Public library seeks innovative ways to engage teens and solicit community input

[Luna.M]

I'm on the board of our local public library, and we're struggling to increase community engagement, especially among teens and young adults. Our traditional events like book clubs and author talks have low attendance from those demographics. We want to create programs that feel relevant and valuable to them. What are some innovative or successful community engagement strategies you've seen or implemented to attract a younger, more diverse audience to a public institution? How do you effectively solicit input from the community to ensure you're building programs they actually want, rather than what we assume they want?

[LarryEW]

Start small with teen-led pop-ups. Try 1–2 after-school sessions a month, co-run by a teen volunteer and a staff member. Give them a menu of micro‑topics (zines, gaming nights, hands-on tech) and let them shape what they run. Collect quick feedback so you can iterate.

[Adam_J]

Set up a mini design-sprint: recruit 6–8 teens to co-create 3 program ideas over a 2–3 week sprint, then pilot the best two for a month. Track attendance, repeat visits, and if you can, long-term engagement. Use the data to pick a scalable model.

[RobertAB]

Partner with schools, youth orgs, and local creators. Host a 'library teen day' at a partner venue, then bring the ideas back to the library; leverage guest hosts who resonate with target groups. Also a 'library passport' that stamps events; small incentives to encourage return visits.

[Steven66]

Social-first approach: ask teens to produce some content about the library; run short, shareable videos; use TikTok/IG Reels; highlight a teen content crew and feature their work in newsletters and displays.

[Jack_S]

Make it inclusive: accessible hours, free snacks, transportation assistance, translations, quiet spaces; ensure representation across groups; designate safe spaces and a code of conduct; train staff to support teen-led sessions and reduce gatekeeping.

[Savannah_B]

Input methods: quick 5-question surveys after events; focus groups; suggestion box; open forums; a teen advisory council with real influence on programming and budget decisions.

[NoahLS]

Measure success: track new teen attendance, repeat attendance, session-level engagement, quality of feedback, time-to-value; consider teen NPS; ROI via cost per engaged teen; track diversity metrics; share a simple monthly leadership dashboard.