Summary
YOUmedia provides drop-in programming for high school and middle school aged youth staffed by both grant-funded mentors and degree holding librarians. YOUmedia programs were designed based around Mizuko Ito’s work on the youth engagement repertoires of Hanging Out, Messing Around, and Geeking Out (HOMAGO). At Harold Washington’s 5,500 square foot site, activities are based on teen interest and revolve around several core content areas: photo and video, audio programming, graphic design, gaming, sewing and fashion, fine art, and making.
Written by: Sari Widman, Josephina Chang-Order, Eric Reyes, Amanda Wortman, and William R. Penuel.
The Capturing Connected Learning in Libraries (CCLL) project—a research and practice collaboration between the Connected Learning Lab, CU Boulder, SRI International, Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL), YALSA, and YOUmedia—enables libraries to better assess learning outcomes for their connected learning programs and spaces, and it boosts their ability to use evaluation data to improve their programs. It is focused on identifying challenges connected learning programs face and helpful ways of addressing those challenges. This project is generously funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
