A day in the life of the Teenbrarian

It’s nine in the morning, and The Crossings Branch of the Lethbridge Public Library doesn’t open for another half hour. It’s quiet and peaceful — but only for another 30 minutes, when we’ll open the doors and life will fill the building.

I’ve been the Teenbrarian for the Lethbridge Public Library for the past eight years, and I’m happiest when the building is bustling and full of people. My workday is not what you’d imagine when you picture a librarian — there’s little shushing, I don’t spend my day reading, and you’re more likely to find me in a “Doctor Who” Tshirt and Chucks than tweed and sensible heels.

My days are filled with planning library programs for the youth of our community. With the help of our teen advisory group, or the LPL Street Team, I facilitate programs for those in grades 7– 12. In 2017, we held a murder mystery night (it wasn’t the butler), celebrated girls and geekdom, partnered with CKXU 88.3 FM for Broadcast Bootcamp, and set up a recording space for teens to add their voices to the Human Voicebank.

Our Queer Straight Alliance meets monthly, providing a welcoming social space for teens and younger adults. Other teen programs currently running include: Lunchtime Book Club, Friday Wind Down, and our popular Doctor Who program: Bowties are Cool.

I also get to research resources and build our library’s collections (books, DVDs, graphic novels, etc.) based on our community’s needs. That includes keeping on top of the newest and coolest YA (Young Adult) literature and watching social media and publisher hype to determine what’s going to be in high demand.

I keep special watch out for titles that might not crack Top 20 lists, but will still find a place in the hearts and minds of our community’s youth. It’s important for a library to reflect all of its audience. Special attention is paid to smaller press publications that reflect our young LGBTQA, Indigenous and English-learning populations. Our comic books also fall under my purview, and building that collection for our adult and teen readers is a joy. With help from the staff at Kapow, I buy comics from Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse, and also smaller, indie graphic novels and webcomics.

A teenbrarian’s day does not end at 5 p.m. I run a host of evening programs, often out in the community. I zip around the city, visiting the YWCA’s GirlSpace, The MAT (at the Boys & Girls Club), and other teenfocused organizations, where I host book clubs and share advanced reader copies of new YA books I get from publishers. Seeing a teen’s face light up when they get their hands on a review copy of a book that won’t be out for another three months is priceless. Talking books and matching readers to just the right author or series is one of my favourite parts of the job.

The next time you’re at The Crossings Branch, keep an eye out for me — running around, comics in hand, probably leaving a trail of glitter and popcorn behind me, making sure all the library teens have everything they need.

For more information on teen programs at the Lethbridge Public Library, visit