Teen Spaces in the BPL
Teens are welcome at all Boston Public Library locations, and especially at the six branches with specific focus on teen programming and offerings: Teen Central at the Central Library at Copley Square, Codman Square, East Boston, Grove Hall, Hyde Park, Mattapan, and Shaw-Roxbury.
At the Central Library at Copley Square
Teen Librarians
- Chris Jacobs, Teen Services Team Leader
- Bri Skywall, Teen Technology Coordinator
- Ruby Fevrier, Teen Technology Assistant
- Tali Levine-Woods, Teen Services Librarian
Hours of operation
- Monday: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Tuesday: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Wednesday: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Thursday: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Friday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Sunday: 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Programs
Teen Central hosts a range of in-person and virtual programming that makes use of its varied resources. The full list of Teen Central programs: bit.ly/teencentralprograms.
Teen Volunteer Program
Teen Central supports the Teen Volunteer Program alongside select branch locations.
Teen Collection
The Teen Central space currently hosts the BPL’s largest collection of teen fiction with hundreds of selections and genres including mystery, science fiction, fantasy, and romance. Our massive collection of Manga and Teen Graphic Novels is located on the shelves just outside of Teen Central. The teen nonfiction collection is interfiled with adult nonfiction.
Class Visits
Please see this link with updated information on class visits.
Technology
Teen Central boasts an abundance of tech resources for teens, including but not limited to:
- 20 Chromebooks for personal use
- 4 public computers for personal use
- 4 high-performance Makerspace Lab Alienware computers for structured gaming and the full Adobe Creative Cloud software suite
- 5 high-performance Macintosh computers outfitted with Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro
- A high-performance streaming setup including boom mic, high-quality streaming camera, and customizable StreamDeck
- 2 Makerbot 3D printers
- A Cricut machine
- A makeshift audio booth with studio-quality mic midi keyboards and tools
Teen Librarian
Hours of Operation
- Monday: 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Friday and Saturday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Programs
The teen area has board games, card games and craft supplies for drop-in use. Programs for teens such as gaming sessions, book clubs, and art workshops are also offered. See a current list of upcoming events.
Teen Volunteer Program
Two teens on a semester-by-semester basis. Please contact Teen Librarian Magda Morris for more information.
Class Visits
To schedule in person or online visits, please contact Teen Librarian Magda at mmorris@bpl.org at least two weeks prior to your intended date of visit to discuss BPL resources. Visits may be held at the school or at the library.
Teen Collections
Teen fiction, teen sci-fi/fantasy, teen mystery, teen nonfiction (Library of Congress Classification), manga, and graphic novels. Self-guided therapy cards, My Therapy Cards Teen Edition created by Dr. Ebony are also available for check out.
Technology
- 8 Teen use desktop computers running on Windows
- 5 public use Windows laptops are available at the front desk for use in the library
Teen Librarian
Elena Rios
Hours of Operation
- Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Thursday: 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm
- Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Programs
The teen area has board games, card games and craft supplies for drop-in use. Programs for teens such as Teen Advisory Board, Screenings in the Stacks, D&D Club, Anime Club, book clubs, and monthly stand alone programs are also offered. See a current list of upcoming events.
Teen Volunteer Program
The Teen Volunteer Program is on a case-by-case basis at the East Boston Branch. Tweens & Teens may join the Teen Advisory Board for monthly opportunities for volunteer time of they may reach out to Elena Rios separately.
Class Visits
To schedule in person or online visits, please contact Teen Librarian Elena Rios at erios@bpl.org at least two weeks prior to your intended date of visit to discuss BPL resources. Visits may be held at the school, library, or virtually.
Teen Collections
Teen fiction, teen nonfiction (Library of Congress Classification), manga, comic books, graphic novels, and a selection of magazines. Self-guided therapy cards, My Therapy Cards Teen Edition created by Dr. Ebony are also available for check out.
Technology
- 13 teen use desktop computers running on Windows
- 9 public use Windows laptops
- 1 Cricut
Teen Librarian
Hours of Operation
- Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Thursdays: 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm
- Fridays: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Programs
Grove Hall hosts gaming, paint nights and other art programming as well as a chess club, book club, creative writing workshops, and more. Check our calendar to find out what’s happening.
Teen Volunteer Program
Two teens on a semester-by-semester basis. Please contact Teen Librarian Dani Solano for more information on Grove Hall’s Teen Volunteer Program.
Class Visits
To arrange group or class visits please contact Teen Librarian Dani at dsolano@bpl.org.
Teen Collections
The teen collection at Grove Hall consists largely of graphic novels, manga, fiction, and nonfiction, as well as books in Spanish.
Technology
Grove Hall has 8 desktop computers in the teen area as well as laptops that can be used in the building.
Teen Librarian
Hours of Operation
- Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Thursday: 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm
- Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Programs
The Hyde Park Teen Room hosts a Video Gaming Club on Tuesdays from 3:00 pm - 5:45 pm and an Anime Club Thursdays from 3:00 pm - 5:45 pm. The full list of programs may be viewed here.
Class Visits
To arrange group or class visits please contact jkenney@bpl.org two weeks before.
Teen Collections
Fiction, manga, and comics collection. Teen nonfiction is interfiled in the adult nonfiction area.
Technology
6 PC workstations
Teen Librarian
Rebeca Andrade
Hours of Operation
- Monday: 10:00 am - 5:45 pm
- Tuesday: 12:00 pm - 7:45 pm
- Wednesday & Thursday: 10:00 am - 5:45 pm
- Friday: 9:00 am - 4:45 pm
- Saturday: 9:00 am - 1:45 pm
Programs
Mattapan hosts a variety of monthly and seasonally themed programs. Suggestions are always welcome. View the full list of events at this branch.
Teen Volunteer Program
One teen on a semester-by-semester basis.
Class Visits
For group or class visits, please contact Teen Librarian Rebeca Andrade at randrade@bpl.org at least 2 weeks prior to desired date.
Teen Collections
Fiction, nonfiction, manga, graphic novels and a small selection of magazines.
Technology
12 desktop computers
Teen Librarian
Hours of Operation
- Monday: 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm
- Tuesday-Thursday: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Friday & Saturday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Programs
The Shaw-Roxbury Teen Corner has arts and crafts, puzzles, board and card games, and other activities available for everyday use. A variety of teen programming is offered throughout the year, including cooking classes, gaming days, art-making sessions, movie matinees, community partner-facilitated programming, and much more. View a full list of events at this branch listed here.
Teen Volunteer Program
Up to two teens on a semester-by-semester basis.
Class Visits
To schedule a visit at the branch or in your school, please contact Teen Librarian Renée Gaillard at rgaillard@bpl.org at least two weeks prior to your intended date of visit to discuss BPL resources.
Teen Collections
The collection consists of graphic novels (including manga, DC and Marvel comics, and graphic nonfiction), fiction, science fiction and fantasy, nonfiction, books in Spanish/Libros en Español, test prep books, and magazines.
Technology
We offer 15 desktop computers, equipped with Roblox and headphones. Chromebooks, Thinkpads, and Macs are available for check out at the Circulation Desk.
There are floor and table outlets available.