At #PLA2026 today, presenters from Downers Grove Public Library and Carol Stream Public Library talked about teen spaces in the library. They started by sharing common problems they identified when it comes to teens in the library:
Author: Laura Hargrove
Rooted in Inclusion: All Abilities STEAM Learning with Community Gardening
Today at #PLA2026, the Cobb County Public Library shared its community garden program with conference attendees. They were faced with a big, empty, grassy spot in front of their building and decided to do something to benefit both their patrons and the environment by turning it into a garden. Nature programming always catches my eye, and while Cobb County has a large garden, their ideas and programs are scalable for libraries of any size! To get things started, they partnered with a local master naturalist and applied for, and received, a gardening-related grant. From there, things blossomed! Access and inclusion are very important to them. They pointed out that patrons in apartments do not have access to grassy areas where they can dig in and plant things, and a garden at the library allows them to get their hands in the dirt! To promote accessibility, they included tall raised beds that accommodate patrons with mobility limitations. They also ensure that there are plenty of plants with…
Not Your Typical Makerspace: Creating STEAM-Based Summer Programs for Youth
At #pla2026, the Kansas City Public Library shared their tween and teen makerspaces’ summer programs. These programs incorporate connected learning, integrating personal interests, supportive relationships, and access to opportunities into their program’s content. They also reinforce the Four Cs of 21st-century learning: communication, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. The programs are based out of the Kansas City Digital Media Lab (KCDML), which offers things like digital art, music and podcast production, bike repair, button making, and more. Some programs that were shared and really caught my interest were: Throughout the sessions, presenters Marcus Brown and Kiesha Collins talked about their programs being ‘varsity moments’ for kids who are artistically inclined. Athletes get their moment, and the KCDML makes sure the artsy kids do too! Laura Hargrove (she/her) is a senior Public Services Librarian at the Davis Library, one of the Plano (Texas) Public Library locations. She enjoys bird watching…