Teenagers are at an important and exciting stage in their life. They are both physically and mentally turning into adults and entering a world that is unfamiliar to them. It is challenging, but rewarding as well. Many of life’s hardest lessons are learned in adolescence.
The teenage years can also be dangerous however. Far too often teenagers make destructive decisions that have far reaching repercussions. Teenagers also stare down problems that often seem trite to adults but are stressful to them.
Because of the challenges teenagers face, the Wayne County Public Library realizes their need for a place to find acceptance and to nurture their blossoming talents. To help the youth of our community to find ways to express their creativity and individuality, and to encourage them to serve their community and build positive friendships, the Library has many services available to teenagers.
First of all, the Library has a special section devoted to teenagers, the “Teen Zone.” In this section, teens will find a billboard designed with their interests in mind along with places to sit and read the many books that found there that would appeal to them.
However important it is for teens to have good literature available to them, it is just as important for teenagers to be involved in productive and creative activities. For that reason the Library offers numerous social events designed for teenagers. During the summer there are weekly Movie Night for teenagers. A movie is screened in the Gertrude Weil Auditorium and all teens are welcome to come free of charge. This fall, we have even improved our movie screenings. They are now twice a month on Saturdays, and before the movie the participants have a chance to make arts and crafts or play games while listening to music and enjoying each others’ company, with a chance to win a door prize.
Encouraging teens to use their creativity can lead to powerful, healthy outlets for them to express their opinions and the personal challenges that they face. To help stimulate the creative growth of teens, the Library has many programs centered on an easily approachable art: poetry. This fall the Library has sponsored school programs featuring the local poet C. K. Goodman, wherein students are educated about the benefits of poetry but also encouraged to find their own creative interests. The programs have garnered rave reviews from the staff of the schools it has been featured at. C. K. Goodman also teaches two Saturday poetry workshops, to help teens interested in poetry to refine their talents.
Also, this winter the Library is sponsoring a Multi-Cultural Day. Many different foods and activities from several cultures world-wide will be presented. While this is an event for the whole family, teens will find it a valuable opportunity to become more sensitive to people from other countries and understand the people that are their neighbors and classmates.
And of course, the Library encourages teens to give back to their community. High school students are welcome to participate in the Teen Volunteer Program. They choose a night to volunteer for two hours and do helpful tasks around the library. It is a valuable way to earn volunteer hours for college scholarships, or for memberships in organizations such as the National Honors Scholarships. Volunteer work also looks impressive on job and college applications. Of course, many teens volunteer simply enjoy using their time in a productive manner.
The Library is a possession of the public, and an integral part of that public is our youth. The Wayne County Public Library wants teenagers to make the library a place of their own, for study, enjoyment, and expression. For more information about our teen programs, contact Sue Geiger at the Reference Desk of the Main Branch.
