Youth Services Focus

MLIS@Denver offers an optional two-course focus in youth services, preparing librarians to work with children and young adults in public libraries. This option can be completed as part of your 58-credit degree program and allows you to cultivate a love of reading in this unique population.

As a youth services librarian, you will plan, develop and conduct programs and services that emphasize the importance of continued learning. Expertise in children’s and young adults’ materials and services is crucial for library professionals to better serve their communities.

Upon completion of this focus, you will be able to:

  • incorporate children’s and young adults’ brain and social development stages into planning collections and services
  • identify and evaluate fiction and nonfiction materials for a library collection
  • develop and deliver programming for the youth services populations
  • connect with youth services community partners to support their needs and serve their clients
  • build awareness of youth services social justice issues
  • become an advocate for children and young adults

Why Study Youth Services?

Think back to your favorite book as a child or teenager—it likely holds a special place in your memory and inspired a lifelong love of reading. In careers advocating for youth in their communities, youth services librarians cultivate this same appreciation for learning and literature.

The youth services focus is a high-impact opportunity to specialize your MLIS@Denver degree and build skills that:

  • utilize practical knowledge conducive to solving real-world challenges
  • aid children and young adults in connecting with literary resources to expand their minds
  • directly affect the lives of children and young adults within your community

Youth Services Job Outlook

Overall, librarian employment is expected to grow 9 percent from 2020 to 2030.1 Many professionals who earn a Master of Library and Information Sciences degree with a youth services focus work in public libraries that provide direct or indirect support for youths. Please note that each state maintains its own credentialing requirements for library professionals.

Positions may include:

  • youth services librarian or coordinator
  • children’s librarian, specialist or coordinator
  • young adult or teen librarian, specialist or coordinator
  • youth outreach specialist or librarian
  • regional or state youth specialist

Courses

These specialized courses will deepen your understanding of youth services in a library setting. Your learning will be reinforced with hands-on projects and opportunities to apply your skills in real-world settings.

LIS 4510 Children’s Materials and Services

This course is designed to prepare librarians to work with children (ages birth to 12 years) in libraries. Topics covered include children’s development, reading interests and needs, materials selection, collection development (including print and non-print materials), discussions of specific genres, reading motivation skills, designing a children’s area, and developing programming ideas. Students read/view/listen to and evaluate a wide variety of materials for and about this age group, prepare and present book talks and stories, become familiar with review sources, and design a one-year plan for youth services in a library setting.

LIS 4520 Young Adult Materials and Services

This course prepares librarians to work with young adults (ages 12–18) in libraries. Topics covered include young adult development, reading interests and needs, materials selection, collection development (including print and non-print materials) and discussions of specific genres, reading motivation skills, designing a YA area, programming, and intellectual freedom issues. Participants will read/view/listen to and evaluate a wide variety of materials for and about this age group, prepare and present book talks, become familiar with review sources, and design a one-year plan for a YA department in a library setting.

Spark a Lifelong Love of Literature

Explore the Youth Services Focus

1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2021