I’m an MLIS student, but have been a practicing Youth Services librarian for 12 years, since the days when one didn’t necessarily need an MLS! I am engaged in a few
research projects, all of which touch on media and arts programs in
libraries. My thesis research is looking at how public library art programs affect civic engagement in teens. For my doctorate, I hope to focus on the empathetic affect of various informational media, particularly videogames.
In my work over the years, I’ve offered several teen programs that relate to the idea of local news creation and community information, including teen zine creation, photojournalism and activism programs. In my thesis
research, I will be asking teens to use various art media to explicate their understanding of local issues. I don’t just do teen programming, though–I also work with adults.