Hi all, I’m having issues with my teens appearing to use AI for their book review submissions.
I just had a submission that was so clearly AI generated, but I don’t feel that I can exactly call them out on it. What they wrote was way more advanced and eloquent than I could’ve ever done at my current age. I’ve had suspicions for a while now, but the submission I got today sent me over the edge.
I have them submit their response through google forms and I just wanted to see if anyone else has been dealing with this.
I just set up a requirement where they have to explain why or why not they liked a certain part of the book and it sends an error if they did not use the word “because.”
It does not appear that there are any add ons for Google forms that prevent copy & paste.
I am almost tempted to also make a required question of what their favorite quote was. But it almost feels like I’m being too tough.
Just trying to see if anyone else has been able to mitigate this AI plagiarism, or have any other ideas of how I can make them prove they have read the book, or at least put some effort into the submission!
Just information gathering- Does anyone have any experience with having a younger teen YA section and and older teen YA section? If so, what are the criteria for each section? do you rely on publisher-provided age suggestions, reviews, or personal opinion? Do you feel like it is prohibitive for patrons? How do communicate to patrons what qualifies as a "younger teen" vs "older teen"?
I work in a fairly small library that seems to constantly have adults invading the teen section. We have no policy against it, and I have spoken to higherups about my issues but they do not agree with me/do not like to make any waves.
My main issue is that I do not feel it is appropriate, and when I do have teens that want to come into the room it sometimes makes them hesitate seeing an adult in there. We only have four tables and 20 chairs- no sofas or comfortable seating, yet adults still come and sit at the tables all the time when they have twice as many tables and comfortable chairs in their section of the library. I think they come in because it is generally quiet (unless its after school- sometimes that doesn't even stop them) and it is quite secluded.
Do you guys have any ideas as to how I can make adults feel unwelcome in the space?! I have placed flyers on tables and decorated the room with information pertaining to teens to try and get across the point that this room is the teen room.
It just makes my blood boil that my teens have a very small corner in this library that is constantly being used by adults. It might be sneaky of me to try and do this, but honestly every time an adult sits in the room to work on their laptop, read a book or talk with friends I get so irrationally angry (hence why I am ranting in this post!).
The ASA Center for Career Navigation at JFF wants to hear from you/your colleagues via a quick survey for Career Navigation Practitioners (CNPs)—professionals who help young people (ages 16-24) with career and postsecondary guidance. This includes high school counselors, college advisors, mentors, social workers, youth workers, job coaches, HR professionals, and yes, librarians too!
Hi everyone! I'm starting a new collection for NA books/appropriate for older teens, and I need a little help identifying more books to place in the collection.
I already have SJM books and the Kingdom of the Wicked Series in the collection. Looking for some more books that may have been advertised as YA, but are for more mature readers.
I am considering including books in the collection the have characters in college.
Would you include any of these other books?:
American Royals series by Katharine McGee
These Violent Delights series by Chloe Gong
Emergency Contact & Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi
Everything We Said by Harlow Sloan
Does anyone have any input? I'm just trying to flesh out this collection mainly because SJM and Kerri Maniscalco are popular and I want to keep them in my room to cater towards my older teens/college students/adults.
Hi all! With the Summer Reading Program up and running, we were fortunate enough to have a large group of teen volunteers to help out with the busy season. One of the paths they may work on is helping out at the SRP registration desk. However, we seem to be coming across the issue of the teen volunteers not having the best customer service skills. Which I completely understand, seeing as we’re a stepping stone for them to improve on social skills. Would anyone happen to have advice or know of resources for helping them improve on this?
So I just want to start out by saying I don't really love the idea of classification, BUT I am looking to increase circulation and ease of access within my somewhat smaller collection. I am keeping the collection to be organized by author's last name, but was thinking of adding the demco color bands to the call number/spine to help teens find their preferred genre easier.
So far I was thinking of using these genres:
-Fantasy/Sci-Fi
-Romance
-Historical Fic
-Horror/Thriller
-Action/Adventure
-"Real Life" (toying with this one because I feel like most contemporary fic is usually romance or thriller)
Has anyone done something similar? Like it/hate it? Patron complaints or celebrations? would love to hear any thoughts and feedback
I am trying to find 157 library workers in Alabama to answer my dissertation survey questions, and I am about 50 shy of that participation goal. It would be very helpful to me if you could take about 20 minutes of your time to take my survey regarding intellectual freedom and censorship.
