South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative
10 Foster Avenue - Suite F3 Gibbsboro, NJ 08026
Phone: 856 346-1222 Fax: 856 346-2839 www.sjrlc.org
December 23, 2008
For more information,
contact: Karen
Hyman
Libraries receive $40,000 to develop special
‘Teen Space’
The South Jersey Regional
Library Cooperative (SJRLC) has selected The Atlantic City Free Public Library and
the Camden County Library to receive $40,000 each in funding to create a
special Teen Spaces as part of the SJRLC's "A+ Teen Space Demonstration
Project".
The libraries will begin
working on their Teen Spaces immediately with anticipated grand openings of
September 2009.
“Teens can’t be asked to wait,
especially in tough financial times, for a fun, free and safe space with access
to new and creative technology, room to collaborate, and the kinds of things
they want to read,” according to Karen Hyman, Director of the South Jersey
Regional Library Cooperative, which provided matching funds for the project. “At SJRLC,
we were tremendously impressed with the libraries' proposals for the
outstanding spaces and services that they planned for their teen communities.”
“We are excited to have this
opportunity to expand services for teens in Atlantic City,” Atlantic City Free
Public Library Director Maureen Sherr Frank said. “We are looking forward to
developing a special area with new technology and educational resources in the
Main Library to encourage learning, exploration and creativity.”
The Atlantic City Library will
be fashioning a 985-square-foot Teen Space which will have a vibrant, colorful
and modern look. One of the most visually dramatic aspects of the space will be
a large mural designed by graffiti artist Stephen Stuart-Gibson, who will seek
teen input and participation in creating a design. There will also be a wall
for a teen art gallery.
The Camden County Library will
be converting 1245 square feet for use as the Teen Space. "The space encompasses a significant area
of the Vogelson Branch's first floor," said Linda Devlin, Director of the
Camden County Library. "We're
excited about expanding our teen services and giving the teens more of the
technological tools they need to learn, explore and hone their skills, all in a
safe, stimulating space."
At both libraries, the Teen
Space will be a casual, teen-only area for teens to gather, and it will include
work stations, modern lounge furniture, meeting and program space, music, video
and animation technology as well as a quiet zone designed for teens to read,
study, or use computers for homework or research.
The SJRLC's public library
members were invited to submit proposals for this project. The SJRLC will give
$40,000 in funding, including $10,000 of a special grant for their A+ Project
from the New Jersey State Library. The Atlantic City Library will provide a
match of $35,000, bringing the total devoted to their project to $75,000. The Camden County Library will provide a
match of $35,900 bring the total devoted to their project to $75,900.
The A+ Teen Space Project was
made possible with funding from the Atlantic City Free Public Library, The
Camden County Library, The South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative and New
Jersey State Library, which is responsible for the coordination, promotion and
funding of the New Jersey Library Network.
