Key Center Library Offers a Summer of Discovery for Local Teens

Libraries offer support without judgment. We welcome all teens with open arms.”

Teens on the Key Peninsula looking for something fun — and free — to do this summer have more options than they might expect. From crafting and gaming to college prep and leadership development, the Key Center Library is opening its doors to teens with a full slate of summer programs.

“Teens deserve spaces where they feel safe, welcome, and accepted as they are,” said Nikki Atienza, teen services librarian for the Pierce County Library System. “They deserve fun and meaningful experiences with peers and adults that care about them.”

At the Key Center branch, teens can drop in for activities like hands-on crafts and playing board games. In honor of Earth Day in April, they made terrariums to support miniature ecosystems. This summer, they’ll get creative with mini bookmaking in July and a button-making party in August. Other events include Book Bingo in May to kick off summer reading, and a Board Games and Beads event to close out the season.

There’s also a lineup of teen-friendly programs at the Gig Harbor Library, everything from making leis at a Hapa cultural workshop to a Recycle Fashion Show where teens design wearable art from reused materials. The library will host a Teen Climate Café in July featuring improv games and climate discussion, and a live reptile show later that month.

All events are free and don’t require a library card to attend.

Atienza likes hosting activities for teens because she sneaks in learning wherever she can. “Even something like making friendship bracelets teaches pattern recognition, color theory, and social skills,” she said. “Whether you realize it or not, you’re learning. And learning is way more fun when you’re having fun.”

And while Atienza emphasizes fun, she’s also focused on offering meaningful support for young people as they grow.

“Libraries support teens’ self-expression, their journey to discovering their identities, and their transition into adulthood,” she said. “My goal is to show that the public library can support them outside of school — whether that’s with homework help or even just a place to hang out.”

In addition to in-person events, the library offers an impressive array of online resources to help teenagers prepare for today’s possibilities and tomorrow’s opportunities. Teens can connect with a free tutor through Brainfuse, explore career options using WOIS/The Career Information System, or get help preparing for the SAT and ACT using free tools from Learning Express Library and Peterson’s Test Prep.

Need a quiet place to study or work on a college application? Atienza said all Pierce County Libraries have free Wi-Fi, public computers, and free printing for school work.

For those looking to build leadership skills or earn volunteer hours, Atienza encourages teens to apply for the Teen Council, a system-wide youth advisory group that helps shape future library programming. Teens can also join the Summer Reading Team as volunteers.

Beyond books and homework help, the library strives to create a safe and inclusive environment for all teens. That means offering not just a place to study, but a place to be.

“Libraries offer support without judgment,” Atienza said. “We welcome all teens with open arms.”

The Key Center Library will publish its summer teen calendar in early June. Check www.mypcls.org or stop by the library for more information.