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Phoenix Public Library’s “Teen Central,” a library space designed by and for teens, received the 2002 Urban Libraries Council (ULC)/Highsmith Award of Excellence. The $1,000 award will be presented on Sunday, June 16, 2002, at the ULC Leadership Breakfast held during the American Library Association’s Annual Conference in Atlanta.
“Teen Central” is an exemplary teen space. It is the destination of around 12,000 teens a month that “hang out” in the living room area, on the computers, or around the group study tables. It has vibrant neon lighting and comfortable furniture. It houses a wide variety of materials of interest to teens, including CDs, comic books, graphic novels, teen magazines, videos and non-fiction collections. It provides places for individual and group study, and a bank of twenty computers available only to teens.
More importantly, however, “Teen Central” is a revolutionary public library project. Teens were involved, through focus groups, in decisions at every step of the design process. The teen involvement practiced during development of the space now permeates everything PPL does with teens, including collection development, activities, programs, web site development, and even summer reading prizes and themes. It has challenged the administration and staff to be as respectful of teens as adults, and to continuously evaluate their satisfaction with the space and services.
"Working with teens is an exciting strategy that has resulted in bringing teens into the library," says City Librarian Toni Garvey, Phoenix Public Library. "This strategy has also given the library a refreshing way to reach our teen community and to keep them involved. For example, our Library Teen Council was instrumental in the planning and designing of this teen space, and continues to take on increasing responsibility for its upkeep. It is extremely rewarding to see the teens use this space and care about the library."
Angela Connell, president of the Teen Council, sums it up this way: “The Teen Central is a dream come true. It is not just a room. It is a haven; a club, a place just for the younger generation to learn, hang out and be sheltered. The room has impacted me in so many ways.”
“This project was chosen because of the evident sense of ownership by the teens,” reports the ULC/Highsmith Award Committee Chair, Skokie Public Library Director Carolyn A. Anthony. The Urban Libraries Council has received underwriting for this award since 1995, from Highsmith, Inc., located in Fort Atkinson, WI. The focus of the award is to recognize library programs or initiatives that exemplify the principles of positive youth development. For those interested in learning more about the “Teen Central” space and programming, please contact Toni Garvey or the website at www.phxteencentral.org.
Founded in 1971, ULC, an association of leading urban public libraries, focuses its research, capacity-building, and training services on crucial roles libraries play in local communities.
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