Teens Can ‘Make It’ at Arlington Heights Memorial Library

The offerings for area teenagers are plenty at Arlington Heights Memorial Library (AHML), 500 N. Dunton Avenue.

In The Hub, the area dedicated to teens, there are number of maker programs to take part in. Examples include constructing marble and bottle cap magnets, making string art and LED greeting cards, among many other projects.

There is always the D.I.Y. [Do It Yourself] area in The Hub, where different projects are featured each month. Young people grades seven through twelve are able to come up with their own creations with a number of tools at their fingertips.

According to Tom Spicer, AHML teen librarian, the projects help teens to explore their creativity and introduce STEAM topics (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) which helps them to learn in a hands-on, engaging way.

AHML also is keeping up with the times and has a number of social media presences, including Facebook, Twitter, a Teen Blog and on Instagram.

Teens are invited to get involved, by following them or leaving comments about the different challenges offered.

There also are still opportunities to enter the 7th annual Teen Film Fest. 

Young people ages 12 to 18 can enter by Friday, August 9. Films will be viewed at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre and judged by local film critic Dann Gire, Arts Commissioner Toni Higgins Thrash and Metropolis playwright Scott Woldman.

Awards will be given for Best Overall Film, Audience Favorite, Music Video and more and each winner will receive a $50 cash prize. 

An after party just for teens is set for August 16 from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.   

For contest rules and how to register, click here. 

The library also accepts book reviews from teens in the traditional bookmaker challenge, which can be emailed to ahmlteen@gmail.com.

For more information, visit www.ahml.info.