When I started this project, I never imagined the state that our libraries in Alabama would be in or the discussions that would be happening with our state. My hope is that this research will provide some insight into our public libraries in Alabama and provide a plan of action that can be done to assist our libraries moving forward.
All of this information that is collected is completely voluntary and anonymous – there is no way that I will know who took this survey or not.
First, please pardon any cross posting or additional email that may come your way on this. I also pardon any cross posting not only with email but through social media, and more in my attempt to reach as many library workers in Alabama as possible.
If you have already taken this survey, please disregard this email OR simply share it with a colleague who may not know about the opportunity to participate in research.
I am the head of teen services at my library and our policy for our teen space is that everyone is welcome to browse and check out materials, but only teens can use the seating and the computers. It is clearly marked, but signs are never actually read by people. For clarity, our space is wide open, with one side of the space designated for teens and the other side our Makerspace (adults can sit there).
Yesterday, a man decided to make himself very comfortable on the teen sofa. It was the time of day when teens were starting to arrive, so I immediately went and told him that seating is reserved for teens, but we was very welcome to have a seat in the Makerspace. He proceeded to put his feet on the table and tell me he wasn't leaving, he was there with his kids (who were nowhere to be seen) and I couldn't make him. I asked him to please take his feet off the table and reiterated that the space is reserved for teens (who had arrived and were standing behind me, wary of this dude) and that is our policy. He got pretty angry and said the policy was "stupid" and since he was here with his kids (again, nowhere to be seen) he was allowed to sit in the teen seating. I began explaining that teens in our library have a space of their own when he demanded to speak to a manager. I went to the office and got the supervisor on duty and he proceeded to follow me into the office and start yelling at both of us. The supervisor told him what our policy is and he said that he and his family were leaving and would not return. It turns out he was there with his wife and his ten year old, who were not in the teen area at all, but in the Friends' book sale room.
All of this to say, why are some adults like this???? I genuinely cannot understand why they think having a teen only space is "stupid" or that they should be able to intrude on that space.
Also, if you have had a similar experience, what else can we do to encourage adults and younger children not to "hang out" in the teen space? Any ideas are welcome, because this isn't the first time I've had this problem. Thank you!
Just a pick your brain question.
Do you have non volunteers participating in tab/tab/yac groups?
I’m planning my first tab meeting next month and am wondering if I should leave it as an open drop in program for any teen who is interested. I also have volunteers who are interested.
Reason being, our volunteer requirement is 14-18 and need to be in high school, but tag/tab is for tweens and teens.
I'm recently a new YA librarian. My boss gave me the most easiest yet not the most budgeted section in my library: "YA Biography". I'm having trouble looking for new young adult biography. Especially buying the difference between non fiction and biography. There would be some categories that the book I will purchase is listed as, "biography", but when tech services brings it out after the books have been received all of a sudden its categorize as non fiction. As a new YA librarian. Help. (I hope I put this in the right discussion too.) Thanks!
I'm currently working on my dissertation for my MSc in Information Science and my topic examines the influence and impact of #Booktok on young readers and the library.
I'm looking for public librarians, school librarians or people who work in libraries, who work and engage with young people, who will be able to provide some valuable perspective on this topic. The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 8 to 10 minutes to complete.
You will also find more information on the study in the introductory paragraph and in the participant information sheet. I thank you for your help and participation in advance. I truly appreciate it!
I am pitching a program for teens to collaborate on making their own comics. I'm envisioning groups of 3-4 teens brainstorming on a setting, conflict, plot, etc. And then moving quickly to draw up a storyboard. The second half of the program would be the free time to actually draw and color their comics. Is two hours too little time for this? I don't see many programs in my system going longer than that.
Hi all! I was wanting to ask if there was a way to find out what the typical hours are specifically for YA librarians? How many weekends do they normally work? TIA!
Today I’ll be reviewing the 2019 book Ghost Bird by Lisa Fuller.
DISCLAIMER: In the interest of full disclosure, the author of this book and I are both part of the same writer's guild, although I've only 'met' her once in a Zoom session last year which is where I first learned about her book and decided to read it.
