Teen Space: Out of This World
Every Monday and Wednesday from 4:30 to 6pm, the Kenton County Library hosts a program called Teen Space. Teen Space is an after-school program that encourages both kids and teens to go to the library to play video games, do their homework, and hang out with friends. Students from Beechwood, Dixie, and Lloyd go to Teen Space meetings

Kenton County Library entrance.

The meeting room for Teen Space is very spacious, with folding tables and chairs set up, a video game playing on the projection screen, and snacks splayed out on a nearby table. The whole room is split in half with a fold-able wall separating Meeting Room A and B. Backpacks and purses are splayed on chairs or dropped onto the floor. A cart with tubs of supplies, board games, and books balanced on it is near the door. When you walk in, someone who works at the library says hello and helps you feel at ease.

Some members of Teen Space: Chase Reynolds, Marie Adamick, Aaron, and Donovan.

The most notable part of Teen Space is the video games. Every meeting, a group of 8 girls and boys, ranging from 8 to 19 years old, will play Super Smash Brothers. They often become loud and rowdy after just a few rounds of the game. The video games most often selected are Super Smash Bros, Super Mario Bros, and Just Dance. The most popular is Smash Bros. While Super Mario Bros and Just dance are hardly ever played.

Super Smash Bros. One of the most popular games at the library.

Grapes, Cookies, soda, and water are the most common snacks offered at Teen Space. Sometimes, especially if there's anime club afterwards, they offer Japanese treats; These treats can include Pocky and Ramune soda and are offered near the end of the meeting. The soda bottle is very interesting because there is no twist-able cap, like American sodas. Instead, there is a glass marble in the top that has to be forced into the bottle. It also can't be resealed, which is very unusual.


Ramune Soda

Sometimes, the meeting starts off on a calmer note, crafting tissue-paper flowers or making buttons. The video games are turned off and put away, and the supplies are put out on the tables. Last week's meeting had everyone making tissue paper flowers and drawing. Blue and yellow tissue paper and green pipe cleaners were the supplies used to make the flowers.

"My favorite part of Teen Space is hanging out with my friends!," declared Chase Reynolds, a student at Beechwood High School. Chase goes to the meetings as often as he can, however, sometimes his play schedule won't let him go to the library. He has made a lot of new friends and always encourages students at Beechwood to participate.

Chase Reynolds dabbing after the interview

Sam Lewis, another student at Beechwood, loves going to Teen Space. He likes to play the piano in the back of the room, yesterday he was playing Hallelujah on the piano while he sang. His favorite part of Teen Space is playing the piano and hanging out with his friends.

Sam Lewis playing the library's Piano. (Picture taken by Chase Reynolds)

"Teen Space has been around since at least 2008," LeAnn Combs speculated. LeAnn Combs is one of the primary Teen Space curators, she helps make sure that everything runs smoothly. When asked if the job was difficult, she said, "It can be difficult to manage, especially with twenty or more kids here. Sometimes they run around and jump onto each other."  Her favorite part of working at Teen Space is that she can meet new people and that it's not forced or stilted, like a classroom usually is.

Teen Space is a fun place to hang out with your friends, and make some new ones after school. Teen Space is where you can get your homework done and is a good place to hang out for two hours on a Monday or Wednesday. Everyone should go at least once, and experience the weekly activities.

Alicia Lueke, Senior