Consult your local teens. Consider a teen advisory board. Not only will be able to give you insight on what you're creating, but they might also know who to contact if you don't know any skateboarders or DJs. Survey your exisiting audience - they're the ones most likely to come to the events.

Be open-minded. Your programs do not have to always reflect the program idea you have. No matter what you do, you're introducing new and existing patrons to aspects of the library, be it the space, the books, or you!

As for the staff members who are having trouble understanding why you'd want to bring loud rock music and rowdy teenagers into the intellectual sanctuary of the public library, these reasons might help them understand:

- teens are often ignored as a viable group that uses the library.

- there is an assumption that the library is for little old ladies. If you want to provide access for everyone, you should provide programming that appeals to many different groups.

- having a stable, positive environment for a demographic that is known for being in the midst of personal chaos may be the most important thing you provide.

- teen patrons turn into adult patrons.