By Suzanne Schmidt
Staff Writer
LAND O’ LAKES—Often teenagers are looked at as troublemakers or as a nuisance, but at Pasco County Libraries they are considered a valuable asset.
Due to its popular teen programs, the library system was awarded the John Cotton Dana Award, an honor that is as coveted as the Academy Award is for actors. The award is only given to six libraries nationwide and honors libraries with an outstanding public relations program.
Pasco won for the Rockus Maximus Retro Battle of the Bands 12 event held last March. Stonebridge said even though the big event is a one-night concert for teens, a lot of hours go into the promotion.
“We start promoting the event in early November using our social networks,” Stonebridge said. “We also have a kick-off show at the Land O’ Lakes Library ahead of time to promote the show. We had so many bands sign up for the event last year that we had to pick the top eight and just feature them. Over the months leading up to the show, we filmed episodes on each of the bands showing their personality and character. The band that did the best job of promoting themselves through the episodes got extra points going into the contest.”
All of the promotional videos from the kick-off show and the band episodes are posted on-line in various places like YouTube, but the main site for all there is to know about the event is at myspace.com/pascolibraries.
Stonebridge said he was thrilled when he learned his library won. To enter the contest, he and six other people had to collaborate to get everything ready.
“This is one of the most prestigious awards the American Library Association gives,” Stonebridge said. “This is something they only give to the best of the best.”
Alicia Moon-Wan, librarian 1 youth, helps to organize the teen programs at the library along with the teen advisory board. The teen advisory board gets to decide teen events and is made up of teens in the area. She said she thinks the teen programs are important for a few reasons.
“Our programs give kids the chance to get out and socialize,” Moon-Wan said. “We let them choose the programs they want to do because it gives them a chance express themselves. We make sure they feel welcome and are having a good time. The library is not just a place to keep books anymore, it is an information gateway.”
Recently the advisory board voted to have a teen art show. Noelle Park, 16, of New Tampa, is the vice president of the board. Park said she thought the art show would be a great idea because she knew many teens like art.
“I have been coming here for five years,” Park said. “I like it here because typically you would expect to go to a teen event that would be decided by some 60-year-old who doesn’t know what teens are into. It is a lot more fun to pick out what we get to do.”
From the number of submissions, it appears she was right. There were 114 submissions from kids ages 11 to 18 throughout middle and high schools in Pasco County. Teens submitted artwork in three categories- 3-D, 2-D and photography.
Jacqueline Stickney, 18, of Wesley Chapel, won the Best of Show for her 3-D art. She said it was her first time entering in an art show and her first teen event, but it will not be her last.
“I wanted to enter the show just to see how my art would fare against other artists my age,” Stickney said. “I am very excited. The library has been a very interesting way to get involved in the community. I like it because I am meeting people with similar interests. If it weren’t for this event, I wouldn’t have known anyone else who was interested in art.”
Diego Hernandez, 17, of Land O’ Lakes said he loves the programs at the library. He has attended the Rockus Maximus event the last two years in a row.
“I like to go and play the video games like Rock Band, but every now and again I would take a break and listen to the bands,” Hernandez said. “I think the library deserves the award. The willingness of the staff to put on all the teen stuff and let us do what we want is just great.”
For more information, visit pascolibraries.org.
