When Youth Services moved to the 2nd Floor of the Main Library, the challenge was to create a space that allowed kids, tweens, teens, and their caregivers to learn via interest, not age limits. Could age groups be mixed in libraries? We believe the answer was yes. The challenge was to create a space that allowed different ages to mix in the library around their shared interests. The innovation this addresses is simple, yet relatively unheard of in public libraries: Library youth services focusing on interests and promoting all kinds of unique learning opportunities for youth despite age. This opens up a wide world of possibilities for the youth of the community.

Innovations in enhancing the customer experience included Walk Up Programming, programming for youth that is avaliable when the library is open. This gives the community what it wants regardless of time/staffing. New/refined service standards align all Youth Services walk up programming and traditional programming with STEAM/Common Core/ECR2R standards. The 2nd Floor offers learning experiences which are user centered and allow people to choose their own learning paths.

The Library became a destination for kids, tweens, teens, and their caregivers, establishing the 2nd Floor as a place where formal and informal learning collide.