Involving young people in shaping library services is essential if libraries are to meet and reflect their interests and needs. Getting young people involved in meaningful involvement activities is not always easy for library staff. This section highlights why involving young people is important for young people, for the library service and for the wider community and identifies linkages which can be made with wider government policies and initiatives.

Benefits for young people

“I've definitely enjoyed the Book Pushers project. My confidence has improved, I've got presentation skills and I am becoming a critic” - Bookpusher in Derbyshire (See the case study about the Derbyshire Bookpushers, Word, 95.6kb)

By being involved in the library service, young people can develop skills and confidence in their own abilities. They can also take pride in knowing they are making a positive contribution to their local community. Young people involved in shaping library services also often report how much they feel valued and listened to. Increasingly young people may wish to gain some form of accreditation for their involvement activities. Others will value a simple certificate or a genuine thank you for the time they have given to the library. When you are developing your involvement activities, make sure that you consider what young people might get out of the activity as well as what the library service will get out of it.

Benefits for the library service

Finding out what young people really want from the library can help library staff to target their provision more effectively, ensuring limited resources are spent where they are most needed. Young people can help you:

to build a wide ranging collection. See these guidelines (Word, 78.9kb) about involving young people as stock selectors)
to create an environment where they feel comfortable (See these guidelines about young people shaping library spaces (Word, 77kb)and have a look too at the Making the Library Welcoming FAQs.)
to train staff so that they feel comfortable meeting the needs of young people . (See the training section of the Resource Library for case studies about young people as trainers.)
to develop a programme of activities which brings alive books and reading for them . (See the activities part of the Resource Library for case studies about young people planning and running library activities.)

Benefits for the local community

Young people consistently report that there are few facilities within their local community, which they are able to access for free. Consequently, many find the street corner or local park the only public places where they are able to 'hang out'. Developing the library as a community space where young people feel welcome and involved can help to reduce anti-social behaviour. It also gives young people the chance to show members of the wider community that they are able to make a positive contribution.

Links with wider Government initiatives

'By involving young people we can help to ensure that they will share ownership of decisions and use facilities and services responsibly.' Youth Matters

Involving young people is a key part of current government policy, featuring strongly in Every Child Matters and Youth Matters, as well as being a key part of the national libraries' programme Fulfilling their Potential. The opportunity to 'make a positive contribution' is one of the five outcomes of Every Child Matters. Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which the UK is a signatory, also enshrines the rights of all children to make their voices heard.

More recently, the Government has established an independent charity, known as We are V (launches new website) to increase the numbers of young people taking up volunteering opportunities.

Within the public library sector, community engagement is becoming an increasingly important driver for change. Many of the principles underpinning the active involvement of young people align with, and link to, community engagement.

It is important to have a clear understanding about what is real and effective involvement. You can explore your understanding in the next section: What is involvement?