FW: [OPLINLIST] Rowdy kids in force--
Gerry Vogel
GVogel@daytonmetrolibrary.org
Mon, 26 Sep 2005 14:59:12 -0400
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Forwarding to OPLINList comments from my wife the YA libarrian:
=20
--
=20
When I had this problem at a library is used to work at, the only thing
that really worked (eliminated the problem) was getting off duty
policemen to work security for the library. Unfortunately, that also
caused other problems, like scared them away for good.
=20
I sort of made an effort to try to talk to these kids and get their
story. They each had similar problems; kicked out of home for not
obeying ther rules, living with friends or on the street. A few of them
were young adults (19, 20, 21), who had no career or focus, so they
would just hang out with the kids they used to know from HS. I think
kids in this situation are used to people kicking them out of
everything; home, school, jobs, and would expect you to kick them out of
the library too. If you can try to take the time to get to know them
and spend some time showing concern in their lives, that does a lot to
gain their respect and interest. I am not saying it's easy though, and
not everyone is good at talking to kids pegged by society as
"troublemakers". I feel for you. =20
=20
I have heard of other libraries where amazing things were done to deal
with the runaway youth problem in their community. King County Library
System in Washington were once known for transforming a local rec center
into a place open until midnight on Friday and Sat. nights where they
had library programming, and fun activities. However, I can't seem to
find any info on this place when I look on their web page, so perhaps it
had to close.
=20
It's obvious that these kids need a place to go where there are people
who take an interest in them, and allow them to hang out without
criticism. So, if you can address that need in any way, you will make
steps in getting them on your side. One easy way is to allow them to
hang out in your meeting room. Show a movie (on e that you can get
permission to show. Like some anime flick that isn't too childish.
Anime is easy to show in public places.) Or just play music, invite
them in, and have pizza and chips. =20
=20
However, be prepared for this to become an ongoing problem. There is no
easy solution. You need staff that isn't afraid to interact with these
kids, and you need safe places that they can call their own. If you
don't have a YA Librarian, well, perhaps you need to look into getting
one if you are having these types of problems. Obviously there is a
need. If you would like to talk more about this problem, please feel
free to email me at vvannucci@daytonmetrolibrary.org
=20
Victoria Vogel
Reference Librarian
Kettering-Moraine Branch
Dayton Metro Library
3496 Far Hills
Kettering, OH 45419
937-227-9509
--
-----Original Message-----
From: oplinlist-admin@oplin.org [mailto:oplinlist-admin@oplin.org] On
Behalf Of Alison J. Gibson
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2005 12:56 PM
To: oplinlist@oplin.org
Subject: [OPLINLIST] Rowdy kids in force--
Hello Oplinlisters--
I'm open to suggestions on civil but effective methods of handling
small 'gangs' of 8-15 early to late teenagers that have started to hang
out at the library, and it isn't to read. We've politely informed them
of the rules of behavior, we've asked them for i.d. (amazingly, they are
all orphaned Jane and John Does without a home...)--unfortunately, we
don't know their names. I've talked to the police and they are willing
to stop in occasionally, but it's a rough crowd we haven't dealt with
before. They intimidate younger kids, and I've had adults look
concerned. Also, although I can't prove that they are the culprits,
we've had petty thefts of supplies since they've started coming in.
Asking/telling them to leave only gets you flip answers and they'll go
out one door only to come in on another floor. Offering them activities
is laughed at-- Sigh. So, what has worked for you? I can hope it is a
moon phase and they will tire of it, but I'm losing patrons and patience
in the meantime.
Thanks for your time--
Alison Gibson
Union Township Public Library
Ripley
gibsonal@oplin.org
_______________________________________________
OPLINLIST mailing list
OPLINLIST@oplin.org
http://mail.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplinlist
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<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3DCourier><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Courier;color:navy'>Forwarding to OPLINList comments =
from my
wife the YA libarrian:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3DCourier><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Courier;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p=
>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3DCourier><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Courier;color:navy'>--<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div id=3DidOWAReplyText34947>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>When I had this problem at a =
library is
used to work at, the only thing that really worked (eliminated the =
problem) was
getting off duty policemen to work security for the =
library.
