From the depths of interviewing post

So I thought I would post something short about my interviews since I did miss the last half of class for them. While I doubt much here will be mind boggling, at least it gives me a topic to write on, and I will attempt to relate it to media literacy and youth.

I first interviewed for two positions in Montgomery County, Texas, which is north of Houston. Both positions would be about an hour daily commute, which is never fun. It was interesting to see at each location their philosophy toward young adults, specifically teens. We talk in this class and in 404 about the changes that have occurred in the past 20 or so years in general library attitudes toward teen use. It seems that these changes are about 10 years behind in Mont county. There is an idea that teens are an important demographic to go after, but that seems to be a new idea, not something that has been a focus for a significant period. For example, there are several new libraries in the system as the county passed a huge bond in the past couple years, but none of the new libraries that I saw have a dedicated teen space. They have nice children's departments and several children's librarians but few YA librarians. At the one place that I think I would actually work, there is the need and the drive for a dedicated teen space, but there is simply not the space, as it was not one of the newer libraries. The branch librarian understood that teens are a pivotal demo to hit, but frustrated because there was simply no place for them or that much support for any addition or change. Overall, it seems that there is much to be done (as I think we all know) and, while the traditional philosophy is changing, there are still some places out there that might need to be dragged, kicking and screaming, into the future.