by Barbara Buckley
We’re fortunate to have a lovely Teen Center on the first floor of the Harbaugh-Thomas Library. This is a room dedicated to teens, as the name suggests. Specifically, it is a place reserved for those in 7th-12th grade. Imagine a large room with five gaming computers lining one wall, colorful posters, the occasional multicolored ceiling tile painted by teens last year, bean bag chairs, and other comfortable furniture. A drop-down screen and a projector offer the opportunity for movies and multiplayer video games on the Switch or Xbox. There is a small attached study room with a hand-painted, teen-created mural of a house and tree on one wall. We have an art cart with craft supplies that can be used by the kids and a monthly craft project kids can drop in and do. Our October art activity is pumpkin decorating—all supplies provided. And there is a game closet with many games to choose from—Connect Four and chess have been fan favorites since the Teen Center opened in October of 2019.
Our new Teen Specialist, Tiffany, warmly welcomes teens as they enter, makes sure they abide by our behavior policy (they are teens, after all), and gets to know our Teen Center kids. This is a place to unwind after the school day and socialize face-to-face. Kids can grab a book, magazine or one of our many games and just relax. Or, if it is a Wednesday afternoon, they may play table tennis on the table we wheel out to the center of the room.
There are regulars who come in often. Others we see only seasonally as they swing by the Teen Center to spend the time from the end of the school day until band practice, or soccer practice, or until a Biglerville High School or Middle School soccer or football game begins. It is a community resource in an area where there aren’t that many places for teens just to hang out. It is a collective gathering place where no money is needed, creativity is encouraged, and opportunities to make friends are plentiful. Currently, the Teen Center is open from 2:45-6 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays. Beginning November 1, the Teen Center will be open from 2:45-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays.
Also, check out our scheduled activities for teens at www.adamslibrary.org! Teens can attend gaming club every Wednesday from 5-6 PM. They can practice their table tennis skills on Wednesdays and then compete in a friendly table tennis tournament on Friday, November 3, from 3-5 PM. On October 27th at 3 PM we’ll be showing a creepy, stop-motion movie in which a shy young groom accidentally gets married to a bride from the other side. Snacks provided. Or teens can sign up for a free monthly subscription box with a staff-selected library book and a few fun surprise gifts inside! Registration is encouraged for all activities. Feel free to stop by the Teen Center; we’re always happy to give a quick tour.
Barbara Buckley is the branch manager of the Harbaugh-Thomas Library in Biglerville.
What a good use of an existing community resource. Thank you Adams County Library System. Perhaps this will be extended to other libraries in the system.