Will you be aghast when you learn that this grafitti program is actually not the singular brainchild of the librarian in question? This program is suggested in the Collaborative Summer Reading Program handbook this year. Most of the United States have public libraries that now participate in this program, and this year, the teen theme is “Express Yourself.” The program outline in the handbook details the importance of educating teens about urban art and where they SHOULDN’T put it, and it offers information about renowned urban artists, as well. The program, as it is outlined, serves to educate kids about a specific contemporary art form. Yes, it is a controversial art form. Should that preclude its potential significance as an art-themed teen event? I guess we all have our own opinions.

I won’t try to defend my job because I can understand how you might find it frivolous, and to argue here would be mighty frivolous. I will say, though, that the teens who come to my cheesy programs really enjoy them. I only wish that I had such a comfortable environment in which I could learn and socialize when I was a teen.

Moreover, that librarian probably doesn’t spend all of her time devising crafty program ideas. She probably also maintains the young adult collection, answers reference questions, performs readers’ advisory, collaborates with schools, etc. As long as we’re around, teens deserve library service, too!

AL is not a person, it is obviously a group of people. Look at the writing styles, they differ a lot. I would hazard a guess that the AL is 4 or 5 people. At least.

Side note – I’m new to this blog and for some reason, assumed AL was female. But now fitzie4 is suggesting that she is a he. I can only guess that fitzie4 knows something I don’t.