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Back to SearchTween Section Coming to Children’s Area of Petoskey District Library
With the construction outside finishing up, the Petoskey District Library will be undergoing some other changes inside the building soon.
Beginning Monday, Jan. 15, the children’s area on the main floor of the library will be closed off to the public for a couple of days while a redesign of the space occurs. When the area reopens later that week, there will be a new “tween” section, specifically set up for ages 9-12.
This newly designed section for the upper elementary and early middle school grades has long been a goal of library staff. With a grant from the Women Who Care organization as seed money in early 2023, the Friends of the Petoskey Public Library (FOPPL) were motivated to help find funding to see the redesign project become a reality.
The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians stepped up with funds to purchase new furniture for the area. The Petoskey Sunrise Rotary Club donated $2500 toward to the project and along with additional contributions from FOPPL members, the group was able to hire a professional company with experience in library redesign.
“We’re excited to see it become a reality for this age group,” FOPPL president Sue Moffatt said. “Our library is a great place for all ages, and we are so thankful to all the groups and people who donated to support the project.”
The library’s current layout provides a separate space on the lower level for teenagers to hang out with computers, a whiteboard, games, tables, furniture, and of course, books and video games intended for the 12-18 age range. The teen area is next to the makerspace, where a wide variety of supplies and equipment, including a 3D printer, are available for imaginations of all ages.
The children’s section on the main floor of the library currently has a large area with toys, games, puzzles, and interactive computers located next to books for babies, toddlers and new readers. Though three computers are set up for children in elementary and middle school behind the desk of the children’s librarian, there is not a space for the 9-12 age group.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve moved the children’s department around, but it’s the first time that a space will be created just for tweens,” said children’s librarian Megan Goedge. “We can’t wait for everyone to see the improvements.”
Though the children’s area of the library will be closed off for a couple of days while the reorganization is taking place, book holds and pick-ups in the main lobby or in the locker area will continue as normal, and patrons of all ages are still welcome to use the rest of the library.
“We hope that patrons visiting the library while the children’s area is closed off will take the opportunity to check out the games and other activities on the lower level and see what great used books are for sale in the Friends’ bookstore,” said Val Meyerson, the library’s executive director.
Meyerson also stated that while the reorganization of the children’s area will occur over a couple of days, some of the furniture ordered for the area will arrive in a few weeks.
“When the new space is finished, it will have comfortable seating, floor space for lounging, computers, and activity boards for tweens,” Meyerson added. “Kids in that age range will know when they come to the library, there’s a place just for them.”
The library is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sunday from noon until 5 p.m. Many of the library’s services are also available 24 hours a day by accessing its website at www.petoskeylibrary.org.
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