State Library of Ohio - Ohio Libraries

In late 2005 a Youth Services Advisory Committee (YSAC) was formed at the State Library.  The charge read, "YSAC will advise the State Library on statewide issues concerning youth, youth services, and youth services staff".  At their first meeting in January 2006 YSAC focused on the current levels of continuing education of youth services staff -- if it was sufficient and if priorities of C.E. needed changed.  The group was also curious about the demographics of youth service providers.  They felt an overview of who is providing services to youth in Ohio as well as a needs asessment of C.E. and professional development needs should be conducted.  Those would assist them in giving direction and input to the State Library.

 

In August 2006 the State Library received a proposal from KSU-SLIS to conduct a research study.  The proposal was approved by the State Library Board in September 2006 and Dr. Belinda Boon, Assistant Professor at KSU-SLIS, began the study.

 

The State Library received the final report, “Assessing the Training and Professional Development Needs of Ohio Public Library Staff Serving Children and Youth” in early fall 2007.  Dr. Boon presented her findings to the State Library Board at the October 25, 2007 meeting.

The study had three objectives: 1. To give a clearer picture of who is providing library services to Ohio youth, 2.To determine how many youth services staff working in Ohio public libraries have MLIS degrees, and 3. To determine the most crucial training needs of these librarians.  Survey data was collected from 576 librarians representing 287 Ohio public library buildings. 

Findings indicated that youth services librarian demographics reflect the professional as a whole.  The typical youth services librarian is a female, between the ages of 40 and 60, and has worked more than six years in her current library.  A high percentage if youth services librarians, 44.4%, have an MLIS degree. 

The study divided training needs into children’s services and teen services.  However, there was much overlap.  There were four areas where additional training was perceived as being needed.  These were:  “traditional” library services, technology training, an understanding of and relationship with the population served, and a desire to cooperate and partners with other organizations serving children and teens. 

Dr. Boon recommended that the State Library of Ohio, the Ohio Library Council, and the Regional Library Systems coordinate their training for youth services staff.  She also suggested they focus on the following areas:  Traditional library skills, developmentally appropriate programming, early literacy and early childhood development,  establishing and maintaining library/community partnerships, customer service skills, encouraging teen involvement in the library, marketing library services for teens, and advocating for teens with library management.  She also recommended that the State Library of Ohio, the Ohio Library Council, and Kent State University work together to recruit minority youth services librarians. 

The complete report can be downloaded as a pdf at:  www.library.ohio.gov\publib\YouthServicesFinalReport.pdf