TAG! This is it! How Local Libraries are Reading the Room on the Needs of the North State’s Youth

A love of community, learning and literature must be nurtured in encouraging environments to really thrive. And that is what lives at the heart of the TAG (Teen Advisory Group) program. TAG is an adaptive program designed to cultivate a love of reading, forge friendships and engage young minds in fun and productive ways.

Doing the Work of Making Teens Feel Heard.

This isn’t just grownups telling kids what to do. Glori Kidder, library assistant for the Chico branch of the Butte County Library, says, “Teen TAG members can advise us on what programs might be popular for teens. It’s their chance to have a voice in the library, like what kind of services they’d enjoy having, to build community and get to know each other.”

Juliae Parsons, library director for the Shasta Public Libraries, where the teen group is call the Teen Action Board (TAB), says, “Teens are getting volunteer hours for working with us. They tell us what they want and how we can better support them.” Drawn from locations throughout Shasta County, the Teen Action Board helps students and teens from the area connect with one another and discover their strengths.

When teenagers feel heard and welcomed, they get excited. Participation becomes teamwork, strengthening self-assuredness, leadership and social skills. This creates the framework for future successes, both individually and in collaboration with others.

“Through TAB, teens have the opportunity to grow, collaborate and learn valuable life skills in a supportive environment,” says Brooke Trzebiatowski, Shasta Library marketing coordinator.

Every participating location provides something a little different, since each TAG is shaped by the kids involved. “We’re asking them, ‘What interests you?’ It can be crazy stuff. TAG is their chance to express those things. We want to get ideas about where they’re at,” Glori says. “The more we can cater to teens, the more we can get other teens interested in coming to the library as well.”

TAG Has Big Goals for Budding Minds.

TAG offers opportunities for pre-teens and teenagers to interact, hone their voices and learn about themselves. Kids take charge of their journeys in a way that fosters confidence by giving them the space to identify their own strengths and passions in an environment that celebrates their creativity and innate gifts.

The benefits of nurturing these skills, as well as cultivating the courage to communicate, are far-reaching. Granting kids the chance to self-advocate presents an opportunity for growth that could set them on the right path for life. What it means to lead and to compromise are core lessons learned through cooperation. “They vote with each other and create their own bylaws and program plans,” says Juliae.

Learning how to stand by their own convictions and advocate for others matters. Whether it’s the strength to ask for a deserved promotion or refuse to go along with something that doesn’t feel right, the ability to use their own voice is essential to success and survival. And in a world evermore geared toward technology and isolation, these communal spaces and life skills pave the way to improved social skills and community engagement.

Even Serious Work Can Be Silly and Fun.

The people running these programs are as thrilled as the kids getting to participate and it shows. Their joy is infectious and that energy invites kids to be kids, even while crafting the interpersonal foundations they’ll need for their futures.

“Coming up with ideas and seeing them actualized has been really cool,” Glori says. “I was pleasantly surprised by how good the attendance was during TeenTober. Being able to come up with fun programs and seeing the teens really actively engage with them – that was really exciting.”

During TeenTober, the library was spooktacularly lively. “We had a scavenger hunt, a murder mystery, the Five Nights at Freddy’s game up on our projector – teens would take turns,” Glori says with bubbling mirth. “We had pizza and other food and drinks. And we had some different crafts that were Five Nights at Freddy’s themed. One of my favorites was Frankentoys. We took a bunch of thrifted toys and meshed them together to make it look spooky. It was really fun.”

Over at the Shasta Library, fun threads throughout their get-togethers, too. “They meet four times a month,” Juliae says. “The first Tuesday of the month is their business meeting. The second Tuesday is the community service meeting. They decide. They do park clean up, events and they make DIY projects to donate to the community. The third Tuesday, it’s creativity and skill-building.” Brooke adds, “Our goal is to provide teens with meaningful experiences that teach leadership, teamwork and community involvement.”

But it’s not all seriousness, as Julie points out. “The fourth Tuesday is their game night. They socialize, learn how to talk to other people and decide on games and movies to share.”

There’s Always Something New To Look Forward To With TAG.

New events are just around the corner. Teen Hangouts and Lock-Ins (after hours events just for teenagers) enrich and entertain kids in a safe and supportive environment.

Teen Hangout meets every month at the Chico Library on the second Friday from 3:30–5pm, and TAG meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 5–7pm. “For January,” Glori says, “we’ve got Teen Hangout, Friday, Jan.9 – that’s going to be Boardgame Blizzard. Next is Fandom Feb.13. The TAG activity for Feb. 25, from 5-7pm, will be the Jackbox Party Pack 7.”

With more events planned at Shasta and Butte County libraries well into the summer, along with new ideas spilling from young and engaged minds, there’s never a dull moment for teens involved in these programs.

Brianna is a literature and child-development enthusiast who has long loved public libraries. They often found refuge in the stacks throughout childhood and adolescence and delighted in sharing that magic with their own child.