Saskatoon Public Library's Young Adult Services

Bibliographic Information

Saskatoon Public Library. (2013). Young Adult Services. Retrieved from http://www.saskatoonlibrary.ca/youngadultservices

Descriptive Summary

This site contains a wealth of information useful to teens, such as which Saskatoon Public Library location specializes in teen services, what types of genres and mediums are included in the teen collection, how to get assistance finding a resource, and how to place a loan on an item.

Moreover, under the heading of “Resource Guides for Teens” is a robust list of in-house databases and external websites that contain books and other resources for teens such as writing guides, video archives, top picks lists, teen-generated reviews, and much more. This website is full of useful teen information.  

Evaluative Comments

The Saskatoon Public Library’s Young Adult Services website contains a wealth of useful information for teens. Almost anything a teen might come looking for in a public library can be found here. However, where this website falls short is in its design and interface. Upon first glancing at this website one would never know that it was a designed for teens. It uses the same drab grey, blue, and white motif as the rest of the library website, uses the same font and layout, and contains no hint as to the atmosphere of the Young Adult Services section in the library itself except to include a small, un-described photo of the area. Information within this page is easy to find and the library staff have made it rather simple to navigate towards additional resources, but nothing here would convince teens want to be a part of the SPL Young Adult community. The site looks professional and serious, and not fun.

I would give this website a 5/10.

Suggested Users

Ages 12 to 18. 

Advisory Notes

direct, somber, formal

For the teen who finds this type of plain layout appealing, the Winnipeg Public Library's website for teens, called BOOKED, has a similar motif.  

Reason for Inclusion

Having used this online library resource for teens myself many time when at a teen age, I know that while this site may appear somber, once the teen user gets past the interface this site does contain a wealth of useful knowledge.

Category

Library Websites for Teens