You probably remember the “Summer of Love.” This year, at the library at least, it’s the “Summer of Youth”! The library is hosting lots of interesting events just for Echo Park teens.
The Echo Park Branch was recently awarded recognition by the American Library Association for its “Service Volunteer Program” for high school students. Named as one of the nation’s top thirty youth programs in libraries, the Echo Park Branch program will be featured in the Spring 2000 edition of Excellence in Library Service to Young Adults.
By the way, this Summer’s Service Volunteer class will begin soon. After five hours of training and orientation by professional staff, “SVs” contribute twenty (20) hours of volunteer service, on days and at times they choose. Upon completion SVs receive an official letter of recommendation for future paid jobs or college applications. To insure a good experience, however, the program is limited to ten (10) participants at a time, so urge your favorite high school student to call the library for details now.
On August 14, from 1-3PM, the library hosts its Second Annual, “Last Year/First Year Forum” for teens and their parents. The four-person panel consists of young people from our neighborhood who will discuss their experiences during their last year of high school and their first year after high school. This year’s panel consists of Echo Park young adults attending UCLA, a community college student, a Trade Tech graphic arts student, and one who is working to save money for college. An interesting open question period follows the presentations. Professor Bob Kort, from Los Angeles City College will moderate this year’s panel.
You already missed the Teen Summer Reading Club’s, “Design Your Dream House! ” held on Saturday, July 24. Led by professional architects, teens examined various local housing types, such as Victorian mansions, solar-powered abodes, futuristic designs with glass domes and heliports, and “transformed their wildest ideas into architectural designs.”
But you still haven’t missed the “Teen Summer Reading Club” tattoo party on Thursday, September 9, at 3PM. A professional body artist will apply the temporary tattoos. In addition to the tattoo fun, the party will also feature video on the Big Screen, board games, food and prizes!
Award-winning poet and playwright, Fernando Castro, is teaching Echo Park high school students techniques in writing and performing a play of their own in the “Drama Playwrights’ Workshop.” The Workshop begins on Saturday, August 7, from 1-3PM.
The “Summer of Youth” continues on Monday, August 16, from 6-8PM with Karen Abrams’s “Improve Your Study Skills” workshop. A professional educator, Ms. Abrams will teach all -important time management techniques, reading effectiveness skills, and teach students how to maximize their own study strengths.
The Library’s “Summer of Youth” ends with a movie marathon entitled, “Mexican Insurgence” on Saturday, September 11, from 12-5PM. In celebration of Mexican Independence Day, teens will screen such classic historical dramas as San Patricios, Juarez, and Reed, Mexican Insurgent. Popcorn, soda, and “Jujubees” are all free!
So, if you know teens looking for ways to get job experience, prepare for the future, or just wanting to “play” around, send them over to the beautiful, air-conditioned, Echo Park Branch Library. And tell them to bring a friend!
