Virtual Teen Programs – Bridging a Shutdown of Traditional Library Services

About the Program

Category: Libraries (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

In response to COVID-19, the Miami-Dade Public Library System (MDPLS) suspended all library programs on March 16 and closed to the public on March 18 in accordance with local and state guidelines. Within a week of closing, MDPLS’s teen technology education unit – YOUmedia Miami – began offering virtual teen programs for its patrons via the internet. To pull off this rapid shift in educational programming, staff employed a combination of technology, creativity, and knowledge gained over years of providing in person digital literacy and media production workshops to bridge the physical distance between its staff and clientele and continue providing public service. During the seven-month period following the onset of COVID-19 and the quarantine protocols that followed, staff designed, delivered, and published nearly fifty Virtual Teen programs for Miami-Dade patrons. These interactive programs covered topics ranging from the serious and timely (Black Lives Matter, Pride Month, Financial Literacy, and College Readiness) to the just-for-fun (Video Games, Food, Music) and everything in between. In addition to topic-based discussion podcasts, staff also called on industry professionals – including filmmakers, video game designers, musicians, and more – to volunteer their time to speak with teens about careers in media, technology, and beyond.