An annual MLS event bringing together librarians who serve and work with teens in their libraries in a day of keynote presentations and breakout sessions.
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Ninth Annual Teen Summit on Tuesday October 17, 2017 10:00AM-4:00PM at the Beechwood Hotel in Worcester, MA
The “real world” is now for teens – how can teen librarians help prepare them for life outside of the library? Join us for the Ninth Annual Teen Summit where you’ll engage in such topics as mental health, civic engagement, social justice, and programming for today’s teens. Our special guests include representatives from local start-up Eduporium to share tools and toys for STEM and maker education, and our keynote speaker, Danielle Allen, Director of Harvard’s Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University and author of Cuz: the life and times of Michael A, speaking about civic engagement and teens in society. Co-Sponsored with the Rhode Island Office of Library & Information Services (ROLIS) http://www.olis.ri.gov/
Presented by Brigid Alverson, Writer & Editor, SLJ’s Good Comics for Kids
This breakout session with acclaimed SLJ reviewer and journalist, Brigid Alverson, will focus on new and notable graphic novel titles published in the mainstream adult market, but that have great teen appeal. You'll walk away with a big list of books to add to your collection and to your "must read" list. Brigid is the editor of the Good Comics for Kids blog, was a judge for the 2012 Eisner Awards, and is assistant to the mayor of Melrose, Massachusetts.
Presented by Anita Cellucci, Library Teacher, Westborough High School, MA & Jennifer McGrath, Teen Librarian, Westborough Public Library, MA
Mental Health is an issue in schools around the nation. We live in a time when depression and anxiety are at an all-time high among our youth, Massachusetts towns are all affected by this national trend. As early treatment offers the best results for recovery, it is imperative to provide educational programming that will bring knowledge, awareness, and empathy to the issue. Participants will discuss in‐depth issues surrounding mental health. Focus for discussion will center around breaking stigma, reaching out to the community, and the role that libraries can serve in the mental health crisis.
Presented by New Urban Arts, Providence, RI
What basic practices can you instill in your program and organization to better ensure high school students feel safe and valued? During this interactive presentation, participants will be asked to engage in creating a safe space for learning. Please come prepared with questions around issues of safe spaces for older youth. What are your concerns around issues high school students may be facing right now that impact their feelings of safety? Founded in 1997, New Urban Arts is a nationally‐recognized community arts studio for high school students and emerging arts in Providence, Rhode Island. Our mission is to build a vital community that empowers young people as arts and leaders to develop a creative practice they can sustain throughout their lives.
Presented by Bettiann McKay, Coordinator of Acquisitions; and Jamie Glass, Library Assistant for Access Services, Lesley University, Cambridge MA
For Lesley University’s annual Community of Scholars Day, we offered a hands‐on zine‐making workshop that focused on zines for and about social justice. Since zines have a history of giving voice to the underrepresented—they speak for their time, are personal and unedited, and deal with topics not covered by mainstream publications—we encouraged our participants to create individual pages for a group zine on social justice issues. Learn how to lead your own teen zine‐making workshop focused on social justice. There will be time & materials to work on a zine of your own. All levels of creativity welcome!
Sample Zines
Teen/YA Books Featuring Zines
Moxie by 
The First Rule of Punk by Emily Bredberg, Media Specialist, Shrewsbury High School, MA
Emily will share collaborative project successes between the Shrewsbury High School Media Center and the Science and Art Departments such as SHS Covers the Classics project, where students in a digital art class designed new book covers for classic literature and an engineering class designed obstacle courses for a Sphero Robot challenge held in the Media Center.
Robin Brenner, Teen Librarian, Brookline Public Library, MA
Robin will share tips on how to successfully host large‐scale, library wide programs like themed festivals and mini‐golf. An active member of YALSA, she has served on multiple awards committees and is the editor‐in‐chief of the graphic novel review website No Flying No Tights.
Kelsey Crossley, Teen Librarian, Westerly Library and Wilcox Park, RI & Stephanie Barta, Children's Librarian, Louttit Library in West Greenwich, RI
Stymied by how to get teens into the library for book clubs? Well, your solution may rest with partnering with your local bookstore! We'll cover how we went about our collaboration, advertising to teens, and how we run the meetings.
"Youth in Democracy" with Danielle Allen
Danielle Allen, James Bryant Conant University Professor and Director of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University, is a political theorist who has published broadly in democratic theory, political sociology, and the history of political thought. Professor Allen’s current work focuses on the connection between education and democratic equality, as well as the significance of political equality for theoretical accounts of justice.
Danielle Allen's new book, Cuz: The Life and Times of Michael A., relays the story of her cousin Michael, arrested at 15 for an attempted carjacking. Tried as an adult, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Allen, who was raised in a university town, contrasts the opportunities afforded her in childhood that were lacking in Michael's.
Listen to a WBUR interview with Danielle about the book Cuz here.
Eduporium is an expert reseller of STEM/STEAM and MakerEd innovative technology. Our mission is to empower teachers and students with the skills of tomorrow. We believe in the supporting role of tech products in Inquiry-based learning and cross-curriculum implementation. We search, research and evaluate cutting-edge technology in order to help educators select the right tools for their students. Our programs are designed to meet your needs: customized bundling of tech products, challenges and instructions for mobile Maker kits,lending library of innovative tech, communication portal, Tech Petting Zoo, and tech affordability. We hope that these tools in your hands will spark student-centered, active learning.
9:00 am Registration. Coffee sponsored by Eduporium (Please note there will be no breakfast served this year)
Visit Eduporium tables throughout the day for their tech petting zoo.
10:00 am Welcome from MLS & RIOLIS
10:15-11:15 am Keynote: “Youth in Democracy" - Danielle Allen
11:30 - 12:30 pm Breakout Session One
A. “Great Adult Graphic Novels for Teens” with Brigid Alverson
B. “Breaking Mental Health Stigma” with Anita Cellucci and Jen McGrath
12:30-1:30 pm Lunch (cost of lunch is included in your registration fee)
1:30-2:30 pm Breakout Session Two
A. “Creating Safe Space for High School Youth” with New Urban Arts
B. “Be Zine and Be Heard” with Bettiann McKay and Jamie Glass
2:45- 4:00 pm Program Power Panel
"Out of the Box Collaborations" with Emily Bredberg
"How to Host Library-Wide Programs" with Robin Brenner
"In-House Teen Puppet Troupe: Crazy Yet Possible" with Marie Coady
"iMAJEHN: Using ARCs for Teen Book Clubs" with Kelsey Crossley