Teen Reading Lounge is an award-winning, nontraditional book club for teens ages 12-18. Teens help to create the reading list for their program sites and, working with trained facilitators, to design creative projects that bring the books to life. Participants report stronger interpersonal, communication, literacy, and critical-thinking skills, and increased confidence.
Hollidaysburg Area Public Library's Teen Reading Lounge program began in 2018. The program is made possible thanks to a generous sponsorship from Benzel’s Bretzel Bakery, Inc., a family-owned company with deep ties in Blair County.
Along with weighty discussions about books, big ideas and social challenges, participants have had ample opportunity to build relationships and collaborate. The Hollidaysburg teens got to know and trust each other while “baking” microwave mug cakes, learning to play ukuleles from a local expert, creating mood boards, and holding an ugly sweater Christmas party. A signature part of the program involves using "Tibbers" the toy sloth as a talking stick.
