Ways we found to help keep uncontrollable teens under control in the library.

1. Independence, Kansas

2. 13,500 District

3. Life was Simple
9,600 Square Feet

4. MEGA Library
308 % Increase in Public Space

5. Grand Opening February 10, 2007
1,500

6. GREAT EXPECTATIONS

7. Mission Statement
To provide quality materials and
services which fulfill
educational, informational,
cultural, and recreational
needs of the entire community
in an atmosphere that is
welcoming, respectful, and
businesslike.

8. Picture This...

9. Teen Study Groups

10. Teen Advisory Board

11. We Wished Teens Would Love
the New Library

12. YA SPACE was Born$8,000 In New YA BooksCool SeatingGaming Computers

13. Be Careful What You Wish For

14. We Wanted Kids
We Got Kids

15. WELCOME
TO OUR

16. NIGHTMARE

17. It Starts at

18. We become infested with...

19. Teenagers

20. With ATTITUDE

21. We Still had a Staff of
Only 10

22. So Handling the Teens Fell
On My Shoulders

23. The Kids Were Running Amuck
Spitting on Patrons from the Atrium
Destroying the New Elevator
Carving Names & Gang Symbols into New
Furniture
Using Restrooms for Inappropriate Behavior
I was Cursed At, Threatened and my House
was Egged

25. No Interest in Joining the
Teen Advisory Board

26. No Funds for a YA
Librarian

27. We wondered...
What would motivate kids
more than anything else

28. MONEY

29. THE FRIENDS OF
THE LIBRARY
CAME TO OUR
RESCUE

30. “I Come To Save the Day”
“With
Carrots!”
Diane Hight
Friends President
F

31. in
the
form
of

32. $100.00
Ten $10.00 Bills
$100.00$100.00

33. Each Month
For 4 Months

34. JUSTIN TIME
Justin Time 03-01-07
331-3311 Miss
Prissy
04/01/08

35. Names Went into the
Monthly Drawing to Win
CASH

36. The Problem Was

37. Good Kids Kept Being Good

38. Bad Kids Kept Being Bad
“Gotcha fooled
Sucka!”

39. The staff was worn out, stressed
out, and ready to scream

40. So Who Ya Gonna Call?

41. PubLib...
KanLib...

42. We got some great advice....

43. We realized then
that we were not alone

44. Some of the Advice
We Already Tried...

45. We Tried Reasoning with Them

46. That did not work...

47. We Tried
Zero Tolerance

48. Giving One
Warning Instead of Three
Then Kicking Them Out
You *^#@**$(#& !!!

49. Some things have worked...

50. We Called the Police
for Out of Control Teens

51. The Word Must Have Spread
If We Say “Police”
They Take Off

52. We Limited their Computer Use
Only Two Kids at a Computer at a Time
Reduced Time from 1 Hour to 30 Minutes
Only Use Computers We Can Monitor

53. April Nut, Chairperson
Our Board Approved a new
Behavior Policy

54. View or Print our
Behavior Policy
from Our Website

55. www.iplks.org

56. The Best Advice
was from
Manhattan Public Library

58. www.iplks.org

59. So When a Kid Acts Bad

61. TAKE HOME...GIVE TO PARENT/GUARDIAN...BRING BACK
Before Reentry

62. When we encourage proper
behavior...
We encourage success

63. Things Were Better
BUT...

64. We Needed Another Carrot

65. Friends to the
Rescue
Diane Hight, Friends President
F
Again!

66. Must Have Proper Library Behavior

67. Teens Know What Proper Behavior is...
And our Behavior Policy is Posted

68. When the Kids Heard About
the Wii

69. It was Like a New Dawn

70. We saw an Immediate
Improvement in Behavior

71. The Kids Love It!

72. Get Loud!

73. Must Check Out Two Books

74. It is working...

75. Attendance
82
6
@
Gaming Events

76. Suggestions

77. Take Action Early

78. Create a Behavior Policy

79. Train All
Staff
on how to
handle trouble
You gonna make me?

80. Hold a Board Meeting
during your

81. Create an Unattended
Children Brochure

82. Ask for Parents’ Help

83. Stick to the Facts
Be Respectful
Stay Calm

84. We all want what is Best
for their Child and the
Library

85. Too old for daycare
Too young to be on their own
We all want them to be safe

86. But EVERYONE
Must Follow the Behavior Policy

87. Ask the Schools for Help
yearbooks put names with faces

88. Ask Fellow Librarians
for Help

89. Most Days...are Peaceful

90. At Least Until Next Year
When the New Crop Invades