MILL CREEK

A corner of the Mill Creek Library carved out for teens just got a makeover.

With new furniture and a larger space, library staff hope teens will know there is a place they are welcome to read and hang out.

The library spent the last few years focusing on offering teen programs and events at the various branches, said Dawn Rutherford, Sno-Isle teen services coordinator.

“We’re still building it up,” she said.

Rutherford said there were programs offered to children and adults, but there had not been much to attract teens to the library.

“We want teens to feel welcome and have a place for them,” she said. “It sends a message to the community that we care about teens.”

The Mill Creek branch is hosting a grand opening celebration of its new Teen Zone at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6. The library is located at 15429 Bothell-Everett Highway in Mill Creek.

The teen area has been expanded and new furniture and extra shelves have been added with the help of a $16,500 grant from the Fred Meyer Foundation.

Across the Sno-Isle system, Rutherford said the size of teen programs and how many teens show up varies by the size of library branches. For the most part, there is a decent turnout.

A calendar of events is posted on the Sno-Isle Web site, www.sno-isle.org.

Planning events for teens can be tricky, Rutherford said, especially as middle- and high school-age students surprise even themselves as to their interests.

“They’re trying to learn what they like and are into,” she said.