Library hopes new section entices more teenagers to drop by
The Confederation Centre Public Library is hoping the addition of the new Teen Space will encourage teenagers to drop by more often.
Located inside the main library, the new space was officially opened Thursday.
“The teen space offers a collection of books and other materials for young adults. We have fiction, non- fiction and we have some graphic novels,’’ said Liam O’Hare, systems librarian. “It’s been an area we’ve seen interest developing and we wanted to respond to that.’’
The Rotary Club of Charlottetown Royalty is donating $ 25,000 toward the creation of the space and will contribute an additional $ 5,000 per year over the next four years for new technology, new books, DVDs and music for teens.
John McQuaid, president of the rotary club, said investing in literacy is extremely important.
“We wanted to help create a project that results in a peaceful community,’’ McQuaid said, adding that reading helps people formulate and articulate opinions, key ingredients in developing the peacefulness he speaks of.
Tourism and Culture Minister Robert Henderson said it was at the library where he stayed on top of hockey news as a teen.
“I’m confident this new space will encourage teenagers to visit the public library since it offers materials and technologies that teenagers will find appealing,’’ Henderson said.
The library consulted with teenagers prior to developing Teen Space. Staff created a questionnaire that was distributed to local schools and library users in November 2011.
That was followed by a teen focus group in the library. Collating the answers provided a summary of wishes and desires from the teens — such as a comfortable couch, chairs, coffee table, teen author visits, opportunities to display their own work, both written and drawn, more new material, a hot chocolate station and improved signage.
Atlantic Business Interiors supplied furniture colours, fabrics and finishes. Library shelving was ordered from a Nova Scotia manufacturer who works with libraries across the country while cabinetry has been done by a local carpenter.
O’Hare said Teen Space definitely fills a void.
“There was a feeling that the teens were almost falling through the cracks in that we have a children’s collection here at the library and an adult collection but that middle age group wasn’t being captured by our resources. This is an effort to address that.’’