important but added young adults need a place to lean on trusted resources to help decipher all the new information they are absorbing.

“A lot of our focus and education should be more on that informational literacy,” Whitehorn contended. “So that they can understand the world around them.”