Teen Services Thrives at Fairfield Public Library

Five years since its establishment, the downUNDER Teen Center at the Fairfield Woods Branch library is still attracting droves of tweens and teens each day. The downUNDER was created to address the needs of the teens that flock to the library after school and was purposefully planned to be a safe, stimulating, comfortable environment that gives attendees the chance to try new things, explore their interests and make connections with their peers and the community at large. Since the downUNDER opened in 2008, it has seen over 22,000 teen visits from both the Fairfield Woods Middle School, which is adjacent to the library, and the surrounding neighborhood, often filling its 30 person capacity. It still may be the best kept secret in town.

In developing the downUNDER, professional librarians carefully considered how best to transform an underutilized space in the library's lower level into a place that would support the educational and social needs of teens. According to the Search Institute's landmark study "40 Developmental Assets for Adolescents, ages 12-18," for teens to mature and become successful citizens they must receive positive support from several non-parent adults, feel safe and cared for in their neighborhoods, find positive peer influences, participate in creative activities and youth programs and develop a sense of interpersonal competence, empathy and friendship skills. The professionals who organize the downUNDER Teen Center services strive to meet these goals every day.

Young Fairfielders are well aware of the opportunities that await them in the downUNDER. Fahad Chowdhdry, a sixth-grader at Fairfield Woods Middle School states "...you have to be quiet upstairs or people will complain...downUNDER is a good working environment for kids who want to do homework with others." Kali Orna of Fairfield has been coming to the downUNDER "for years" and is looking forward to next year, when her younger brother can attend as well. She states that "I don't play sports and don't go to after school activities...Everyone knows each other here." Angelina Iacurrci of Fairfield is thankful for the work of the "kind" professional staff who create the services in the downUNDER, saying that "These people are good role models."

The downUNDER is just one aspect of the teen services presented by the Fairfield Public Library for young people in grades 6 - 12. Professional teen library specialists provide year-round curricular support, including extensive summer reading assignment assistance that helps prevent summer learning loss. They also manage wide ranging collections of library materials for teens, from magazines to books to eBooks and create and execute original programs for teens that meet both the instructional and entertainment needs of young people. These valuable services have become essential to the teens and parents of Fairfield. On your next visit to the library, make sure you stop by and see the Teen spaces in action.

For more information call 203-255-7308, or visit www.fairfieldpubliclibrary.org.