New Librarian Bringing Fun Programs to Glen Rock Teens

Jennifer Lemke began her stint as the teen and technology librarian in a few weeks ago and she's wasting no time in infusing some fun programming and into the mix.

"I'm not set in my ways," the former high school teacher says. "I want a growing program here in Glen Rock . . . it's important for them [teens] to have a creative outlet."

As such, Lemke is introducing some uncommon initiatives. In addition to the usual summer reading stalwart, new summer offerings include two sessions of yoga, movie nights, gaming nights, card tournaments (sans gambling, of course), songwriting workshops, karaoeke, a hula hoop workshop and even some duct tape crafts.

Her path to the library is also not typically seen. Lemke taught English to high school students at Mount Saint Mary's Academy in Watchung before deciding to interning at the Bridgewater Public Library.

"I really fell in love with the Youth Services Department," she says. "I wanted a change. I wanted something different."

She'll have her work cut out for her in Glen Rock, as the library has been without a teen librarian since September and there's often a stigma with teens that the library doesn't have much to offer them.

Lemke, who has a masters degree in library information science, brings many different skill sets to the table.

Beyond movies, video games, yoga, hooping and duct taping, core academic areas will also be a focus for her.

But don't think academics won't be stressed.

She's looking forward to running college essay workshops in the fall and seems well prepared to help teens deal with the rigors and stresses as they gear up for college. Lemke was an academic coach while in graduate school at Rutgers and often ran workshops on study and stress management.

Lemke is looking for feedback on the materials, programming and any other ideas teens dream up during Teen Advisory Board meetings on Tuesday nights.

More information is available on the Glen Rock Public Library's website.

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