By Katie Auman
Did you know? Each Library location has a space dedicated to serving teens and providing a place where each teen feels welcome and comfortable. We’re excited to share a newly redesigned teen area opening at Old Town Library this month. The renovation was made possible by a generous donation from The Don & May Wilkins Charitable Trust.
The updated space was designed with input from local teens and features new furniture, space for DIY activities, community resource information for teens, and a teen-created wall mural. Local teens also named the area “Teen Corner” and helped shape the guidelines.
“It’s so important for teens to have a space that is not only set aside just for them, but a space that they can help create and claim as their own,” explained Jace L., teen librarian at Old Town Library.
The Teen Corner will serve a dual purpose for the community, with designated teen-only times and other times when teens and adults can use the space together.
During the regular school year, the area will be available for teens only:
- Monday – Friday, from 4:00 pm to close
- Saturday and Sunday, all-day
Library staff may ask adults using the Teen Corner or other spaces intended for teens to relocate during designated teen-only times. The 2025 summer schedule is being determined and will be posted online and in the space for customers.
“We are so excited to have teen-only hours in the Teen Corner to foster teen community, safety, and connection,” said Jace. “We hope this project makes the teens feel safe, inspired, and connected to their community.”
Teen Corner Grand Opening
Everyone is invited to the Teen Corner Grand Opening event to see the area and explore the available activities and resources.
Grand Opening
Tuesday, March 18
5:30 – 7:00pm @ Old Town Library
Stop by any time to enjoy refreshments, talk with staff and teens, and tour the new space.
Mural Reflects Teens’ Community & Interests
Over the course of three days in October 2024, local teens painted a mural that they had envisioned and designed with the support of Old Town Library teen librarian Jace L. and Poudre Libraries’ graphic designer Sarah Melby.
The result? Vibrant, beautiful artwork that captures elements of the teens’ own community and interests while also showing how reading can inspire people.
“Ultimately, the teens were the driving force and inspiration behind this whole project,” said Jace. “I wanted to create something unique and just for them, and they made that idea a home run!”
The process to get to a final design involved many teen voices and lots of input. It began with their vision boards and rough sketches, and transformed into a unique, final design the entire community can enjoy.
The entire Teen Corner project – from the mural to the furniture to the activities available – endeavored to put youth voices and value their vision for creating a space just for them.
