Event Registration - Northeast Ohio Regional Library System
Respect + Resilience: Applying the Mentor Mindset to Improve Teen Engagement Competency: Communication, Customer Service, and Patron Awareness 09/02/26 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM Adapted from the latest work by Dr. David Yeager (10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People), this training equips public-facing library staff with practical tools and strategies to cultivate an environment of respect that improves communication and strengthens relationships with teens. Participants will learn strategies rooted in current psychology and neuroscience to create a more positive, engaging environment for teens that extends to all patrons.
Learning Objectives:
Attendees will understand how teen brain development affects teens' perception of the world around them and how they interact with it.
Attendees will understand how to set and enforce boundaries appropriately with teens to elicit desired behaviors and avoid undesirable ones.
Attendees will learn to employ respect, transparency, and appropriate expectations to foster positive interactions and relationships with teens in the library.
Presenters: Carolyn Bagley is the intermediate/teen librarian at Firestone Park Library, part of the Akron–Summit County Public Library system. Drawing on 15 years of experience as an educator, she is a vocal advocate for middle and high school students, dedicated to helping adults shift their mindset about teenagers toward seeing them as capable, thoughtful, and worthy of trust. Carolyn is excited to support fellow public service workers with practical professional development rooted in teen-centered practice.
Kelly Chaplin has been working with youth for a decade and is currently the Assistant Youth Services Coordinator at Akron-Summit County Public Library. Kelly helps connect youth librarians with community representatives. She has experience with organizing large-scale programs such as the Library's mini-comicon Geekfest and system-wide services like the free book box subscription Lit Loot. Collaboration is key in all these efforts, and she deeply values what the Library staff can create when working together. She enjoys it when teens teach her new things and encourages youth to participate at their library and in the community.
Abigail Krukemeyer is an Intermediate and Teen Librarian with Akron-Summit County Public Library. She is passionate about adolescent development and is dedicated to providing services and opportunities that equip young people to succeed in today's multimodal world.
Emily Smith has worked for Akron Summit County Public Library for 8 years, currently serving as one of their Collection Development Librarians, and previously worked as an Intermediate/Teen Librarian. Emily holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Mount Union and an MLIS from Kent State University. Her educational and career background has afforded her the opportunity to work alongside youth and learn and understand their behavior, particularly inside a public library setting. Location: Online via Zoom
Carolyn Bagley is the intermediate/teen librarian at Firestone Park Library, part of the Akron–Summit County Public Library system. Drawing on 15 years of experience as an educator, she is a vocal advocate for middle and high school students, dedicated to helping adults shift their mindset about teenagers toward seeing them as capable, thoughtful, and worthy of trust. Carolyn is excited to support fellow public service workers with practical professional development rooted in teen-centered practice.
Kelly Chaplin has been working with youth for a decade and is currently the Assistant Youth Services Coordinator at Akron-Summit County Public Library. Kelly helps connect youth librarians with community representatives. She has experience with organizing large-scale programs such as the Library's mini-comicon Geekfest and system-wide services like the free book box subscription Lit Loot. Collaboration is key in all these efforts, and she deeply values what the Library staff can create when working together. She enjoys it when teens teach her new things and encourages youth to participate at their library and in the community.
Abigail Krukemeyer is an Intermediate and Teen Librarian with Akron-Summit County Public Library. She is passionate about adolescent development and is dedicated to providing services and opportunities that equip young people to succeed in today's multimodal world. 
Emily Smith has worked for Akron Summit County Public Library for 8 years, currently serving as one of their Collection Development Librarians, and previously worked as an Intermediate/Teen Librarian. Emily holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Mount Union and an MLIS from Kent State University. Her educational and career background has afforded her the opportunity to work alongside youth and learn and understand their behavior, particularly inside a public library setting.