Teen Services Interview 1: Eric Wilbourn with Tony Goodwyn

Getting to Know Eric Wilbourn: Interview with Tony Goodwyn

Tony: how long have you been working with teenagers?

Eric: Since I was a teen myself, so about 10 years

Tony: what led you into it?

Eric: Oddly, nothing special. I was in need of a job. My Mother worked in a library, and having her helped me get a job at that system. From that I found I enjoyed it, and it led me down this path. A large part of it is from the experiences I had as a teenager myself

Tony: would you elaborate on some of them?

Eric: My high school was very rough in many ways... after high school was rougher... I learned alot of hard things about life, and what people have to go through. I know I have helped many not do the things I did

Tony: so do you see yourself as any kind of parental figure to the teens you work with?

Eric: I try not to, but I know I have become a big brother to alot of them. Teens (and kids) are looking for people to help them, through they don't say it or act like it. We are in one of the best positions, because we are not telling them what to do. At school they are told what to do, what to learn, and how to do it. The same when they go home. Parents tell them what to do, how to live, which is what they should be doing. We are teen people, have the chance to listen, which is something that teens don't get alot of, someone listening, and not telling them what to do

Tony: except of course when you have to get them to settle down :)

Eric: Even if it listening to what they like so we can pick out a good book

oh of course. Teens also respect limits, so you have to show what the limits are

Tony: how do you strike a balance with some teens, who perhaps may try to test those limits, in order to be firm but not overbearing or condescending?

Eric: As you know the limits we have are not because we are just being jerks. They are for protection of them or us. Teens don't know this. Sometimes you can talk to them and explain why things are the way they are. Sometimes you just have to be a jerk and say "its like this, and thats the way it is." Sometimes if you make an example out of someone, others fall in line. The best ones to keep people in check are the teens themselves. If you get their respect then more than half the battle is won

Tony: a little occasional public humiliation goes a long way, right?

Eric: Yes. A good example; When a teen is leaning back in a chair, a common thing I do is this: Instead of saying, "please don't lean back because you could fall and hurt yourself," or hurt the chair, (or possibly if you have already said this), I sometimes say, "When you fall back, and hurt yourself, I am going to point and laugh at you."

Tony: lol

Eric: 85% of the time they stop it and do not do it again

Tony: am i correct to remember that you started off in the HCPL library system?

Eric: yeap

Tony: how did your experiences there inform your current work @ HPL?

Eric: The training at HCPL prepared me in so many ways for what I do for HPL. I learned how to deal with the worst situations, and handle them well, plus try out ideas. Though I was never allowed to try out many ideas I saved them , and Heidi is more than willing to listen and try many out.

Tony: is that where you've gotten so many programming ideas? i know i've adopted a few of them...

Eric: Well I am a kid at heart. Alot of the programming ideas are just things I want to do. Most others are from the teens I talk to. I just listen to what they like, what they are into and try it out.

Tony: do you read a lot of YA literature?

Eric: I try to. Like everyone, I am behind on my reading. I always have the plot outlines for any large series or popular book. My main reading focus is YA lit.

Tony: what would you say so far is your single favorite YA book?

Eric: That depends on the genre and what you are looking for. For a coming of age, or "life story" (as I call them) I would say "The Book Thief." For a cheap scare, I would say any Fear Street book.

Tony: lol i've actually never read r.l. stine, myself

Eric: After a while they all begin to read the same, but they are short cool reads

Tony: obviously stella link is a pretty big site for teens with the after school zones. do you ever feel particularly stressed out by the sheer numbers, or the fact that you have to do this day in, day out?

Eric: LOL It seems like that, but it isn't like that at all. I get stressed, but not from the number of teens. Or that I have to do this everyday. Compared to places I've been and dealt with, Stella is very easy and calm. The kids are great.

Tony: are they generally receptive to your programs and presence then?

Eric: Yes. It is very easy to talk to teens, and learn what they want

Tony: what would you say that is, generally?

Eric: It depends on the teen or the group. Certain kids want a Smash Brothers Tournament, others want to learn how to build computer games, or advance computer skills. Others want to learn how to make a home made diary. Others just want to know why can't they play Halo 3 at the library.

Tony: do you mostly discern what your teens want by talking to them? the reason i ask is because i've heard of teen librarians doing surveys and the like...

Eric: I think that is the best way to do programing, is to learn what the teens want, by surveys, talking, whatever means. You can have a kick butt scrapbooking program, but if the teens in your area want to play Runescape, then you are wasting your time. Not say we can't expose new programming, but we need to learn what works and what doesn't.

Tony: makes sense. is this career something that gives you a lot of satisfaction? do you want to keep working with teens for the foreseeable future?

Eric: Yeap this is my path and I am walking it. I had a successful career in the theater, plus have had a few things published. If I wanted too, I could go to these routes, and probably make more money, but in the end of the day, I am happy, because I know I am changing the world in my own little way. I think one problem us teen librarians face is this: We are scared to look stupid. We have to take risks, and try new things for our teens. When they fail, we learn and try again.

Tony: and hopefully be able to laugh at ourselves in the meantime :)

Eric: Yeap. A good example is when I had to learn D and D. I felt stupid, and prob looked even stupider as I tried to be a DM this summer. The teens loved it, and it turned to be a big draw.