Field Teen Center at the Free Library provides youth a safe place to hang

February 28, 2022 Post a Comment

Not Your Grandma'south Library

Like every generation before them, today'south teens but desire a place to call their own. The basement of 1901 Vine Street provides just that

Jan. 15, 2020

When Kam Greer'due south friends told her where they were heading after school one 24-hour interval final leap, she thought they were kidding.

The library? she asked, looking at them skeptically. But the 15-year-sometime went along, following her peers to the basement of the Costless Library of Philadelphia'south Parkway Central branch.

There, behind a heavy, otherwise-nondescript door, she entered an unexpected world of books, sure, but likewise shelves upon shelves of manga, and lucite cases full of Marvel and DC comics; tables covered in puzzles and games; a 75-inch flat-screen TV on which to view anime and compete in Nintendo Switch, Playstation iv and Xbox Ane games; paper-covered tables and markers for doodling. There was a maker space with a 3-D printer and a sewing machine, and everywhere she looked, cozy chairs in hues of bright red and orangish.

Do Something This is non your grandma'due south library. In fact, it's merely open up to teens ages 12 to xviii.

"It's honestly simply a safe identify for teens to get, where y'all feel like you tin can be yourself and y'all can do whatever y'all need to do to be yourself," says Greer. "And there are so many adults there who tin can help yous, and anybody'south so nice and welcoming." She now visits about 3 times a week.

Officially called Field Teen Heart—named for local philanthropists Joseph and Marie Field—the iv,000-square-foot center opened its doors in April. Now on a typical weekday, almost thirty teens are hanging out at whatever given fourth dimension, to bond with staff and partake in events, such every bit a Yule Jawn holiday party and compete, as role of Harry Potter-style "houses" or teams, for the chance to win prizes like pizza parties.

At that place are Anime Mondays and Video Game Tuesdays and Lath Game Thursdays. There is a gratuitous Sabbatum-prep course on weekends. Every bit part of a partnership with Philly Slam League, at that place is poetry squad practice twice a month, as well every bit art contests and jewelry-making, "Adulting 101" and cooking. There are vending machines—typically a library no-no—and free personal pronoun stickers, besides as a self-care station including hygiene products and condoms.

In large function, the inviting atmosphere stems from the staff, led by Teen Center head librarian Kris Langlais. Her guiding philosophy shapes what happens there: "I don't know who first said this, merely when I think about the part of a teen librarian, I always come back to information technology: Be the person that you needed when you were a teen."

At a fourth dimension when we live in an increasingly digital world, Langlais, a Philly native who grew upward in Oxford Circle and regularly visited the Northeast Regional Library with her parents and sis, has made in-person togetherness—a existent sense of community—highly-seasoned to teens.

"The Field Teen Center is a place where you lot can come together, be who you are, deed your age and just kick back and exercise what you lot need to," says Greer.

"We're providing a infinite for all teens, including teens in the margins who don't necessarily feel like they take a place otherwise," she says. "Teens come here for hours a day, every day, and they see our really diverse staff, and they feel welcome. And that'southward our number-i goal, the whole reason for being here."

Langlais has been with the library system for well-nigh seven years, and was part of the years-long planning procedure involving architects, teens and boyfriend librarians, that led to the Center'southward creation—part of the library'southward $35.8 million renovation.

While casting for her fellow staffers, she looked for one matter above all else: people who care deeply almost teens and remember what it's like to be one.

That rigorous screening process led to a crew that has become confidantes for many of the Field Teen Eye's regulars. "Nosotros know all these teens," Langlais says. "When they're having a bad day, nosotros recognize it. We offer to listen if they want to talk, or offer to take a quick walk around the building."

All staff have undergone preparation in youth mental-health First Aid, only they are not therapists. Instead, they're able to refer teens to customs resources for help. They're besides mandated reporters, required by police to report any suspected abuse or neglect.

They are passionate virtually dreaming up programming, and just as eager to allow the teens lead that planning process. All activities, from karaoke to slime-making, are free, funded through the library budget and with the support of grants and donations.

Video Langlais dreams of a time when every library branch in Philly volition take a budget to offering the kind of robust opportunities she tin at Field Teen Center. She cites Chicago'due south library organization's teen programming, with its offerings at 19 satellite branches, every bit a model to which ours should aspire. Funding could brand that possible.

"Teens only demand an outlet," says Langlais, noting that The Attic Youth Center is also doing a phenomenal chore locally of offering a place primarily for LGBTQ teens. "Our master focus is to create a safe infinite where teens will relish going—to say you can do all the things that you like to do, we'll facilitate that."

The heart opened as part of the library's renovation last spring that moved more than 800,000 books and opened more gathering spaces for different communities to the main branch.

In addition to Field Teen Center, there's The Robert and Eileen Kennedy Heim Heart for Cultural and Civic Engagement, and the Business Resource and Innovation Heart. It's part of the library'southward aim to achieve many dissimilar kinds of literacy through its 21st Century Libraries initiative, which has also turned a scattering of neighborhood branches into community hubs, addressing the specific needs of their communities.

"It'due south positive vibes all around," says Greer. "Information technology's like a warm, fuzzy hug."

It also speaks to the changing world of libraries hither and across the land, at a time when access to books—digital, audio and otherwise—is not necessarily the primary need people have of their local branches.

Already, Philly librarians are resource for people who are experiencing homelessness; some take had to exist trained in how to administer Narcan, in case of an opioid overdose within or just outside their branches. Our library system offers musical instrument loans, cooking classes and prison and re-entry services.

"The Field Teen Center is a place where y'all can come up together, be who y'all are, human activity your historic period and just kick dorsum and practice what you need to," says Greer, the loftier school sophomore. "It's positive vibes all effectually. It's like a warm, fuzzy hug."

Read nigh other absurd youth programs in Philly and beyond:

Tin can basketball game keep youth out of prison? It'south working in Richmond, Virginia.
Bridges to Wealth teaches Philadelphia youth how to be smart investors
Due south Jersey program distributes backpacks to thousands of area youth
Due west.B. Saul Agricultural School teaches local youth how to exist urban farmers

Header photograph courtesy Field Teen Middle