If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit the third floor of the library recently, you are in for a big surprise. Quite a few wonderful changes have taken place recently, changes we think everyone young and old will approve. This renovation has taken one of the most special areas of the library and made it all the more magical.
Let’s start with the new color schemes in Youth Services. The new, vivid colors add energy to an already dynamic space. Our comfy furniture has been reupholstered in shades to match the newly painted walls, making our seating areas a great place to snuggle up with a good book or to just hang out with a group of friends.
The Activity Room has undergone the largest transformation on our floor. The new Activity Room debuted on October 5 to the delight of our littlest library users. The generosity of the Friends of the Library has enabled us to purchase large and small interactive panels, alphabet tables, a house that comes complete with its own kitchen, and even a yellow submarine from the Burgeon Group! This space is specifically designed to encourage and develop early literacy skills through play. The verdict is in: the new Activity Room is a big hit.
The teens have not been forgotten in our improvement efforts. Our new and improved Teen Center is now bright and spacious. The book shelves in front of the windows were removed and the collection was shifted over to the wall. The lower book shelves in the center of the room feature our extensive graphic novel collection. Comfortable, movable furniture was placed throughout the area, giving the teens the freedom to arrange the space for their needs. Tables and chairs line the windows so that teens can enjoy Youth Services’ outstanding view of Princeton.
One more exciting addition to the third floor is the arrival of the Nano Science exhibit. Princeton Public Library will be the curator of this unique display for one year. Nanoscience is the study of atoms, molecules, and other objects whose size is on the nanometer scale (1 – 100 nanometers). This hands on, interactive exhibit will help children and their families discover the wonders of nanoscale, engineering, and technology, all of which is based on what is invisible to the naked eye. This exhibition is housed in museums across the country on a limited one year, and only 50 have been fabricated for display. Princeton Public Library was the only library that was selected to house this exhibition. The exhibition complements NanoDays events and other Network Nanoscale Informal Science Education (NISE) Network educational experiences.
If you haven’t visited the Youth Services department recently or you don’t venture up to the third floor, be sure to make us a stop on your next trip to the Library.