Maryland public libraries strive to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of teens in their communities through a variety of programs, resources, and services.
Since 2019, the Maryland State Library Agency has hosted or supported a statewide convening of Maryland library staff passionate about providing services for and with teens called Teen Connect. The event has occurred virtually as well as in-person, providing strategies and program ideas for those new to teen services as well as those with more experience. Teen Connect offers professional development, discussion, and sharing amongst library staff.
The Maryland State Library Agency (MSLA) participated in the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) and the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) project, Transforming Teen Services: A Train the Trainer Approach. Through this project, a team of MSLA and frontline staff helped Maryland library staff develop strategies and skills regarding youth development, connected learning, and computational thinking in support of their work with teens.The project was funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
