Libraries are community gathering places. Teens need a place to gather as much as they did when they were little and met friends at storytimes. When children are small, storytimes at the local library are a community-building activity. But as kids grow and get busy with school events, the library can fall off the list of options for activities. Teen programming can put the library back on their radar, and movies can be a robust part of that.
The biggest thing to remember about teen programming is that teens have just spent all day at school with teachers and other adults telling them what to do. Any activity that is going to draw them in should feel different from educational material. Go out of your way to avoid anything that looks too much like schoolwork. Remember to create a program just for teens, not for kids and not for adults.
Using movies to develop a teen program at your library is so much more than just picking out a few movies to show. You want to develop a program that uses movies, not just shows movies. Give teens something social or interactive to do with the film rather than simply running the movie and sending everyone home afterward.
Doing an activity with or after the movie means teens are more likely to walk out of the library having had fun instead of leaving tired and quiet. If they leave having enjoyed themselves, they may be more likely to tell their friends about it and come back for the next event.
Gaming is always a good theme. Show a movie based on a game, then play the game afterward. You could even have the movie on while teens play. One example of this kind of program is Clue. Make sure you have a few sets of the game on hand, show the movie, and then get everyone playing. It is also a fun way to get their critical-thinking skills engaged, which can be a useful angle when presenting the program to administrators.
Another option is to connect a movie screening with an art activity. An art-focused documentary or film could be paired with a local artist or studio that helps teens create something inspired by what they have watched. Exit Through the Gift Shop, for example, could open the door to a program about street art. As a bonus, participants would have something they created to take home with them.
You might also show a popular movie and follow it with trivia. Back to the Future could work well for this because it offers plenty of opportunities for questions about both the movie and the eras it depicts. That gives the program an educational component without making it feel like a history lesson.
Musicals can become sing-along events. Keeping subtitles on can make the activity less intimidating for teens who are not confident singers. A familiar musical such as Grease could work, but the specific title should depend on what appeals to teens in your community. Instead of setting up rows of chairs, offer cushions or flexible seating that can easily be moved if people want to get up and participate.
Popular fantasy or franchise films can also be paired with crafts. A Harry Potter screening, for example, could include papier-mâché wands or another movie-inspired project. The same idea can be adapted to whatever franchises or fandoms are currently popular with your teen patrons.
When creating these programs, make sure the library staff involved actually enjoy working with teens. A staff member who feels intimidated by teens or looks down on them is unlikely to connect with the group. Teens can usually tell when someone is not comfortable around them, and that can quickly make them less interested in participating.
Libraries should also make sure they have the appropriate public performance rights or licensing before screening a film as part of a program. Even when a movie is easily available through a streaming service or physical copy, that does not necessarily mean it can legally be shown to a public audience.
The primary focus of your teen movie program should be making it more than simply "come watch a movie." Teens can do that at home. Instead, make the movie the beginning of a social activity.
Using movies in teen library programming can engage young people through screenings connected to games, trivia, art, crafts, music, or other shared activities. The key takeaway is that the movie itself is not the whole program. It is the kickoff, the theme, and the reason to bring teens together.
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