In honor of the volunteer effort and contributions that made the project possible, the Anchorage Assembly passed a resolution to recognize the project team. ...
PROJECT INFORMATION
Teen Resources
Click here for the Teen Underground Facebook page for event updates.
Click here for book tips, graphic design tutorials, games and more.
The high-tech, vibrant Teen Underground opened June 10 in the Z. J. Loussac Library. The space for teens aged 12-18 includes Smart Board technology, iPads, a MacBook learning lab and a new teen book collection. Teen Underground is a joint project of the Anchorage Rotary Club and the Anchorage Public Library, with support from the Anchorage Library Foundation.
The Teen Underground project is part of a national initiative to create teen leaning labs in libraries. The project was inspired by YOUmedia at the Harold Washington Public Library in Chicago, a nationally-recognized teen center. The project was made possible by Anchorage Rotary Club project leaders Cheryl Myers and Carol Butler and a team of over 40 volunteers and technology, construction and design firms. Teens from the Anchorage School District Student and Library Teen Advisory Boards worked alongside the Rotary team to provide teen input and support. Over $200,000 in private support was raised in three months to make this project possible.
“The joy of reading, once found, is never lost. Finding adventure, inspiration and even friends within the pages of a book is one of the most wonderful experiences one can have, whether as a child or an adult. I think it’s a great idea to give young people a place of their own within the library to read and interact with information and each other.”
“The new Teen Underground center will transform the Loussac library. It will surely be the unique new meeting place for teens around town that the community will treasure. As I will be graduating soon, I only wish that I had a place like this to study, work with peers, hang out, and meet new people during my time in high school.”
“We have never had a place with free access to the latest technology and resources. Teen Underground will be an awesome place to study or just hang out with friends. This is a real gift to the young people in Anchorage.”
“Teen Underground has a way of lifting the spirits of youth across Anchorage as we explore the possibilities our community holds and look forward to a place of our own to read, connect, learn, and enjoy. Exciting opportunities will undoubtedly present themselves upon the completion of a teen center, and Anchorage teens will be able to enter a new era in their use of and involvement with the Anchorage Public Library. I cannot be more thrilled to see this collective dream come to life.”
“I am strongly supportive of the Z. J. Loussac Teen Underground Project for the young people of Anchorage. Our students need a place that is designed to accommodate their interests and needs in the 21st century library. The Teen Underground will be a gathering place for students to study, to have forums and discussions on topics of interest, and a centralized location that fosters literacy in all of its forms. I applaud all of the community groups and agencies, and our Student Advisory Board, for their strong support of this project.”
