When the new library was designed, the teen space was purposefully and carefully laid out to welcome young people into our new facility. With a space of their own and the library’s proximity to the high school, along with many activities available to them, our teens are using the library more than ever before. Several teens come to the library regularly to use the computers, do homework, read or just hang out with friends.

In the teen area, board games and cards are now available for them to enjoy. There is even a space to create graffiti so they can leave their mark.

With the addition of a YA (young adult) library card, teens, ages 14 through 17, can now apply for a YA card by simply taking the card home for a parent or guardian to sign. This card allows them more access to the library, such as checking out movies in the adult section. 

There are several programs to draw and keep teens, grades six through 12, active and involved in the library. The Washington Advisory Board of Teens (W.A.B.o.T.) meets the first Thursday of the month to discuss and plan upcoming events for the library, recommend books and other materials for purchase and to have a voice in library happenings. 

A.N.I.M.E. Club provides a time and place for teens who love anime and manga (Japanese Graphic Novels) to come and meet together. During each meeting (second Tuesday of every month), the teens watch a new anime series, talk about anime and manga, help plan events such as Anime Movie Nights and our Chinese New Year Party, eat rice or ramen, draw manga style and more.

A Teen Book Club meets every other month to discuss books selected by the group. We are currently reading “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan and will be discussing it Feb. 25.

Along with these regularly scheduled events, the Washington Library is also offering a wide range of programs to be held through the spring including a Chinese New Year Party Feb. 12 and a Wii-lympics event with Mario and Sonic Winter Olympics Feb. 19. In March, there will be a
YouTube Swap where teens can share their favorite YouTube videos and an Anime Movie Night featuring Hayao Miyazaki’s newest film, Ponyo. An Ice Cream Social and Board Game Night will be held in April during National Library Week, during which we will also be collecting items for WHIP.

As the library strives to provide exciting activities and new services to teens, we hope you will encourage teens you know to be involved and come join the fun at your library.

For more information about any of these events, check out our new Web site at www.washington.lib.il.us/, or call Emily at 444-2241.