By ROBERT LINNEHAN | The Voorhees Sun
Finally, after months of planning and construction, Voorhees teens will be able to enjoy a space at the local library specifically designed with them in mind.
The grand opening of The Corner at the M. Allan Vogelson Regional Library is scheduled for invited guests on Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 3 p.m. The teen center will be open to all teen visitors after the grand opening.
Members of the Teen Advisory Board will show off their new space to the visitors of the grand opening, exhibiting its 15-foot graffiti art wall and stage, 52-inch flat screen multi-media center with gaming equipment, and computers with high-speed Internet access.
The space is clearly marked as being reserved for local teenagers who are visiting the library. It will also house a collection of teen books, magazines, and graphic novels for interested readers, representatives said.
The 1,245 square-foot teen space has been several months in the planning, with construction starting over the summer.
“The grand opening in early December will mark the realization of a project that started with a successful grant proposal last year to create a space for teens to call their own,” said Linda Devlin, Director of the Camden County Library System, in a press release. “We look forward to welcoming a host of local and state officials, as well as library professionals from Camden County and from around the state, when we open The Corner to the public.”
Over the summer, a local architecture firm was hired to do preliminary designs for the teen space. Bach Associates, an architecture firm out of Haddon Heights, was hired to do the preliminary design work for the center, said Jennifer Druce, coordinator of children’s services.
According to officials of the library branch, Bach Associates submitted the best proposal for a unique space for teens.
Pantarelli Homes Inc., of Pilesgrove was selected in early October as the qualified low bidder for the $102,500 construction contract for the space.
The Vogelson Branch received a $40,000 grant to create a special teen space dedicated to meeting the needs, interests and tastes of teenagers in Voorhees. The South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative provided $40,000 in funding, which includes a $10,000 special grant from the New Jersey State Library, to complement $35,900 committed by CCLS, based on its innovative proposal submitted to SJRLC.
Country Freeholder Riletta Cream will be on hand to celebrate the grand opening on Wednesday.
“The opening of this new teen space shows a real commitment on the part of the Camden County Library System toward young people,” she said. “The project can serve as a model for what other libraries in the county can do to attract teens in their communities.”
The branch provided over 90 teen programs in 2008, ranging from a Project Runway-like fashion show, a hip-hop dance presentation, special book clubs, anime clubs, and gaming clubs all designed toward teens.
For more updates on the opening and the teen space, please visit the branch’s Web site at Camdencountylibrary.org.
