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Bored?
Does your community offer zilch in fun things for teens to do? Well, take matters into your own hands as I did. This year for my Girl Scout Gold Award and gifted high school project, I organized a Teen Art Contest at my local library. This contest, for any teen with a (free) Fulton County Library card, offered $300 in prize money. The winners have the honor of seeing their work hang in the teen room of the Fulton County Library in McConnellsburg, PA for one year. Using display racks borrowed from the Fulton County Arts Council, we hung all the art in the main room of the library. Patrons commented on the remarkable quality of the art and favorably on teens participating in the community. On the last day of the show, there was an open house for the public to meet the artists.
This contest provided multiple benefits. It increased teen use of the library, caused the Teen Advisory Board to be established, and led to the formation of additional teen programs. The Teen Advisory Board was organized to help me with this project and will carry on the contest in the future. In addition, the Board helped the librarian select materials for a Library Services and Technology Act Grant and will continue to make recommendations of books, magazines, music, and movies. The Board hosts monthly teen nights with a Wii, crafts, music, movies, and of course, pizza, snacks, and sodas. We’re even planning a back to school bash sleepover at the library in August. We’ve held several fundraisers to support teen activities so we no longer have to rely solely on the library’s generosity.
So, don’t wait for something exciting to occur in your town. Make it happen. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your librarian, teachers, Scout leader, community groups, other teens, and, of course, your parents. People are more than willing to provide assistance, they just need a great idea to get behind.
Annetta Hartman
Needmore, PA 17238
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