Jenn: Tell me about yourself and how you came to the Jones Library as the head of Teen Services.
Cecilia: I went to Amherst College, where I interned with Amherst Media and worked at the college radio station. After college I worked at the University of Washington Libraries and got my Masters in Library Science. I was very involved with activism addressing media literacy and the concentration of media ownership. I later moved to Spain and ended up teaching English to teens there—something I hadn’t imagined myself doing. After 6 years in Spain, I started looking for teen librarian jobs in the U.S. My 20th college reunion was coming up and the Jones job happened to be open, so it seemed like a sign.
J: What were some challenges for teens and youth librarians at the old Jones space?
C: When I first got here, the Youth Services Department covered ages 0-18, which is a really wide age range. There was no dedicated teen space. There were places they tended to gather, unsupervised—dark corners, the basement. It wasn’t safe, especially for younger teens, and it didn’t inspire teens to be their best selves. We did the pop-up Teen Lounge program in the Woodbury room on Friday afternoons, but there was nothing else for the rest of the week, and it was an opt-in program. It was not an ideal space, but we did what we could. We would sometimes have 80 teens in the Woodbury Room!
Teens are usually unchaperoned at the library, and that’s a good thing. We want them to be able to be in the community, to feel welcome, and to act like young adults. They do need some scaffolding, supervision, and accommodation that other parts of the library don’t have. We also want parents to feel comfortable leaving their teens in the library.
In addition to the lack of a hang-out and study space, there was no program room for teens. It was difficult to schedule teen events and run the Teen Volunteer program without a dedicated space. The teens started a Homework Help program and also wanted to launch a special movie club, but I couldn’t find a space for them to meet on a regular, weekly basis like they wanted to.
J: What will the new Teen Center at the Jones Library provide when it opens in 2027?
C: We’ll have a dedicated teen lounge with tables and chairs, comfy seating, and screens. There will also be a Teen Program Room, which is really exciting. With a space dedicated to teen programming, they can have the opportunity to be a leader—they can come up with an idea and make it happen.
The Young Adult collection will be just outside the lounge and study area, so that anyone of any age can access the YA books, but the teens will have their own space to hang out.
Cecilia’s fun mockup of the Teen Lounge, overlaying an official architectural rendering. Teen volunteers will have the opportunity to help decorate the space. Renderings of new and renovated library spaces are available here.
J: What impact will these new spaces have on teens in the community—even those who have never set foot in the library?
C: I think it’s going to be a pretty popular after-school place where they can hang out. It’s walkable from the middle and high schools. It’s good to have a space where they can be themselves. It’s the perfect third space.
At home, teens are with their parents, and at school they are with their teachers. With a social space like the library, they don’t have to have friends over to their house. There’s democracy in it—everything here is available to everyone. They can learn to navigate on their own without adults constantly telling them what to do, but still have the basic consequences that come with being in a public setting. Their social skills develop phenomenally.
J: How will the library make sure the new space serves all teens in the community?
C: Teens will be able to participate in this space and give input into what the opportunities are. We will do a lot of outreach so that Amherst teens know that the space is available to them. I picture it being a busy afterschool space that teens can just walk into.
Previously, we tried to make a sterile meeting room into a one-size-fits-all for everyone. We had to wheel things in on a cart and go back and forth between spaces. Now the teens will become familiar with the space and know exactly where things are. And our regulars, including our great group of teen volunteers, will be able to really create something that won’t need to be broken down and packed up at the end of the program.
J: What would you like to say to those who have made gifts to support the building project, or those who are interested in doing so?
C: This is a great investment in creating the future leaders of our community. Libraries are one of the last great democratic places where people can do things at no cost. Regardless of their resources at home, they can participate in and create community at the library.
We invite anyone interested in supporting the Jones Library renovation and expansion to make a donation, of any amount, today at joneslibrarycapitalcampaign.org/donate. If you are interested in making a gift to name a space in the library, please contact Lisa DeGrace (Director of Development) at info@joneslibrarycapitalcampaign.org.
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