Why does the Library close so early on Fridays? Where are we supposed to hang out?

15-year-old ARHS sophomore

It’s the Library or CVS. There’s no other place to go after school.

13-year-old CICS 8^th grader

Once the colder weather comes we badly need a place to hang out after school. Especially one where we don’t have to spend $5 or more on bubble tea. The library renovation would give kids who don’t have any space at home somewhere to relax.

12-year-old ARMS 7^th grader

When teens use our current public computers in the Reference area, adult patrons often complain about the level of noise as teens are more inclined to work aloud and collaboratively while adults prefer silence.

Library staff

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The Jones Library Renovation and Expansion plans increase the availability of safer after-school gathering places for teens. Teens surveyed by the library indicate that, especially for those who don’t participate in after-school programs such as athletics, there are no other free indoor spaces to gather. Particularly those who come from low-income and dual-income families, the Library provides important neutral space for teens to socialize outside of school, supporting social as well as digital equity since many teens do not have technology-equipped living spaces where they can invite friends.

Located on the second floor in the newly built extension, the teen center will be purpose built, flexible, bright, and welcoming program space designed with the needs of teens in mind, including:

• Individual and group study tables;
• A group study room;
• Lounge space;
• 6 computer workstations for individual use and for courses and workshops on coding, graphic design, animation, and audio-video production;
• A Media Zone with dual screens which can be used for sharing teen-created content such as digital art shows or presentations; and
• A Makerspace, with equipment such as sewing machines and 3D printers, where teens can pursue shared hobbies together, building new skills and discovering new interests.

With a combination of formal programming and dedicated equipment for unstructured exploration, the teen center will provide services, programs and technology to help bridge the digital divide for all our community’s youth.

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To read more about the need for Teen Space, please see these documents

Reasons to Expand our Young Adult Space, prepared by Library staff in 2016

Public Comment from May 2022 Open House (Multiple categories include comments relating to teens.)

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