by Tiffany Ritter
During after-school hours, the Harbaugh-Thomas Library in Biglerville opens its doors to a space made entirely for teenagers in 7th-12th grade, giving teens a place of their own.
The Teen Center is lined with plenty of books to read, including manga and graphic novels. Every month there is a new craft available to spark inspiration and creativity. This April, the craft will be Jenga painting. Jenga is a popular game in the Teen Center, and this craft allows teens to customize one of their favorite pastimes by painting fun, unique designs on the blocks.
Along with Jenga, the Teen Center has many board and card games available, as well as gaming computers and a Nintendo Switch to play video games with friends. Spring Teen Center hours are Tuesday-Friday from 2:45-6:00 PM.
There are many fun events available for teenagers to participate in at the library.
For example, the Baking Club meets twice a month in the Teen Center. During the first meeting, teens will be given recipes that follow a theme. Then, Baking Club members will vote on which recipe they want to make. On the day of the second meeting, they will work together to make and eat the recipe. Baking Club helps to teach measuring skills, food preparation, and teamwork, plus it provides a tasty after-school snack. The next meeting days for Baking Club will be Wednesday, April 15, and Wednesday, April 29, from 4:00-5:30 PM.
A new event is making its way to the library this year – Teen Center Bingo! This event is for tweens and teens in 5th-12th grade. Participants can play bingo in the Teen Center for the chance to earn small prizes! 5th and 6th graders may also stay for activities after the event to see what a day is like in the Teen Center.
Due to popular demand, the Table Tennis Tournament will be returning on Tuesday, May 19 from 4:00-5:00 PM. Teens can show off their skills in a tournament-style competition for the chance to become the new table tennis champion. The winner will receive a prize! For teens who prefer a more laid-back game, table tennis is also available during regular Teen Center hours for casual play.
To register for events and view the full schedule of activities for teens, check the ACLS calendar of events at www.adamslibrary.org/events or pick up a What’s Happening guide the next time you’re at the library.
Tiffany Ritter is Teen Services Specialist at the Harbaugh-Thomas Library, part of the Adams County Library System.