Sex, Brains, And Video Games

How do we best reach our teen patrons? Young adult librarians and others who serve them constantly strive to better understand this often unpredictable audience. In this insightful guide, Jennifer Burek Pierce provides a fascinating look at today's teen through the lens of neurological, psychological, and educational research. Putting this research in the context of library services, she challenges librarians to question their assumptions about teen patrons and provides new answers based on research findings. Much as early literacy research informed library services to our youngest patrons, Sex, Brains, and Video Games outlines what others who work with adolescents have learned from their professional activities and how that knowledge can encourage new priorities and partnerships in youth services.

Use this research to: Help sort out fact from fiction about adolescent brain development and sexuality, Equip staff to understand and sensitively interact with teens, Foster understanding about teens, technology, and multitasking, Incorporate teen-friendly services and activities into the library.

With further reading suggestions rounding out each chapter, this provocative guide offers school, public, and academic librarians further ways of thinking about young adults and the services provided for them.