Teen Spaces in the BPL

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, East BostonGrove HallHyde Park, Mattapan, and Roxbury.

At the Central Library at Copley Square

Teen Librarians

Hours of operation

  • Monday - Thursday: 12:00 - 8:00 pm
  • Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday: 11:30 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

Boston Public Library East Boston Branch at 365 Bremen Street

Teen Librarian

VACANT

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 SAT workshops, gaming sessions, English conversation, and book clubs are also offered. See a current list of upcoming events.

Teen Volunteer Program

The Teen Volunteer Program is on hiatus at the East Boston Branch, please check back in the summer.

Class Visits

To schedule in person or online visits, please contact Teen Librarian Dani at dsolano@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), shonen manga, shojo manga, 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 and 3 public use Mac laptops are available at the front desk for use in the library

Teen Librarian

Dani Solano

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

John Kenney

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

Lauren Duke

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 Lauren Duke at lduke@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

Boston Public Library. Roxbury BranchTeen Librarian

Madeleine Wright

Hours of Operation

  • Monday: 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm
  • Tuesday-Thursday: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Programs

Chess Night, Switch Game Days, and online D&D, with more to come. View a full list of events at this branch vents listed here.

Teen Volunteer Program

Two teens on a semester-by-semester basis.

Class Visits

To schedule in person or online visits, please contact Teen Librarian Madeleine Wright at least two weeks prior to your intended date of visit to discuss BPL resources.

Teen Collections

An extensive collection of teen fiction and graphic novels, with a focus on science fiction, manga, and superhero comics.

Technology

We offer 15 desktop computers 12 Chromebooks, a Nintendo Switch, and outlets in every table for charging your devices!

Back to Top