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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Austintown students played foosball at the Austintown library on April 22 during the library's after school program.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Students played basketball at the Austintown library on April 22 during the library's after school program.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Librarians at Austintown organized games for students to play during the library's after school program on April 22.
By JESSICA HARKER
Austintown library hosts students in weekly after school program.
Library Supervisor Starr Jones said that the program was created five years ago out of necessity.
Because of the library’s proximity to the schools, students from the middle school and high school often travel to the library after classes end.
“We were having issues with the students being loud,” Jones said. “It was boring for the students and affected the community as well.”
To help combat this the library created the after school program, which is open every day the schools are.
“This way students have a place they can come and hang out, and do homework if they need to,” Jones said.
She explained that each day librarians plan something different for students to do.
Some students prefer to use the computers in the main library to play games, but Jones said many stay in the meeting room.
Previously, students have helped librarians create cards, played with 3D pens, participated in a talent show and more.
The program also offers board games for students to use daily.
“We take turns brain storming something to do,” Jones said. “Every librarian takes a turn.”
Students are given full use of the large meeting room at the library, under librarian supervision.
The program is open until 4:30 p.m. every day that the Austintown schools are open.
“We want to offer a safe space for kids to go that also allows other library patrons to use our resources,” Jones said.
She said that when the library was closed for a few weeks last year the library worked with the schools to be sure the students are taken care of.
“We even sent a few librarians to the schools after school program since they would have more students then they usually would with the library closed,” Jones said.