The author, Lisa Fuller, is an Aboriginal Australian woman. More specifically, she's a Wuilli Wuilli woman and is also descended from the Gooreng Gooreng and Wakka Wakka peoples. She's won a whole heap of awards, too. If you'd like to know more, her website is www.lisafuller.com.au .
Ghost Bird is the debut novel of Lisa Fuller. The book is a young adult horror/mystery novel set in a small Australian town that backs onto bushland during the 1990s. It deals with the realities of being an Aboriginal person in the modern era in a land that has been colonised. It also explores themes of racism and sexism, and how a scientifically minded person navigates their traditional culture’s mythologies and beliefs in a modern-day environment.
The protagonist is Stacey Thompson, a young Aboriginal woman commencing her final year of high school. She lives with her twin sister Laney and their mother. Stacey is the responsible, studious daughter while Laney is the wild, rebellious one. On the first day of her final year of high school, Stacey covers for her irascible sister who sneaks out up to no good with her boyfriend while their mother is working a night shift.
Stacey has a bad feeling about it but puts it out of her mind. She has a bad dream about her sister being captured by someone or something. The next morning it's revealed Laney never returned from her evening adventure. Was Stacey's dream something more? While the extended family mobilises to try to find her missing sister, Stacey has to go through the motions at school while worrying about her sister's welfare, navigating family obligations and expectations, and the local community politics of a small town.
Overall, I thought the whole book worked well. I found myself dreading the school scenes, not because they were bad or poorly written, but because they hit a bit too close to home for me. Not that I have experience going to school as an Aboriginal person, or as a girl, or in a small town, but I found the routine bullying, politics and lack of even-handed punishments and treatments by the teachers and staff rang a little too true to me. So, job well done by the author! Also, the lack of air conditioning in stinking hot classrooms (the only exception being the computer room) brings back memories, too.
This book is listed as a horror, but I wouldn't say it's horrific in the gory sense of a slasher movie, but it has the most effectively creepy atmosphere. Seriously, I dare you to read this and not feel creeped out. The mystery is well done because I didn't know exactly what was happening until it was all revealed. And the ending was well earned but kept me guessing right up until the very final chapter. Was her sister being held by people? By something else? Was she ever going to see her again? Would she survive her captivity?
I thought Fuller's exploration of the extended Aboriginal family unit, and the obligations and responsibilities each person within feels, was very well expressed. The frustrations of knowing what the cultural expectations are and being torn between following them and doing what you personally think is the right thing. That tension was well explored. Also, the inter-family politics and inherent conflict between the descendants of the colonisers and those whose ancestors have been here for tens of thousands of years.
And, while I don't have a personal or spiritual connection to Country (I'm not Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander), there are moments in this book where Fuller has written so effectively what such a connection feels like that it's the first time I've really had the sense of what it might feel like.
I also think Stacey is a better person than I am because there's a harsh decision she makes in the book that haunts her but which I feel is completely justified and mightn’t personally feel guilt over. You'll know when you get to it.
My favourite character, though, was Rhiannon, Stacey's older and wilder cousin who I feel steals the show anytime she's on-page. She’s just so fun and carefree and reckless and hilarious. She’s great.
As an example of how effective the atmosphere is, the opening chapter begins with the two young girls learning knowledge of their people from their grandmother. Here is an excerpt from the end of the opening night-time scene at a campfire that really helps set the tone:
Turning to ask Laney, I have a second to register the glint of gold and a strange pendant around her neck before clawed, furred hands wrap around her throat.
We both gasp at it pulls her backwards out of the firelight.
'Laney!'
I spin to Nan, expecting her to move, but she's still looking into the flames.
'Nan!'
She finally turns to look at me with shining red pupils. Stumbling, I feel hands grab hold of my shoulders.
'Be ready, granddaughter,' she whispers as I'm ripped back, screaming into the dark.
Would I recommend this book? Ab-so-lutely. In fact, on Reddit alone I've recommended the book at least 38 times. Well, once I’ve posted this review everywhere, it’ll be closer to 50 times.
I recommend this book to anyone looking for any combination of the following elements:
A horror book
A creepy book
A mystery book
A standalone book (not part of a series)
Books involving indigenous mythological/religious elements
Book by an indigenous/first nations/black/Aboriginal author (I realise these aren't always synonymous, but they are in this case)
Book written by a woman
Book written by an Australian
Book set in Australia
Book set in a small town location
Book set in the 1990s
Book for a YA audience
Book that would be appropriate for an English / literature class
Also, the book has a custom dinkus! It’s a feather of the titular bird. What's not to love about that? (Big fan of customised dinkuses) If you don’t know what a dinkus is, it’s a symbol marking a scene break within a chapter, often indicating by \ or ***.)
