Schaumburg library’s Teen Place in magazine’s Design Showcase

Distinctive architecture and creative use of space are among the features that landed Schaumburg Township District Library’s Teen Place in the Design Showcase of American Libraries Magazine. Published in the September-October issue, the Design Showcase highlights “shining examples of innovative architecture that addresses user needs in unique, interesting, and effective ways.”

Teen Place, a 6,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art area for teens ages 12-19, opened in November 2012. The library repurposed space previously used for storage and offices to create a place where teens can study, work together at collaboration stations, play video games, attend programs, watch movies, use discussion rooms, and create music and videos in the Digital Production Studio. Teen Place additionally includes an expanded collection of fiction books, graphic novels and magazines.

“The reaction and support from the community has been enthusiastic and gratifying,” said library director Stephanie Sarnoff. “From the very start, the library worked with teens in the community to design a space that would meet their needs now and in the future.”