Teen Services Minutes - February 26, 2025
Guest Speakers – McLain Clemens and Raven Wade, Case Managers from the Youth Housing Demonstration Program with the Homeless Alliance
The YHDP team presented various youth resources in OKC related to those ages 12-28 who are unhoused. They addressed: youth homelessness in OKC, how the city is addressing this issue, causes, exclusionary systems and barriers, advocacy, youth collaborations, and resource connections. Presentation available here.
In 2024, there were 1,838 “countable” people experiencing homelessness on the night of the Point in Time count. 9% were youth age 24 or younger.
OES Updates
Teen Services check-in report, focus topics for 2025– Emily
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Anime clubs – February 26
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Passive programming and take-home kits – April 23
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Program showcase – August 27
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STEAM kits and maker tools – November 19
Book Bingo update – currently at 4,276 readers (biggest year ever), 2,712 completions (up 12 percent), 1,772 redeemed rewards (up 6 percent)
Summer Reading update – training is coming in April, program planning committee is entering events in Library Market currently, requested supplies and CSLP items will be shipped in April, no Read it Forward this year, ordering higher quantity of adult titles (3x as many as last year), discussion of new Neighborhood Arts performers
New OES staff – three staff starting Monday, two additional positions posted this week
Anime club discussion
Presentations and Q&A with CT, NW, MC, ED, RE
MC – Anton – 12 and up, socialization space, in forum room that works well for concept, first 15 minutes is craft, Japanese snack, watch first 3 episodes each time, switch up genre regularly, opening and ending themes are big part of experience, dubbed not subbed, ask “thumbs up or thumbs down”, general questions, 6-7 attend regularly
NW – Kassy – tried and let it end after 6mo. when not successful, 4-5 attendees came sporadically, tried to have activity (origami stars, bracelets, Japanese snack tasting) each time but there were mixed reactions, limited discussion
ED – Ryn – resources in SharePoint, activities, learning Japanese, Crunchyroll
CT – Mary – attendance wildly varies, currently 35-40 because of limited things to do in CT, ramen and coloring sheets, noodle notes order sheet, eat while watching, rule: you can talk but you have to be able to hear the anime, YouTube guessing game icebreaker, 2-3 episodes from “wheel of anime” random generator, Crunchyroll free library account, Japanese words of the day, CHAOS
RE – Rena – teens asked for anime club, started but had little attendance, teens still asking for anime club, candy sushi and Japanese snack boxes, One Piece most popular show, KIPP teens getting picked up during program was disruptive
Most popular activities – kumihimo bracelets, shrinky dinks, perler beads, air dry clay – make the smallest Pikachu possible, gummi bento boxes
Most popular anime – Demon Slayer (check ratings for each episode), Bungo Stray Dogs, Death Note, One Piece, Naruto, Spy Family, My Hero Academia, Fruits Basket, Sailor Moon, Ghibli movies (on MPLC license)
DN is starting anime club after Geek Con
Sharing
DN – Geek Con coming, table to promote event and Summer Reading at GalaxyCon, Black History Month programs at DN – including Jabee’s rap workshop, new computers – IAO cards can’t use teen computers
ED – 3 programs a week throughout the spring, launched Dungeons & Dragons which has been very successful – in need of more DMs
MC – weather affecting program attendance, started Teen Advisory Board – planned take home kits, decorated windows for Black History Month (teens planned design), anime club going strong
VI – teen program attendance slump, starting tween (9-13) book club/LEGO challenge
DC – opened adult tarot program to teens because of interest, Thursday evening and Sunday programming/scheduling issues, D&D program continues to grow – maxed out at 28 attendees, building social skills and weekly schedule help create consistency, teen maker studio, excited about SR and teen volunteers
RE – new furniture, teen book boxes started back up in January gaining registration numbers every month, Craft n’ Chat turned into Teen Afternoon general program on Tuesday, perler beads crafts popular, gaming events building back up with 10 in attendance, Banned Book Club, Dash cooking club
CT – adult interest in teen programs like anime clubs and D&D – so 16+ D&D and Anime After Dark events have been started for adults and those aging out of teen programs, teen D&D going very well – 2 tables at same time, training teens to become DMs, mini fig crafts, IRL Angry Birds, Sequoyah voting party at local middle school
AL – puzzle-themed activities during spring break, cryptology take home kit, escape rooms, nail art workshop (lots of adult interest), paint-by-numbers take home kit for Black History Month – all 50 kits have been picked up
BE – started Teen Service Team with 8-12 attendees – helped with scavenger hunt and made buttons, working on creating teen space with art station, teens helping with making displays and window art, preparing for Summer Reading
NW – also experiencing a teen attendance slump, but D&D is going strong with 25-30 attendees 2x a month, Artsy Fartsy club with Black History Month lesson featuring Basquiat, planning for summer, Pink Pony social club with new activity every month
CH – Kids Cafe feeding program through Food Bank every Monday and Friday – art/science programs with 30-40 kids and teens with food program
SO – started Teen Advisory Board with limited attendance, will try again next year, book bags, Maker Tuesdays, Fan Fiction/Fan Art contest open, Minecraft meetup, art hour for teens, chess club, healthy relationships with Hope Community Services, cosplay classes
WA – building up Dungeons and Dragons with interest from coding club participants, 40-50 teens on Wednesdays before church event, recruiting teen volunteers
OES – one Dog Man event kit available – immediately claimed by DC, please share back to staff at your location about today's meeting
If you attended this meeting and would like to provide feedback about the guest speaker and future topics, please take this survey: https://metrolibrary.wufoo.com/forms/p1gwtlf9121ocsu/
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