With constant academic stress pressured on many students, the local Kitsap Regional Library supplies teens with a dedicated corner and study room with the tools needed to strive toward success. Collaborative spaces, free computers, and whiteboards cultivate an environment fit for student learners.
“Well, I come here [the library teen space] to do my homework,” CKHS sophomore Emily Malloy said. “Sometimes I talk with my friends when I come down here with them. It’s just really nice to have a quiet space to be able to concentrate and focus.”
Silverdale’s library relocation from Old Town to part of Central Kitsap High School’s original building has allowed for a floorplan change, meaning more space, and a more accessible location. Its proximity to the schools has allowed students to walk down the hill and continue their studies while still motivated and provides a place to socialize with friends, gratis.
“So when we moved into this building about three years ago…our old location in Old Town Silverdale, there was not a lot of space in general, but there really was no dedicated space for teens to hang out in the library,” Teen Services Librarian Kayla O’Connor said. “So when we were designing the setup of the building, we wanted to make sure there was a dedicated teen area.”
In addition to the reserved space for teens on the main floor of the library, having a “Teen Makerspace Room” each Thursday gives a chance for students to wind down from the week and experiment with different activities.
“This space (Teen Makerspace Room), we take over on Thursday afternoons because it’s early release for CK Schools and we’re right down the hill from the middle and the high school,” O’Connor said. “So we noticed that we have a ton of students here after school and we want to make sure that there’s enough seating and activities because some people wait for siblings to be done with after school activities or they have to wait for a ride for a variety of reasons so we want to offer some lowkey, ‘engage with what you want’ activities and space to come and hangout and exist, so we set this up on Thursdays for them.”
Community resources provided by a convenient walk away provides students a free space to relax other than school or home. Especially in a community where the majority of people can’t drive, the library’s proximity gives many students social and academic opportunities.
“What’s so good about the library is its location,” CKHS sophomore Sarah Weston said. “It’s right next to the school and it’s so easy to walk down from the school and go to the library, so I think for our library specifically, it’s a wonderful option and for libraries that are near schools, where people can walk down to it after school, would be really great.”
