Over the past 6 months an innovative relationship has budded between the Kellogg-Hubbard Library and the Basement Teen Center of Montpelier. The collaboration hopes to make teens more aware of the fun, safe activities available at the Basement, which is located on the side of the City Hall building at 39 Main Street in Montpelier.
The first step towards the partnership was taken in March 2007 with the creation of a teen bulletin board in the Young Adult section on the mezzanine in the Library. The bulletin board includes information about the Teen Center, a schedule of activities, and an interactive portion that encourages teens to add their own materials such as art and poetry.
Several months later, in May, a month long program called "Teen Movies in May" was initiated. Over the course of 5 weeks, movies were shown every Thursday afternoon and Teen Center staff were present to inform teens and encourage those attending to sign up for free membership with the Teen Center. In all, 42 teens attended the "Movies in May" program, and about 15 signed up for new membership with the Basement Teen Center.
Once teens heard from their peers that the library was showing big screen movies, and the Teen Center was providing tons of snacks, attendance at the programs really shot up.
An anime film that was shown one week during "Movies in May" turned out to be so popular that teens specifically requested that lots more anime be shown in the future. So, at this request, the Library and Teen Center once again partnered to provide a special anime presentation at the beginning of August, called "Teen Anime Fest." "Teen Anime Fest" featured two anime films shown back to back along with a display of Manga and Japanese comics available for teens to check out from the Library. One of the anime films featured a love story set in a library, which the teens thought was really cute and appropriate to show at the Kellogg-Hubbard.
Although no more of these special collaborative programs are planned at this time, the Library hopes that the Basement Teen Center will keep up its presence at the Library though the teen bulletin board and use of library meeting space for future teen programs.
"The collaboration between Kellogg-Hubbard Library and the Basement Teen Center has helped both organizations gain more acceptance with youth in the community. I am sure that there will be collaboration in the future, and hopefully youth in the community with take advantage of these opportunities," George Karpoff, Director of the Basement Teen Center
For more information on the Basement Teen Center visit: http://www.youthservicebureau.info/programs_services/prevention/basement_teen_center.htm
Or contact Teen Center Director George Karpoff at 229-9151. Photo: "Inside the teen center there is a pool table, games, couches, TV, internet, snacks, and many activities all free to teens."
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