Teens at the library are putting a new twist on the traditional in-person author event, finding new ways to engage directly with their favorite writers, all in an effort to instill a love of reading in their peers. On several occasions this year, the members of Keeping TABs, a subset of the library’s Teen Advisory Board (TAB) that focuses on connecting directly with authors, have invited popular young adult authors to the library to be interviewed, in front of live audiences. The results have been a resounding success!
Nearly 70 teen readers attended the Keeping TABs interview with fan favorite K.L. Walther on Sunday, May 17 to celebrate the release of her latest novel, “The Summer of Second Chances.” TAB member Samantha led the conversation with questions about the new book, the writing process, character inspiration, and more. Samantha previously recommended Walther’s “A First Time for Everything” for her Teen Book Tuesday pick, a TAB-led initiative to promote literacy across social media platforms.
Last month, a similarly sized crowd listened to Keeping TABs members Lilly and Shira interview authors Anica Mrose Rissi and Emily X.R. Pan for Rissi’s “Girl Reflected in Knife” release party. The authors noted that the teen interviewers were an exciting addition to the event that allowed them to connect with their readers, encourage teen engagement in literature, and promote teen voices.
In addition to in-person events, Keeping TABs also produces a podcast, during which its members interview authors about their books, writing processes, and inspirations. Through thoughtful conversations and engaging discussions, the podcast highlights how libraries continue to evolve into spaces for creativity, innovation, and teen leadership, and how empowering teen voices can create meaningful programs that resonate with young audiences. Listeners can tune in to all episodes of Keeping TABs on Spotify and Apple Podcasts to hear these engaging conversations and discover new books to love.
For teens interested in getting involved in the library, applications for the Teen Summer Volunteer (TSV) program are open now until June 5. Visit our website to learn more about TSV, TAB, and other ways to volunteer at the library.
Photos by Princeton Public Library’s Youth Services.