Talking Teen Services: Strengths-Based Relationship Building Panel

Curious about strategies for building meaningful relationships with tweens and teens that support positive interactions in developmentally appropriate ways? Join us for a panel discussion about strengths-based relationship building in teen and tween services. Panelists from several different Colorado public libraries will share their experiences including how they approach connecting with teens and tweens in both the fun and the challenging moments, ways they communicate with colleagues and patrons about how to do the same, and why they’re ok with being considered “cool but not that cool” in their communities of teens.

This panel discussion is part of the Colorado State Library’s Talking Teen Services series and will be recorded. It will be a 75-minute program and will include time for you to ask the panelists your own questions towards the end of the discussion.

We are now asking Talking Teen Services participants to register through LibCal. The event will still take place via Zoom.

If you have any questions about the panel or about how to register, please contact Kate Brunner at brunner_k@cde.state.co.us OR 720-595-9248.

Registration link: https://costatelibrary.libcal.com/event/14830716

About the presenters

Molly is a youth services librarian for Anythink Libraries in Bennett, CO. She graduated with her MLIS in 2013 from UWM Milwaukee, Wisconsin and has worn many different librarian hats since. Teens and youth services are her passion and she has formed unforgettable bonds with the kids and families she serves. In her free time, Molly enjoys reading comics, painting and playing video games with her family.

Mx Red (they/them) is the Youth Services Coordinator at the Glenwood Springs Branch Library in the Garfield County Public Library system. They have worked in school and public libraries, been a classroom teacher, worked in Youth Restorative Justice and teen mentoring programs. They were chosen by local youth as the Big Bear of the Year in 2023, and by CLEL as the Rising Star for Early Literacy in 2024.

Desireé (she/her) is a Teen Librarian at the Denver Central Library, and has been a librarian at DPL for 12 years. She has been working in public service for nearly two decades, with experiences ranging from early literacy volunteer management, recording studio coordination, and youth gardening. She is passionate about connecting communities through humility, collaboration, and creative problem solving. 

Julia E. Torres is a nationally recognized veteran language arts teacher, librarian, and teen programs administrator in Denver, Colorado. Julia facilitates teacher development workshops rooted in the areas of anti-racist education, equity and access in literacy and librarianship, and education as a practice of liberation. Julia‘s work has been featured on NPR, AlJazeera’s The Stream, PBS Education, KQED’s MindShift, Rethinking Schools, Learning for Justice Magazine, School Library Journal, American Libraries Magazine, and many more. Her co-authored title Liven Up Your Library: Design Engaging and Inclusive Programs for Teens and Tweens is just the first of many forthcoming publications for librarians and educators.