WHAT DO YOUNG TEENS THINK ABOUT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY?

This article reports on a research study investigating the attitude of twelve-to fifteen-year-old residents of an Eastern Canadian regional municipality to the public library. Phase 1, a quantitative survey, analyzes overall satisfaction ratings and frequency of use of the public library. Phase 2 uses qualitative methodology (focus groups) to illuminate and enrich the findings from the initial survey research. This study concludes that although most young teens in this regional municipality have a positive overall impression of the public library, they are not frequent public library users. In particular, teens highlighted the lack of relationships with library staff, appealing facilities, an appealing teen library Web site, and teen involvement and participation as key barriers to library use.