RADFORD — To say that Andrew Patton is comfortable spending time at the Radford Public Library is an understatement.
“It’s like a home away from home,” said the 12-year-old.
Turns out, others his age and older also feel a sense of coziness thanks to a new young adult area in the library’s new building addition. The room features books and magazines for teens, laptop computers and an outdoor patio area. The library also has a Wii gaming system and a TV that can be used.
There’s also a stage in a corner that can be used for performances or as a place for teens to grab one of the pillows to curl up and enjoy a good book.
Andrew, who turns 13 next month, admits that he has felt so comfy that he has napped in one of the chairs. Luckily, there’s also enough to keep him awake and entertained.
“It’s a cool place to hang out,” said Andrew, who was doing exactly that with his younger brother, Ben, 8, on Monday evening.
The two were the only students in the room and were waiting for their mother to pick them up. While waiting, they took advantage of one of the laptops in the room to play a game.
Andrew also said he is impressed with the variety of books in the youth section. Before the new room, teens perused young adult books in a section in the children’s area, but it was a small corner.
The library also draws a lot of students from Radford High School and Dalton Intermediate School located up the hill from the library.
Now, teens have more room to read and relax. The new teen area is part of the 4,357 square feet of space that was added to the library. The addition also features a local history room, where visitors can find a collection of books on Radford and Southwest Virginia. It also includes maps, two microfilm readers where people can search old newspaper issues and a computer where visitors can research their genealogy, said Ann Fisher, library director.
Construction of the addition started in June, and the dedication was in March, Fisher said.
The final cost of the expansion was $866,231 and was paid for by city funds, grants and $111,487 that was privately raised by library supporters, the Lamplighters. The expansion now gives the library 19,877 square feet. “I’m delighted with how it turned out and I think it’s working very well,” Fisher said.
Teens also seem to be pleased with their new area, given the reaction that Dave Banker, who oversees the teen area, has heard from them.
“It’s fantastic. For years they’ve been coming down here. They haven’t had a space specifically designed for them,” Banker said. “Now, they really have an area that’s just for them, and they’ve taken to it like ducks to water.”
On an average day, about 25 teens visit the youth area and are showing more interest in the books and magazines there.
“They like having their own collection,” said Caroline Tesauro, youth services librarian. “Circulation just continues to go up.”
From Roanoke Times Current 5/1/09: By Sharla Bardin sharla.bardin@roanoke.com, 381-1669