TeenSpace - pwpl.org

Frequently Asked Questions for Teens:

About Young Adult Services

What is TeenSpace?

If you're in grades 7-12, TeenSpace is a place designed for you. Here, you can read, relax, and receive expert Reader's Advisory assistance (that is, help selecting books) from librarians specializing in services for teens.

When is TeenSpace open?

TeenSpace is open the same hours as the rest of the library. A teen specialist is available between 1-9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays (9-1 during the summer) and 1-5 p.m. on Sundays when the library is open.

What kinds of materials do you have?

In and around TeenSpace you can find:

Fiction in both paperback (inside the room) and hardcover (right outside the room) - most of our fiction features labels indicating genres (horror, fantasy, etc.) and/or general subjects (sports, historical fiction, etc.) to make your fiction selection process faster, easier, and more fulfilling!
Audio books for teens
Biographies written for students in grades 7-12 (right outside the room)
Poetry written specifically with teens in mind
Graphic novels
Illustrated books
Self-help books for teens
Textbooks
Playaways
Teen-interest magazines
Test-prep books (right outside the room)
Displays (sometimes related to school assignments)
An extensive bibliography file to help you with your book selection process
Basic homework aids (dictionary, style guide, etc.)
Information about our exciting programs (see below)

Please Note: Teen-interest CDs and videos are available in the library's Media department, on the lower level.

What services do you offer?

A place just for teens to read, relax and work together with friends.
Reader's Advisory services - if you are looking for good books to read for fun or for an assignment, just ask one of the librarians.
Registration for teen programs.

Please Note: TeenSpace is devoted to Reader's Advisory, rather than Reference service. While we are happy to provide you with some tips to start off your research, if you have a heavy-duty research question, your next step will be a visit to the Reference Room.

What kinds of programs does Young Adult Services offer?

For over 20 years, Young Adult Services has sponsored a hugely popular babysitting workshop for teens in the fall. If you attend all four sessions, you are eligible to be included on our babysitters list, which lots of Port parents consult when they are looking for babysitters. Every summer, we offer a variety of programs and a teen summer reading club - a great way to read for fun AND win cool prizes. In October we celebrate "Teen Read Week" with lots of activities designed to encourage teens to "Take Time to Read." Other programs we have offered include cooking and craft workshops, film screenings, mystery weekends, science fiction festivals, college information programs, and more.

We are always looking for suggestions from teens - let us know what kinds of programs you would like to attend!

Is there a Youth Advisory Council?

We have had a Young Adult Council in the past, and we would like to re-establish it, if there is sufficient interest. If you are a teen in grades 7-12 and you would like to be a part of this, please let us know!

What appears on the TeenSpace web pages?

On our ever-evolving site, we currently offer links related to college and careers, homework, reading and writing, and, of course, fun. If you have a suggested link, please let us know! We have recently added an on-line book discussion feature, with a book review option that gives teens the opportunity to submit book reviews for publication on the site. We would like to expand this area to include lots of teen input (movie reviews, art work, poetry, comic strips - you name it) and other stuff you think you and other teens would like. If you'd like to contribute your input or ideas, please let us know!

How can I contact you?

You are always welcome to drop by or call us at (516) 883-4400, ext. 148. You can also e-mail us at youngadult@pwpl.org. Please do - we'd love to hear from you.