The funding we are requesting will facilitate the construction of a separate and enclosed space for teenagers within the New Rochelle Public Library. Over the past several years it has become clear that the teen patrons of the library are in desperate need of a space within the building to call their own. This library sees an average of thirty teens per day in the building between 2:30 and closing during the school year, and their gregarious nature can often put them at odds with other patrons and staff. While the library does have an area set aside for teens, it is open to the rest of the library, and is, frankly, outdated and unappealing; our teen patrons need a place in the library where they can be themselves, and we can better direct our services towards them.

Understanding that in any venture involving teens, it is necessary for those teens to have an ownership stake, it was important for us to first hear from the teens themselves. When we began considering this project, we held several teen focus groups, meeting with both middle and high school-aged students. Each group brainstormed on a number of aspects to be involved in the room’s construction, from technology to furniture to the standards that will be maintained in the room. Finally, both groups met together, and we distilled the brainstorming results down to six main points with which to move forward on the project. These six points, as listed below, will serve as a foundation on which the construction of the room will be based.

An open, comfortable and moveable space with a design philosophy reflective of teen’s needs, activities and tastes.

Separate areas within the room for study and entertainment. Furniture that is both comfortable and functional, and reflective of the room’s

design. Up-to-date technology that is accessible for both work and entertainment. Standards and rules that are maintained for everyone’s benefit. Maintaining a group of teens to advise on programs and the space’s design and

utilization.

After consulting with various architects and design consultants, we are ready to move forward on the construction of the teen room. The room will encompass approximately 1600 square feet on the library’s second floor, enclosing the current teen area and a good deal of new space as well. The room will essentially be compartmentalized, although in a mostly passive fashion. The front entry area will be the main congregation area with seating and tables, comprising about 420 square feet. The collection will maintain a fair portion of the room, and will enclose a small ‘cozy reading lounge’ area. The existing bank of computers we currently have will dominate a second lounge/study area, and there will be a separately enclosed study room which will be approximately 9 x 13 feet, containing a small conference table. This layout will provide teens with an area in which they can study, congregate, read, learn and socialize at their leisure. On our end, it allows us to center the teens around the materials purchased for them, and provides new programming space as well.

The room will be enclosed using a form of ‘demountable’ wall panels, which are comprised of a wall partition to roughly waist height, and then etched glass above it. The resulting surround will provide a modern look, a semi-private environment, and a sturdy but potentially moveable framework.

The room will be re-carpeted using appropriate commercial carpet and re-painted. The prevailing color scheme of the room will be in blues and greens, as chosen by our teen focus groups.

One side of the room is framed by windows. For twenty-one feet along this wall we will be installing counter-height tabletops, with barstool-height chairs to go along with them. This will create a café-like area where our teen patrons can sit with their laptops or homework along one side of the main front congregation area. The laminate used in the countertop and the chairs will match the table and chairs in the enclosed study room.

Some electrical work will need to be done. Overhead lighting by the computer/study area needs to be replaced. Electrical outlets will need to be tracked along the countertops, and outlets will also need to be added to the enclosed study room.

We will purchase furniture for the room that is both sturdy and appealing to our teen patrons. This will include chairs, couches, tables and some shelving for the collection. It also will include teen-friendly appointments: shag rugs, floor rockers, beanbags and other lounge furniture.

We will purchase technology to further outfit the room to the standard our digitally-native teens will expect. Among our considerations are a flat-screen TV, game system, digital frames to use as signage, and a quantity of laptops or netbooks which teens will be able to check out for in-house use.

The construction of this new teen room is a project we believe will be a benefit not only to the New Rochelle Public Library but to the greater community as well. It will allow the library to both enhance and add to the services we provide for our teen patrons. Giving our teens the space, materials and opportunity to become responsible and successful adults is an investment that will benefit not only them, but the whole city as well.