Summer Library Tour

Destination #2: Evanston Public Library (The Loft)

Today I rode the train to Evanston to check out their library. Evanston is a city pressed against Chicago, so their library is far larger than those in the suburbs surrounding it. Even knowing this, I was not prepared for how explosively awesome the Evanston Public Library is.

There are poems etched into the pavement leading up to the doors, which I failed to take pictures of but I swear, they’re awesome. Every inch of the library is beautiful, but naturally I headed straight for the teen section

Known as The Loft, the teen section is a modern, well organized haven. Within a few minutes of arriving I met two nerdfighters with dyed hair who were on the search for a copy of TFiOS. I met Jarrett and Ruth, two really chill employees. They told me that Evanston teens love dystopians and realistic love stories. Jarrett told me “They don’t put up with cheesy love stories.” Good on you, Evanston teens.

Ruth and Jarrett listed their top books to recommend. Here are their favorites:

  • Marcelo in the Real World
  • North of Beautiful
  • Lockdown
  • The Big Crunch
  • Between Shades of Grey

Tons of events happen in The Loft each week, including writing workshops and DIY crafts. By far the coolest thing I learned about The Loft is that they have a theatre troupe that performs adaptations of YA Novels. They are working on The Giver right now.

How fantastic is that? Not to mention they have all of A.S. King’s books. Don’t miss me too much, Loft. I’ll be back very soon.

-Becky

Summer Library Tour

Destination #1: Codename “The Stolen Ann Public Library”

This summer I am making it my aim to visit as many libraries as possible and to document their awesome teen sections. Yesterday Allyx and I went to The Stolen Ann Public Library, so called because our friend Ann was the teen librarian at my home library until they snatched her up and she became their head of youth services. She’s doing a fantastic job, but I’m still bitter!

The Stolen Ann Public Library has a really charming Youth Department in their basement, but the photos here are of their totally kicking teen section. It’s room on the first floor created not by walls, but by bookshelves. They have a huge magazine collection and a good amount of audio books. And so many books! A great collection too, judging by a quick scan of the book spines.

But what makes this teen section really kicking is that they have a copy of Commando: The Autobiography of Johnny Ramone on display as a prized artifact. We were suitably impressed.

Especially Allyx.

-Becky