Latonia Jackson is Oak Park's new Manager of Teen Services
Latonia Jackson is the Oak Park Public Library's new Manager of Teen Services.
Before joining the library in January, Latonia spent over 20 years working at Oak Park and River Forest High School, most recently as Outreach Coordinator. She has extensive work and volunteer experience serving teens and their families, and is part of a peer network that meets monthly, with members from Oak Park and River Forest organizations such as the townships, schools, libraries, the Community Mental Health Board, and Thrive Counseling Center.
"I'm happy and proud to be in a position to cultivate, encourage, and support teenagers," Latonia says.
Read more from Latonia on the library's website, including what makes her feel hopeful about teens today, and an excerpt below:
How can the library help make a difference in teens' lives?
"The library is already rich in resources, and we can make a difference by connecting entire families to the wealth of resources we have to offer," Latonia says.
"We can also make a difference by being a welcoming environment for all. Everyone should feel comfortable with every library staff member; every encounter should be positive. Patrons should feel a sense of, "This is my library." When that happens, it's easier to engage. Patrons will want to visit, sign up for events, and so on.
"This is particularly important for teens. Outside of home, there are not a lot of places in town for teens to truly be themselves. We have created that environment and are ready to entertain their ideas, hear their dreams, help map out their personal and educational goals, and broaden their horizons in general."
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