Virtual Variety: Discord!

Lindy Liedl from the Rice Lake Public Library returns with her monthly column on all things virtual to help you connect with your teen patrons!

You would love to learn about another online social platform right?? :)

For our library, we know our teens aren’t on Facebook, and other platforms have been a struggle when it comes to building a community for our teens. So it was worth looking into another platform to give them their own space to hang out before our in-person programming could open again. And maybe your teens would enjoy it too!

What is it?
Discord is a site, or app, where you can create, or join, online communities. It has text, voice chat, and screen sharing capabilities which make it handy for virtual programs. Only those with a link can join, so it can be a private, controlled environment for teens. It’s mainly used by Twitch live-streamers or Youtubers to create a space for their fans to chat about recent uploads, their common interests, or to share fanart. Libraries can use it to create a virtual teen space where you can give them challenges, host events, ask them for input, or just provide a space for a virtual community to grow.

Getting started creating your server:
I won’t go into a walkthrough here because there’s so many great ones out there–I’m just here to convince you to take the leap! There’s a very helpful Facebook Group called Teen Librarians Using Discord where you can find info about making your server a safe community, and startup questions. I also recommend a Discord community you can join called Teen Librarians. For a complete walkthrough, Teen Services Underground has a great post explaining how to create a server step-by-step. Youtube is an endless source of tutorials on whatever you might need too, of course.

Why another platform??
If enough library teens join, Discord is capable of being all-encompassing as a photo-sharing, services info-sharing, chatting space, and an event-hosting platform.

Though the world is starting to open up again, I suggest keeping virtual spaces for teens. After all, most don’t have cars, some have after-school activities that keep them busy, and some–like my past teen self–are too introverted to make a solo trip to an event without knowing people who are attending. 

A virtual space is a helpful tool to get to know and celebrate them, which could lead to them being comfortable coming into the building. The teens on our Discord server spend all week, in between their busy lives, sending animal pictures to each other, sharing their latest piece of writing, posting their artwork, telling each other jokes, or venting about something annoying that happened to them. I can pop in anytime and get their feedback on a program idea, share a challenge, or be a listening ear too.

It’s a fun bridge that was really helpful during lockdown to provide virtual programs, and it continues to be a hub for sharing event information and services with them too.

These are some of the channel names we have set up. More have been added over time to accommodate their interests and programs that we come up with. Not pictured: We have a channel of help links available if teens are going through a hard time.

Passive programs through Discord

Finish This Comic:
Find by searching “finish this comic Jarrett Lerner” on Pinterest. An image of a partially-filled comic that they can download and draw on using a drawing app.

Riddle Day:
Just a riddle shared once a week. They make guesses and I share the answer at the end of the day.

Writing Prompt:
We have a lot of writers, so I share a prompt from Pinterest, or an image they can write about for fun

Programs hosted on Discord:
Game Nights:
Using a Voice channel on Discord, the teens can chat over their mics while playing a game together, or you can screen-share and host a game like Jackbox where attendants play over their mobile devices.

Movie Nights/Anime Club:
Using a Voice channel, a movie can be screen-shared to viewers. You can mute attendants so that everyone can hear the movie, or let them chat over their mics.

Crafts:
We had an extended game night over Discord with a craft session. You can have attendants turn on webcams and chat or give instructions like you’re in a room together.

Writing Club:
Have teens meet virtually and chat about their passion for writing–Or another special interest of theirs! This can be done with the use of a game, or just casual conversation on a Voice channel.