(STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA / Oct. 12, 2020) – Stillwater Public Library teen programming is back. The library's teen events are moving online for the fall season, giving teens the opportunity to participate in virtual game nights, writing programs, a new monthly book club and other events where they can interact with other young adults in the community. Interested teens can sign up for any of the fall events at library.stillwater.org/Teen_Programs.php.
The first fall event is a virtual game night on Friday, Oct. 16, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Teens will gather in a Zoom meeting to play a fun, literary, party game called "Bring Your Own Book" with gameplay similar to "Apples to Apples." Participants should register at tinyurl.com/SPLTeenGameNight. An email will be sent on the day of the program with a link to join the Zoom meeting. All registrants should have at least one book with them for the event, though it's best if they have two to three so they can switch throughout the game.
There will also be a Halloween-themed event on Friday, Oct. 30, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Jessica Howe, the teen librarian, said that she is "excited to get programming started this fall for the local teens. [She] knows that they haven't had many chances to socialize with other teens this year with all of the restrictions due to the pandemic and school being mainly virtual."
In November, a new teen book club will start out reading "Reverie" by Ryan La Sala along with thousands of other readers as part of Overdrive's "Big Library Read" global book club. The program is available in over 22,000 libraries worldwide, including more than 90 percent of public libraries in North America. OverDrive, the company that powers the Oklahoma Virtual Library, facilitates the program by making the book available to simultaneous readers. That means there will be no waiting to read this book! After the first month, the book club will alternate between members meeting to discuss all things books and all members reading and discussing the same book.
November will also include another game night for teens and a writing program to coincide with National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo). Every year millions of people, teens included, challenge themselves to write 50,000 words of a novel during November. This year, Stillwater Public Library and the OSU Writing Center are hosting a teen program to help them explore their creativity through writing. The writing program will be a kickoff for a teen writing club similar to the kid's writing club, also hosted by the Writing Center.
In addition to virtual programming, SPL also has "Grab and Go Kits" available in the library's young adult section. These kits are small activities that can be done at home with little to no extra supplies needed. The kits will consist of crafts, STEAM activities and other small projects. There are new kits every two weeks, and they are available until they run out, or the new kits are available. (The children's department also has "Grab and Go Kits" aimed at a younger audience located on the children's new bookshelf.)
Howe would also like to invite teens to join the Teen Advisory Committee (TAC) if they're interested in helping plan activities at the library that interest them. TAC currently meets virtually on the fourth Friday of every month to plan teen events and help with young adult book suggestions. Active members of TAC can also receive credit for volunteer hours, which they can use toward school or other organizations' volunteer requirements. Teens can learn more about TAC and apply to join by filling out the online application at library.stillwater.org/TAC.php.
Get more information and sign-up for the library's fall teen programs at library.stillwater.org/Teen_Programs.php or by following us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok at @StillwaterOKLib. Attendees may also register in person at the Help Desk or by calling (405) 372-3633 x8106.
