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Teen Xtreme reading program continues
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Neighbors | Alisa Manna.Teen Librarian Kristy Taylor sets up for the blind ice cream tasting contest that was held at the Canfield Library as part of its Teen Xtreme summer reading program.
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Neighbors | Alisa Manna.Shown are some of the books in the young adult section at the Canfield Library. The blind ice cream taste testing event is part of the Teen Xtreme summer program to help keep teens connected with the library throughout the summer months.
By ALISA MANNA
The teen summer reading program, Teen Xtreme, continued at the Canfield library on July 26 with a blind ice cream tasting event.
Teen librarian Kristy Taylor created the event hoping to attract young adults and encourage them to stay in contact with the library during the summer.
Taylor previously hosted a hot chocolate program in January and asked the attendees for advice on potential events.
“I gave them evaluation forms and they preferred food programs,” Taylor said. “I tried an ice cream one because it’s summer.”
Taylor said she enjoys hosting active programs at the library because everyone can participate and it reminds them to come in during the summer and take advantage of the resources.
“With little branches, like here, teen librarians are responsible and have to do as much as possible to attract teens,” Taylor said.
Along with the active program, Taylor offers contests and games for young adults to participate in. She’s currently involved in the Get to Know Your Olympians contest, which requires young adults to match the athlete with their sport.
Though some contests involve books, Taylor tries to create fun themes that would interest teenagers no matter what the topic is.
“I don’t want to press them because it can be hard with teens,” she said. “I just want to keep them engaged with the library so they know it’s always here.”
The Young Adult section is typically active and offers books such as The Hunger Games, Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl series, as well as several sci-fi books that include zombies and vampires. Teens can also fill out forms and recommend favorite books to other patrons.
There are contests every month and most active programs are every couple of months.
Some upcoming teen programs include Ductigami, where teens can make clothes and merchandise using duct tape, and the Co-Stars Contest, a movie contest that involves matching the movie co-stars for a prize. Teen Xtreme reading program ends Aug. 11 and is for grades 7-12. For more information, visit www.LibraryVisit.org/teens.