On October 27, the Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library in Rochester opened its teen room. The room was previously a meeting room and was recently remodeled into a dedicated space for middle- and high school-aged students. Prior to the opening of the space, the library’s only amenity for teenagers was a single bookshelf on the first floor.
Library Director Kristen Cardoso said, “We have a fantastic children’s area. We have a fairly good adult area. We have this basement space, which is great for programs and meetings. But there was nothing dedicated to teens. Even the book collection is smaller than the book collection for adults and for children.”
ORRJHS students attending after-school activities that are not picked up by their parents are taken by bus to their town’s library, but have nowhere to go in the library, according to Cardoso.
“They sit in the corner, they sit on the floor, they sit in the kids’ room, and they play with the kitchen,” she said. “We never had a dedicated space before being able to offer this. Obviously, we want to expand beyond the late bus kids, but we already have teens who are here three times a week.”
The idea of the space came from Fuchsia Haskell, youth services librarian, who proposed creating a teen room when hired last July as a way to engage older students. This past spring, Cardoso brought the concept back up; construction would begin in July and be fully furnished by the end of October. Rochester’s Facilities Manager Andrew Daniel and two Old Colony students completed the renovations. Work included correcting water damage and repainting the basement room’s walls.
According to Haskell, the room was designed for cohesion and fluidity, enabling easy walkways and social opportunities. Upon entering the room, to the right is an electronic whiteboard connected to a Nintendo Switch loaded with games. In the corner opposite the entrance, an egg chair sits beside purple and yellow bean bags. Finally, a closet in the corner by the entrance holds games and crafts that teens can bring to the large table at the center of the room.
Renovations and furnishing were largely funded by a $5,000 grant from state Senator Michael Rodrigues. He said, “Anything to attract and engage teenagers to come to the library, and then they discover what else this building has to offer, is a great thing.”
There is currently a monthly game of Dungeons and Dragons scheduled in the room, and plans to add more monthly events, such as crafts, in 2027. Two study chairs with whiteboard tables will also be shipped soon.
By Zakary Sarkarati