Award-Winning Teen Third Spaces (even if they don't all use this name)
Great All-Around Library Third Spaces:
Charlotte Mecklenburg’s Imaginon, North Carolina: http://blogs.plcmc.org/libraryloft/
It's almost impossible to discuss libraries and youth together, without mentioning Imaginon. This library is somewhat geared towards a younger-than-teen audience, but still promotes the third space requirements. It is a safe space to learn, open to all young people, allows them to interact with their peers and with caring adults, and provides them with a range of creative activities.
Harold Washington Library's YouMedia, Chicago, Illinois: http://youmediachicago.org/
Part of the Chicago Public Library system, HW's teen space has not one, but three inter-connected third spaces! Appropriately titled Hang Out, Mess Around, and Geek Out - these space allow the teen patrons to decide how involved they want to become in the creative and hi-tech programming and classes offered in this space. The teen space here has a dedicated staff of community member, teen librarians, and educators who work to make YouMedia into a classy third space for Chicago teens. Many of the ongoing programs held in this space are creations of the teens who frequent the space.
Phoenix Public Library's Teen Central, Phoenix, Arizona: http://www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/teens/default.jsp
This library actually promotes itself as dual purpose: teen library space and local community center. In addition to an impressive collection (including comics, CDs, and health information), this space has a dance floor, a TV lounge area, and a cafe. This library clearly understands the third space needs of its teenagers!
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Teen Third Space Promotion (chosen by us and "official" award-givers):
Pasco County Library System, Hudson, Florida, for “Rockus Maximus: Battle of the Bands,” a library- and community-sponsored Battle of the Bands competition. Rockus Maximus truly maximized social media (making great use of YouTube, MySpace, Vimeo, and Vizio online polling) and featured a kick-off concert, an online contest featuring a video documentary of the competing bands, which was viewed over 10,000 times, and the Battle of the Bands live concert, which was attended by over 600 teens – all for the modest budget of $3,800, covered by donations. In the six months following Rockus Maximus, teen attendance at library programs increased 48%, and the number of teens signing up for library cards increased 12%. found http://www.hwwilson.com/jcdawards/jcdwin2010.cfm
Loudoun County Public Library (Leesburg, VA), for their program "Hanging Out Rocks!", a campaign that responded to the needs of teens in their growing county by giving them a place that they could call their own. Teen participation, and the many strategies utilized in this thoroughly analyzed and detailed public relations plan, was key to moving the campaign forward and led to additional resources granted for a popular after-hours teen center at the library where "Hanging Out Rocks!" http://www.hwwilson.com/jcdawards/jcdwin2006.cfm
Charlotte Mecklenburg’s Imaginon, North Carolina: http://blogs.plcmc.org/libraryloft/
It's almost impossible to discuss libraries and youth together, without mentioning Imaginon. This library is somewhat geared towards a younger-than-teen audience, but still promotes the third space requirements. It is a safe space to learn, open to all young people, allows them to interact with their peers and with caring adults, and provides them with a range of creative activities.
Harold Washington Library's YouMedia, Chicago, Illinois: http://youmediachicago.org/
Part of the Chicago Public Library system, HW's teen space has not one, but three inter-connected third spaces! Appropriately titled Hang Out, Mess Around, and Geek Out - these space allow the teen patrons to decide how involved they want to become in the creative and hi-tech programming and classes offered in this space. The teen space here has a dedicated staff of community member, teen librarians, and educators who work to make YouMedia into a classy third space for Chicago teens. Many of the ongoing programs held in this space are creations of the teens who frequent the space.
Phoenix Public Library's Teen Central, Phoenix, Arizona: http://www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/teens/default.jsp
This library actually promotes itself as dual purpose: teen library space and local community center. In addition to an impressive collection (including comics, CDs, and health information), this space has a dance floor, a TV lounge area, and a cafe. This library clearly understands the third space needs of its teenagers!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Teen Third Space Promotion (chosen by us and "official" award-givers):
Pasco County Library System, Hudson, Florida, for “Rockus Maximus: Battle of the Bands,” a library- and community-sponsored Battle of the Bands competition. Rockus Maximus truly maximized social media (making great use of YouTube, MySpace, Vimeo, and Vizio online polling) and featured a kick-off concert, an online contest featuring a video documentary of the competing bands, which was viewed over 10,000 times, and the Battle of the Bands live concert, which was attended by over 600 teens – all for the modest budget of $3,800, covered by donations. In the six months following Rockus Maximus, teen attendance at library programs increased 48%, and the number of teens signing up for library cards increased 12%. found http://www.hwwilson.com/jcdawards/jcdwin2010.cfm
Loudoun County Public Library (Leesburg, VA), for their program "Hanging Out Rocks!", a campaign that responded to the needs of teens in their growing county by giving them a place that they could call their own. Teen participation, and the many strategies utilized in this thoroughly analyzed and detailed public relations plan, was key to moving the campaign forward and led to additional resources granted for a popular after-hours teen center at the library where "Hanging Out Rocks!" http://www.hwwilson.com/jcdawards/jcdwin2006.cfm