Pre-pandemic, the teen area at the Bartholomew County Public Library’s main branch in Columbus was a buzzing hub of activity. Every day after school more than 20 teens could be found hanging out just in that spot, not to mention the teens hanging out throughout the rest of the library.
When everything shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, my staff and I really missed our teens and hated that they didn’t have the safe environment of the teen area to rely on. So, we created our very own Discord server — accessible by invite only so as to make sure only teens are added — and bustling activity resumed!
With numerous text channels and voice chat channels, the Discord server allows our teens to interact with each other and teen services staff virtually since we can’t do anything in person right now. Through this server we are also able to offer virtual programming such as Dungeons & Dragons, art prompts, and book discussions.
We have also been able to have Smash Bros. tournaments with those who own a Nintendo Switch and the game as well as Animal Crossing New Horizons island parties.
If your teen (grades 7-12) would like to join our Discord, please have them email Dakota Hall, teen programming specialist, at dhall@mybcpl.org.
We also wanted to offer up something else, not just virtual programming, but something else for our teens that is screen-free. So, we just started a new service called Teen Book Box which is similar to subscription boxes but free.
Teens can sign up for this service on our website at www.mybcpl.org/teens. Register by the 15th of each month to receive that month’s book box. December’s theme is “stress-relief” and January’s box is “cozy warm.”
Included in each box is one or two library books chosen based on what each teen tells us they like to read, some allergy-friendly treats, bookmarks, memes, activities, and a few surprises. Each box is packed with care by a teen services staff member who also writes a handwritten note to explain their choices for the box.
This is our first month for Teen Book Box and we look forward to packing all these boxes for our teens. We’re always working on something new; so, keep watch on the teen page to see what we’ll think of next!
Christina Kelley is the teen services librarian and manager at the Bartholomew County Public Library and can be reached at ckelley@mybcpl.org.