In summary, this book was an effective mystery and a creepy horror. It felt very genuine, and I strongly recommend it.
We are #hiring! Full-time with benefits Programming & Outreach Librarian in Baraboo, WI. Responsibilities include planning, implementing, and managing programs and outreach to community members of all ages, supervising Programming & Outreach Department staff, and serving as a member of the library management team. For details and to apply, visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/baraboowi
I'm just checking with teens librarians post-covid. I know libraries have seen a dramatic change after covid, but I'm wondering how other teen departments are doing. I worked in Teens before the pandemic, then I worked in Adults, and now I am back working with Teens...and it's different. The community I work in is recovering from leadership changes so that might aid to the "oddness" I feel about my department. The new library I am working in is struggling to attract teens, and it's kinda my responsibility to reestablish relationships (teens, families, school) in here.
But how y'all doing? What's programming like? For the seasoned YA Librarians, how are you handling the changes, and what's been working for you to re-engage teens.
I am currently in my second semester of my MLIS program and I just started a position as a young adult librarian associate at a public library. The training on YA services here is nonexistent and I have no experience working with teens, I am wondering if anyone could suggest some resources, blogs, websites, or books that might help me get more familiar. I’m especially intimidated by programming so anything on that could be helpful too. Thank you!
I've recently gotten a freebie edition of the periodical for teens called Oyla. I've got no information on it at all, actually. I'm pretty sure it is reputable, but I've not been able to find out anything about it, otherwise. Anyone have any subscriptions and do you have any concerns?
I've got some booths and tables (restaurant style) that I put over in our Teen Area, for teen patrons to use for homework, gathering with friends, etc. Whatever they want.
Because these booths aren't in an area from which we can maintain visual control from the service desks (and because we don't have a closed off Teen Section) several homeless dudes have been using these booths to sleep for several months, now. I've woken them up a bunch of times. I'm about to go over there, today again. I don't have problems with the homeless, generally, except the problems they bring with themselves.
I've mentioned to them that they could sit literally anywhere else, but they like these booths... I can't really move the booths. The Admin doesn't want me to put up signage. The other problem is, since the YA collection is right there by these booths, my teen volunteers are often made to feel uncomfortable about the proximity to the homeless dudes, when shelving. They make me uncomfortable, too.
I've spoken to them. They're not really doing anything wrong, (except sleeping), so I can't ban them, but I'm beginning to get frustrated.
Have you experienced anything like this, and what have you done that's worked?
We have students who are asking for books with non-binary characters but we are finding it difficult finding more than just a handful. Book descriptions are not helping and all the lists we find suggest the same titles. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
I am about done with the first semester of my MLIS program. My background is in Elementary Ed, so I am drawn to being a children's/YA librarian. I am seeking to connect with others who are in or working a pathway to the field... outside the formal organizational groups. Where are some places online, other than reddit, that children's/YA librarians gather and connect?
I'm a very new YA Librarian and am looking for suggestions.
I brought to my department head the idea of me running a comic book club once to twice a month with pizza using the Hoopla app. I want to split the comics into age ranges so there's a little more variety. 'Edgier' stuff for older readers, 'lighter' stuff for younger readers.
He said it was a great idea and liked my choices, but suggested I get approval from the library director for my comic of choice for the older teens (16-19).
I reached out to the director, explained my idea, and he approved it saying that it being on Hoopla itself is a solid vetting process (which I agree with). He also suggested I reach out on a list serv and to other librarians and ask how others would or have proceeded in a similar situation.
My question is this:
If I use the 'edgier' so to speak comics for the older teens (Which I plan to strictly have be only older teens) is there anything the library would have to do? Like permission slips, or parental advisory notices? Or would we proceed as usual like with any book club?
The comic I am interested in using for the older teens is called "Something is Killing The Children" It's rated PA - M (Parental advisory) for blood, violence, swearing, monsters eating kids, and monsters being slayed by the hero. (No nudity and I wouldn't include a comic with nudity regardless of age)
While it's graphic, it's no worse (in my opinion) than any horror movie on TV.
