Good Morning Youth Library People!! Kara and I are collaborating on a talk for the Maine Resilience Building Network on the work libraries do with youth. This talk will be SUPER brief (5-6 minutes) and they would like us to touch on topics of connecting youth and the community, something libraries do really well. Since we are speaking on behalf of YSS and the greater library community we wanted to crowdsource some talking points. Likely most of the ideas will be compiled into a handout for attendees since we only have 5 minutes to talk. I have a bunch, but I also wanted to get collaboration from other Maine libraries. Because I was on vacation last week, this is a very short turnaround request. I need stories and anecdotes by tonight (10/5/21). Please send off-list to me and I will compile everything into a handout crediting you and your library. Topics we are interested in include: - What we see in the community & how libraries provide a safe place for youth - Youth programmings - How teens can feel connected to the community through the library - How things have changed since COVID - How libraries have struggled with being 'separate but together' with youth over the past year - Resources libraries offer - Best practices for community connections - The connection of mattering to socio-economic status -- Danielle Fortin, she/her Teen Services Librarian McArthur Public Library YSS Chair -- Danielle Fortin, she/her Teen Services Librarian McArthur Public Library YSS Chair