New York State Library

Youth Services

The NYS Library provides resources and guidance to librarians who serve children and young adults across the state. The services include age-appropriate collection development, reference, reader’s advisory, programming, early literacy, digital literacy, and information literacy.

Through Youth Services programs, libraries aim to provide quality, equitable service to all young people from birth through high school, and to create lifelong learners and library users. Youth Services programs respect children and young adults and treat them with the same courtesy and attention adult patrons receive. Additionally, they advocate for youth patrons by supplying developmentally appropriate materials and resources for their use.

In libraries across New York State, Youth Services staff provide essential access to current information technology and promote general literacy and information literacy so that communities can best leverage those resources. Libraries also collaborate with other agencies serving young people to better develop programs that meet and anticipate the constantly changing needs of patrons.

Libraries employ well-trained, qualified staff that demonstrate a love and respect for young people and provide professional development and continuing education for staff members so that services can continue to grow.

Ready to Read at NY Libraries

An initiative designed to improve and expand the availability of high-quality public library early learning services in local communities across the State.

Summer Reading at NY Libraries

Download Summer Reading flyers, partner manuals, and research. Get access to promotional materials, programming resources, and the READsquared online registration tool provided by the NYS Library.

Transforming Teen Services

A project focused on supporting library staff working with and for teens in understanding of how connected learning and computational thinking can work together to build equity based services for and with teens.

Last Updated: January 9, 2023