Libraries provide a unique service to their users, as both a public space and as a portal for meaningful access to the information that people and communities need to learn, grow and develop. This is particularly essential for youth, who are discovering their independence and identities, and have important information needs.

This is not to say that the job is an easy one, given the challenges many young people face. This essay from IFLA, drawing on experiences shared at the World Library and Information Congress, highlights how libraries are already, successfully, providing youth with the support they need. It offers lessons and suggestions for others in doing the same, as well as providing evidence of the need to place libraries are the heart of youth policies.