Libraries hold space for teens

MT. PLEASANT — Summer fun at the library is a staple in Henry County communities. Mt. Pleasant and New London libraries try to engage the teenage demographic in the community with a few teen-only events.

Recently, HJ Nugen Public Library of New London held an ‘Uncharted Escape Room’ experience for incoming sixth grade and up students in the area.

“They really like the movie and escape room nights,” Assistant Director Brittney Lerner said.

“We want to engage with our younger community. We try to get as many teens in as we possibly can.” Lerner said. “We try to base our programs what they are interested in. We like to ask them what kind of programs they like,”

“We want to try to relate with them,” she said. “We think it is good here in our community, especially our small community, to have a place for teens to connect.”

“We want to have a point of contact for youth to go to,” Lerner said. “Taelor [ The Library Director] and I have taken a youth mental health first aid class, and we thought that was really helpful. We just think it is really important to build those kinds of relationships in the community.”

“We want them to find this as a place of comfort, and find resources, and know that they can get help if they need it,” she said.

Mt. Pleasant Public Library also wants this for teens in the community.

“We are trying to develop an area for our teen/tween age so they start coming to the library,” Mt. Pleasant Youth and Children’s Director Amy Willson said. “We have some seating for them and an art bulletin.”

“We have a few things for them in this newly developed space,” she said. “We hope to provide them with a comfortable safe space to connect with other teens and to plug in their devices after school and throughout the summer.”

Mt. Pleasant Public Library also works to create a space for these teenagers through programming.

Every Tuesday, at 1:30 p.m. the library has hosted a teen/tween hangout time at the library.

Summer activities just wrapped in Mt. Pleasant, but Willson is excited for the upcoming fall activities.

HJ Nugen Public Library runs right along side Mt. Pleasant as they work to create a more teen friendly book selection.

“We are definitely always trying to encourage them into picking up a book,” Lerner said. “If there are kids that say they’re not really interested in reading, we keep trying. That million and one book could be the right one.”

Recently, HJ Nugen began carrying a Manga selection.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Manga is, “a style of Japanese comic books and graphic novels, typically aimed at adults as well as children.”

These Japanese comics are similar to animé.

Uniquely, many are still printed in the tradition Japanese direction, which appears backward to the common American reader.

“They are starting to print more of them in U.S. standard,” Lerner said, “but a lot are still printing the backward Japanese format.”

“We have had quite an uptick in our teen area because of those,” she said. “It has been really great for us. We’ve had over 200 more check outs in the last year in the young adult section compared to last year.”

Additionally, teens can attend book chats throughout the year, that are separated by age, so they chat about books appropriate for their age levels.

These book chats are held consistently on the first Thursday of the month at HJ Nugen, and the next one will be Aug. 4 to discuss What I Carry by Jennifer Longo.

While the teen/tween hangouts have not been very well attended, the libraries continues to hold space for them as the community becomes more aware of the need for additional support, especially in mental health, for teenagers.

Teens in the Henry County area are invited to enjoy one last free summer event specifically for their age group this Friday from 5-8 p.m. at HJ Nugen Public Library.

“We have a newer game called Space Team that really encourages cooperation and interaction,” Lerner said.

Participants will enjoy a light-meal-type snack and play games such as Space Team and Throw Throw Burrito while making connections with other teens in the area.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com