Young Adult Services  

Oak Treehoppers
Teen Blog
Hey Mariposa teens — there's a blog on the Web for you! The Open Page is written by young adults of Mariposa County, and published online by the library. The blog was created and is kept updated by local teens who submit articles, poetry, book & movie reviews, photo essays, jokes and other stuff. To find out what's going on at the library and around Mariposa that's of interest to young adults, check out the blog. And you'll find some great original stories, poetry and other fun stuff.

Teen Summer Reading PRogram
The Mariposa County Library's Teen Summer Reading Program is for readers age 12-19. Each summer the program begins in June and ends in August. Prizes are awarded for every 200 pages the participant reads, as well as for reaching a total of 1000 pages. Prizes include delicious treats and paperback books, plus a Grand Prize drawing. Sign up in the library to participate.

Live Homework Help
You've got homework — we've got help. Live Homework Help offers free online tutoring, accessible every day from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. This service connects students in grades 4–12 to qualified tutors via the Internet. You can use Live Homework Help as often as you need help. Requires a valid Mariposa County Library card. See Live Homework Help Tech FAQ for computer requirements.

Teen Poets of Mariposa County
Mariposa Teen Express is a book of original poetry written by local teens to celebrate National Poetry Month each April. Poems written by teens age 12-19 are submitted and displayed at the Mariposa County Library during the month of April. Each year's submissions are included in the annual issue of Mariposa Teen Express, an anthology compiled by library staff. The poetry is also posted on the library's teen blog The Open Page. Poems must be suitable for readers of all ages. All participants receive a copy of the book Mariposa Teen Express.

Mission Statement
Mariposa County Library is committed to supporting the special needs of the young adult population of Mariposa County. The Library strives to enrich the lives of young adults by meeting their informational, recreational, and cultural needs. Library services are provided by a helpful, caring staff who pay attention to young adults and support their creative needs. We promote and provide free access to all library materials, including electronic resources.

Long Range Goals for Young Adult Library Services
Expand the young adult collection and services
- Add a music collection
- Increase magazine collection
- Increase classic fiction, popular fiction, and popular non-fiction
- Designate YA areas in branches

Seek cooperation with local schools
- Communicate regularly with local school librarians and teachers

Enhance library services through input from and cooperation with local young adult groups and interested individuals
- Create a Youth Advisory Board with regular meetings
- Better define YA area by moving parts of the collection and some furniture, and add posters and décor chosen by YAs

Involve local young adults in collection development
- Distribute a magazine survey
- Use Youth Advisory Board suggestions
- Develop a music collection

Invite advice from local young adults, via informal and formal user surveys and direct communication, on how to make the library more useful and young adult-friendly
- Distribute a user survey
- Maintain a suggestion box for YAs

Encourage local young adults to work as volunteers at the library, possibly in assisting patrons in the use of the Internet, word processing, and the online card catalog
- Investigate development of a program in which YAs would do volunteer work (possibly with school credit) as technology assistants


Text © 2001 Mariposa County Library
Website © 2001-2006 STONECUTTER
Photography © 2001 Craig Bennett