Summer is finally here and what an awesome time to be a teen! After a year that pushed all the boundaries of patience and stress, you can finally breathe free and roam a bit! Better yet, you can breathe free inside and outside with groups of friends and in public places. It’s time to meet up with friends once again and make some fun plans. But now that you have all this freedom, what are you going to do with yourself? The library is here to help you find your new favorites in life, favorite things to do, favorite place to chill, favorite books to read, and favorite way to meet some new people! The Teen Zone is an open, yet cozy, place to hang out either with your friends or when you’re enjoying some solo free time. We have computers, video games, couches to lounge on, and tables for card games or just sitting around and chatting. Our board game collection fills half a wall and often there is someone nearby who is willing to teach you a new game! If you like to sit quietly and read or sketch in a peaceful place, the Teen Zone offers a place where you are welcomed and appreciated. The Teen Zone is open every day in the summer from 1pm – closing.

While the Teen Zone is a fun, friendly, non-judgy place to hang out, the library also has a veritable plethora of scheduled teen activities. Every month there is a book club for any and all age groups. These clubs offer all the most important factors of a book club: books, friends, and food. Laugh and groan along with others while discussing your latest read. Of course, anything you read will count toward prizes in the Summer Reading Program. So after you read this, go ahead and sign up on the ReadSquared app! Teens can earn up to 19 free books and prizes over the summer! You really need a new water bottle and squishy turtle in your life! We all do!

But the activities are not limited to those who love to read! There will be crafts, games, and activities all summer long! Learn how to make fabric stencils on bags or shirts. Go on a scavenger hunt. Nurture the artist in you while making your own pour painting. Use your brain to break out of the library escape room! Kick back and relax at a teen movie night or join us in a game of Among Us! And, of course, you don’t want to miss Anime Club because there is no substitute for watching anime with other true fans. Many of our programs repeat every month so there is never an end to the camaraderie and awesomeness. However, some of our programs are just one time events! You must watch the calendar to be certain you don’t miss anything absolutely essential to your summer plans!

Courtney, my fellow teen programmer, and I have been waiting impatiently for the day we can all begin to enjoy each other’s company again while doing some of our favorite things! This summer has so much promise and potential! You deserve an awesome summer! And we can’t wait to see you at the library!