Afterschool program returns to Monroeville Public Library

Following a two-year hiatus, Monroeville Public Library is restarting its afterschool program for teens.

The program began in 2017 as a way for Gateway High School students to recharge while partaking in different activities. This year, the program is expanding to include middle schoolers while they are on the same campus during the Gateway Middle School renovations.

“All of the programs that our library offers are made to fit our community’s needs and interests, and to try to connect people to what they might not otherwise have,” said Pamela Bodziock, assistant director and teen services librarian. “Resources, opportunities for the community, and that’s what we’re trying to do with this program for our teens. It’s about providing a place where teens feel safe to discover new interests, be creative, feel welcome, find mentorship and friends.”

The afterschool program is funded by the Grable Foundation and the Helen Ruth Gordon Charitable Trust, through the PNC Charitable Trust. Using the funding, program leaders were able to book multiple guest speakers throughout the school year and buy more supplies for students to use.

“We went through their grant application processes,” said Bodziock. “We told them that we were trying to bring the program back after a two-year hiatus after the shutdown. We were very fortunate to be able to form that partnership.”

The library uses all of its resources for planned activities, including its 3-D printers, board games, yard games, crafts, computers and the library’s Maker Lab. Snacks and drinks are provided for students every day after school.

“We have all of the library’s resources at our disposal,” said Bodziock. “We’ve done painting. We’ve done stop-motion animation. We do cooking and baking, tie dying, jewelry making. We have holiday parties. There was one year where they built a gaming computer from scratch.”

Originally, the program was meant only for high school students. However, since middle schoolers are now within walking distance of the library, they are welcome to attend.

“We saw it as a unique opportunity to expand the program to them, too,” said Bodsiock. “We want to show them what we have to offer and make them a part of this, as well.”

The program garnered a lot of popularity in the past and its leaders hope to gain the same attention this year. Mentors from AmeriCorps come in to speak with teens and do activities with them. Program leaders intend to give students an opportunity to meet mentors for their future and make connections within the community while having fun.

“We’ve had kids from the program come back to us and say what it’s meant to them to have mentorship and to make friends here that they wouldn’t have known otherwise,” said Bodziock. “After two years of shutdowns and people needing that sense of community, I am just so excited to have teens back in the library and to have this opportunity brought back to a new generation of students. I just hope that they’re as excited to return to the library as we are to have them back.”

The program is free to attend and there is no signup requirement. It takes place every Monday through Thursday from 2:30-6 p.m. All students are welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information regarding upcoming events, visit www.monroevillelibrary.org.