Celebrating 30 Years of YAC

This month we are proud to celebrate 30 years of the Youth Advisory Council (YAC)! Karen Siwak, the library’s first Young Adult Librarian, placed a call for young adults to join a new group in the spring 1996 library newsletter. YAC began with a handful of teens and has grown into a thriving monthly meeting of 20–30 teens sharing program ideas, enjoying activities, and building friendships. Some of our longstanding and most beloved teen programs began in the council’s early years: Fairy Tale Theatre, Battle of the Books, and Library Lock-ins.

Of course, we can’t talk about teen programs and services without giving a big shoutout to Miss Lowe and Mrs. P.! Both librarians have been working with teens at the library for many years—Miss Lowe since 2004 and Mrs. P. since 2013. Looking back over her time at the library, Mrs. P. expressed that the highlight of her year is Fairy Tale Theatre and she always looks forward to the YAC lock-ins. She also really enjoyed leading the Oak Park Avenue bench project each year from 2022–2024 with a group of talented teen artists. Miss Lowe can’t choose a favorite program or memory, but she loves when former teens stop by the library with their partners and children, and she gets to see where life has taken them. “I guess I expected our relationship to end when they graduate high school and it means so much to me that it doesn’t.”

When asked how they think services for teens at the library will evolve, Mrs. P. shared that while trends and formats evolve, the heart of teen services will continue to be about connection: creating a welcoming space where teens can learn, find community, and see themselves reflected in programs and collections. Miss Lowe added that the Youth & Teen Services department is always looking for new ways to support teens and get them “future ready” for life after high school. Their biggest goal is to leave young adults with a lasting impression of libraries as a positive place, whether it’s the Tinley Park Public Library or the library near their next home.

Happy anniversary to all the library staff and teens in the community who have made the Youth Advisory Council a cornerstone of teen services. We can’t wait to see what you’ll do in the next 30 years!