BOARDMAN Teens check out pizza at the library

The program is designed to bring young people to the library.
JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- The appeal of fresh-baked pizza to the minds and taste buds of teens is one tool Boardman library officials are using to attract young people.
As part of the Teen Extreme program, pupils in grades seven through 12 were asked to come out Tuesday and taste test pizza from five township vendors and determine which was best.
Anne Liller, young adult librarian and event organizer, read about the idea and figured it would be an excellent means of getting junior high and high school kids into the library.
Vendors helped out: Donated pizzas from Pizza Hut, Papa John's, East of Chicago, Cocca's and Cornersburg Pizza were lined up by number in the kitchen area. The young taste testers did not know pizza they were tasting at any given moment -- unless previous "experience" lent them an upper hand.
The teens were asked to judge for best sauce, crust, cheese and overall pizza.
Library officials asked the kids which pizza company was their favorite before the tasting began and again at the end of the program to see how many opinions had changed.
Before the first pizza hit the table, most kids loudly discussed what pizza was their favorite and declared nothing would change their minds.
Johnathan Dunce, a pupil at Glenwood Middle School, said his favorite could only be found on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, N.J., and he was sure that would not change.
By the end of the night, most of the tasters stuck by their favorites.
Overall, East of Chicago came out on top; Papa John's finished second.
About the program: Librarian Joan Kakacich said Tuesday was about more than fun and good pizza. The program, she said, was part of the countywide Teen Extreme program in which each library designs monthly programs to attract teens.
"The goal is to attract this age group to the library so they can see what we have to offer and maybe see this as a place to possibly meet peers and use for study groups," she said.
Kakacich said the middle school and high school children are a difficult age group to reach because most find a variety of other after-school activities, not to mention a budding social life.
jgoodwin@vindy.com