Hey there, Loft crew!
It may be the first day of school for D64, but Mother Nature clearly didn’t get the memo… it’s still hot, humid, and 100% doesn’t feel like back-to-school fall yet. Whether you’re powering through your first homework assignments though, or just trying to survive the chaos, remember: the Teen Loft is here as your cool, comfy escape (with way better vibes than a classroom).
Whether you’ve been hanging out in the Loft all summer or are just coming back after a break, here’s what’s been going on — plus a few ways to jump in and make the most of the new school year. School year Loft hours resume on Thursday, August 21 and the Loft will open at 2 p.m. on weekdays.
🎉 Updates to the Loft Space
We’ve been listening to your Lofty Thoughts – and the number one request was clear: more – and comfy! – seating. Last year, the T(w)een Advisory Board helped us update our regular seating to rocking/fidget chairs, and now we’ve gone a step further.
We’ve removed the public computers to open up more space for relaxing, reading, and connecting with friends. We’ve added into that space a few cozy chairs, a rug, and an end table (don’t but worry, it’s got charging ports) to help make the Loft the ultimate hangout spot.
📚 Behind the Scenes
Our fall newsletter is headed to your mailbox and online next week—but we’re already deep into winter program planning. We’re also teaming up with teachers to get them (and you!) library cards. Pro tip: if you go to school in Park Ridge but don’t live here, you can still snag a student card. Basically, we’re getting everything ready so the Loft is set for an epic school year.
Our most recent big project was doing the raffle drawings for all of our Summer Reading winners!
Did you know we order new materials for the teen collections twice each month? Check out the newest stuff hitting our shelves on our New Teen Materials page. New books dropped just a few days ago, so take a peek!
✏️ September Events
There’s still plenty to explore before school starts! A few highlights:
- Loft and Found – Friday, September 5, 2025, 5-6:30 pm *slightly after hours event*
Sometimes in life – and at the library – we all feel a little lost. Loft and FOund is your chance to find more than just misplaced items; it’s about discovering new friends, reconnecting with old ones, and building a community where you belong. Whether you’re new to the Teen Loft or just haven’t been around in a while, join us to hang out, play games, create, and find your spot in the library. Snacks, good vibes, and new connections await! Grades 6-12; please note the event ends slightly after the library closes for the day. - T(w)een Advisory Board – Monday, September 15, 4:30-5:30 pm
It’s time to put on your thinking caps (and maybe some cozy mittens) as we plan fun, creative, and exciting programs for the library’s winter season. From cozy craft sessions to lively events and everything in between, this is your chance to help shape what’s coming to the library during the colder months. Bring your best ideas – and maybe a friend who wants to join the Board! Snacks are provided, as always. Grades 6-12. - Stranger Things Trivia – Friday, September 19, 4-5 pmAre you a Stranger Things expert? Put your knowledge to the test by answering a range of questions about the Upside Down, the Demogorgon, and all things Hawkins-related! Grades 7-12.
- The Court of the Dead Launch Party – Tuesday, September 23, 4-5 pm
oin us to celebrate the launch of the newest book in the Nico di Angelo Adventures series: The Court of the Dead! Enjoy themed activities and nerd out with other superfans, though previous book-reading/movie-watching is not required to come and have fun. Grades 6-12. - RPG & Board Game Club – Sundays, September 7 and 21, 1-4:45 pm
Teen gamers, unite! Join an ongoing RPG adventure or explore various exciting tabletop games with other passionate players (no prior experience required). Grades 6-12.
You don’t need a library card to register, just click the link for each program to sign up & we’ll see you there!
🧠 Summer Voting Board Results
Some of this summer’s most popular matchups and their winners. If you can’t tell, we had a theme going…
- Long dog snoot or short dog snoot: long snoot nose-dived into victory, winning by a landsniff!
- A dog dressed as a frog or a cat dressed as a frog: dog frog hopped to the lead and never looked back. It was ribbeting.
- A cactus dog or a caTctus: the dog prickled the competition and left the cat in the dust – a pawsitively shocking victory.
- A dog dressed as a goldfish or a truly ridiculous looking real goldfish: again, the dog swam circles around the goofy goldfish and reeled in a fintastic win.
- A bulldog postal worker or a scruffy dog postal worker: despite all the long snoot fans, the bulldog really delivered the win, leaving the scruffy pup snail mailing behind.
- A cat unhappily dressed as sushi or an actual piece of sashimi: our first cat winner proved it’s the purrfect roll.
If you have any ideas for voting matchups, don’t hesitate to share!
— Your Library Teen Team 💛
P.S. You don’t have to be doing summer reading to stop by (but if you are, the stickers are plentiful). The air conditioning and WiFi is free and the vibes are elite.
As always, you can share your feedback with us here – we’d love to hear your Lofty thoughts!
All summer long, our WUITL issues will spotlight various aspects of the Teen Loft to welcome new t(w)eens into our space. If you’ve got an idea for a feature, or something else you’d like to contribute to this newsletter, let us know!
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