Teens are a vibrant part of our community who make significant use of the Library District’s many resources. At Headquarters Library, staff recognized teens needed a more inviting place of their own to enjoy, so they spoke with teens to find out what they would most like in a space especially designed for them.
Teens envisioned having an area that was inviting to hang out in for fun and entertainment, as well as being close to resources they used most for quiet studying. Construction is underway and expected to be completed by early February, 2012. This remodeling project is funded in part by a generous donation from the Alachua County Library District Foundation.
The space will have six computers and several study tables, a curvy couch for reading, plenty of books, manga, comics, and magazines to peruse, as well as a gaming area with a wall mounted TV. Several of the computers will be dedicated for research and homework help between the hours of 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Homework assistance will be available online through HelpNow.
This new teen area will also provide space to host events and programs, such as Wii gaming, book discussions, movies, and technology programs. With the addition of the new space, the library hopes teens will visit often and become more involved with library programming. The staff will encourage their input on what kind of programs and events they would like to participate in.
The Library District regularly recruits teens for advisory boards from which teens can earn volunteer hours for scholarships or to fulfill school requirements. For more information call 352-334-3941 or contact your local branch, email teen@aclib.us and specify the branch in which you’d like to participate, or click here.
System status
A new library system and online catalog will debut on May 30. Here's the current status of:
- Checkouts: Continue as usual, but May 24-29 you must have your physical library card in hand to check out materials.
- Due dates: All checkouts will have a due date of June 22, except DVDs and GRU watt meters, which still have 7-day limit.
- Holds and requests: New holds and purchase requests cannot be placed until May 30, but those placed previously will continue to be processed and will carry over to the new system.
- Returns: Please "Babysit Our Books" — keep them until the new system is running smoothly (mid-June).
- Registration: Continues as usual today, but cannot be done May 24-29, as our entire system will be down.
- Interlibrary loan: No new ILL requests can be placed May 24-29.
- Digital checkouts: OverDrive checkouts and holds will work normally throughout the transition.
- My Discoveries: Will be retired with the AquaBrowser catalog on May 24. Please retrieve any saved book lists before then.
- Website: The Library District website (www.aclib.us) will be up as normal throughout the transition.
- My Account: Account info will be available through May 24. Your account will appear on the new system on May 30.
- Bill payment: All payments including PayPal are working today. No payments can be accepted May 24-29
- New catalog: Watch for its debut on May 30, with new features.
More about the transition.
More about the new online catalog.
Have any questions? Please Ask Us!