Unfortunately, that also caused other problems, like scared them away =
for good.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I sort of made an effort to try to talk to these kids =
and
get their story. They each had similar problems; kicked out of =
home for
not obeying ther rules, living with friends or on the street. A =
few of
them were young adults (19, 20, 21), who had no career or focus, so they =
would
just hang out with the kids they used to know from HS. I think =
kids in
this situation are used to people kicking them out of everything; home, =
school,
jobs, and would expect you to kick them out of the library too. If =
you
can try to take the time to get to know them and spend some time showing
concern in their lives, that does a lot to gain their respect and
interest. I am not saying it's easy though, and not everyone is =
good at
talking to kids pegged by society as "troublemakers". I =
feel
for you. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I have heard of other libraries where amazing things =
were
done to deal with the runaway youth problem in their community. =
King
County Library System in Washington were once known for transforming a =
local
rec center into a place open until midnight on Friday and Sat. nights =
where
they had library programming, and fun activities. However, I can't =
seem
to find any info on this place when I look on their web page, so perhaps =
it had
to close.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>It's obvious that these kids need a place to go where =
there
are people who take an interest in them, and allow them to hang out =
without
criticism. So, if you can address that need in any way, you will =
make
steps in getting them on your side. One easy way is to allow them =
to hang
out in your meeting room. Show a movie (on e that you can get =
permission
to show. Like some anime flick that isn't too childish. =
Anime is
easy to show in public places.) Or just play music, invite them =
in, and
have pizza and chips. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>However, be prepared for this to become an ongoing
problem. There is no easy solution. You need staff that =
isn't
afraid to interact with these kids, and you need safe places that they =
can call
their own. If you don't have a YA Librarian, well, perhaps you =
need to
look into getting one if you are having these types of problems.
Obviously there is a need. If you would like to talk more about =
this
problem, please feel free to email me at <a
href=3D"mailto:vvannucci@daytonmetrolibrary.org">vvannucci@daytonmetrolib=
rary.org</a></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<div id=3DidSignature4864>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Victoria =
Vogel</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Reference Librarian</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Kettering-Moraine Branch</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on"><font =
size=3D2
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Dayton</span></font></st1:pl=
ace></st1:City><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> Metro
Library</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>3496 Far Hills</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City w:st=3D"on"><font =
size=3D2
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Kettering</span></font></st1=
:City><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>, <st1:State
w:st=3D"on">OH</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode =
w:st=3D"on">45419</st1:PostalCode></span></font></st1:place><o:p></o:p></=
p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>937-227-9509</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p style=3D'margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>--</span></font><font =
size=3D2><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'><br>
<br>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: oplinlist-admin@oplin.org [<a =
href=3D"mailto:oplinlist-admin@oplin.org">mailto:oplinlist-admin@oplin.or=
g</a>]
On Behalf Of Alison J. Gibson<br>
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2005 12:56 PM<br>
To: oplinlist@oplin.org<br>
Subject: [OPLINLIST] Rowdy kids in force--<br>
<br>
Hello Oplinlisters--<br>
<br>
I'm open to suggestions on civil but effective =
methods of
handling<br>
small 'gangs' of 8-15 early to late teenagers that have started to =
hang<br>
out at the library, and it isn't to read. We've politely informed =
them<br>
of the rules of behavior, we've asked them for i.d. (amazingly, they =
are<br>
all orphaned Jane and John Does without a home...)--unfortunately, =
we<br>
don't know their names. I've talked to the police and they are =
willing<br>
to stop in occasionally, but it's a rough crowd we haven't dealt =
with<br>
before. They intimidate younger kids, and I've had =
adults
look<br>
concerned. Also, although I can't prove that they are the =
culprits,<br>
we've had petty thefts of supplies since they've started coming =
in.<br>
Asking/telling them to leave only gets you flip answers and =
they'll go<br>
out one door only to come in on another floor. Offering them =
activities<br>
is laughed at-- Sigh. So, what has worked for you? I can hope it =
is a<br>
moon phase and they will tire of it, but I'm losing patrons and =
patience<br>
in the meantime.<br>
<br>
Thanks for your time--<br>
Alison Gibson<br>
<st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Union</st1:PlaceName> =
<st1:PlaceType
w:st=3D"on">Township</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> Public Library<br>
Ripley<br>
gibsonal@oplin.org<br>
<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
OPLINLIST mailing list<br>
OPLINLIST@oplin.org<br>
<a =
href=3D"http://mail.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplinlist">http://mail.opl=
in.org/mailman/listinfo/oplinlist</a></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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