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Teenagers work on gingerbread houses as part of a teen-related activity at the Pittston Memorial Library. The library holds teen-related activities every month, including Teen Reading Lounge and Teen Advisory Group.From left, first row, are Joseph Holland, Hanna Gadmonski, Hannah Seyer, Bailey Piechota. Second row, Virginia Myrkalo, Sarah Pontier and Abby Roberts.

A group of teenagers pose for a photo with their Mardi Gras masks that they made as part of a teen-related activity at the Pittston Memorial Library. The library holds activities for teenager every month, including Teen Reading Lounge and Teen Advisory Group. From left, first row, are Mansi Patel, Emi Patel, Cassie Thomas, Joseph Holland, Alexa Armont. Second row, Sarah Pontier, Hanna Seyer, Hanna Gadmonski, Kayla Kruchinsky. Third row, Janasia Turner, Bailey Piechota, Ava Smith Joseph Demace, Alissa Shetler, Joclyn Wilk and Virginia Myrkalo.

PITTSTON — Teenagers in search of extra-curricular activities need look no further than the Pittston Memorial Library.

The library has a plethora of teenager-related activities. One new idea is the Teen Tech Week, which will take place between Monday, March 9 and Saturday, March 14.

“It comes from the American Library Association,” said Teen Program Coordinator Noelle Kozak. “It’s being celebrated across the country.”

Teen Tech Week is when libraries showcase their digital resources and services available to help teens succeed in school, prepare for college and assist with 21st century careers.

Some events and contests that will take place during the week include a movie night, making bookmarks out of used books, using social networking to find books, using computer coding to play or make games, a silly selfie contest and an online scavenger hunt.

While Teen Tech Week is a nationwide project, ideas for events at the library comes from Kozak and her teen participants.

“We kind of try to work together,” said Kozak. “We’ll do the programs the American Library Association has listed across the country, but then we kind of expand on them and make them our own; kind of assess what the need is here. I try to look and see what the kids might like to do.”

Teen Tech Week is not the only teen-related activity available at the library. Two other programs are Teen Reading Lounge (TRL) and Teen Advisory Group (TAG).

TRL, an interactive book club for teens in grades 6-12, focuses on a new book each month and engages teens in fun activities based on the book. The program is held is held twice a month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

Kozak said TRL has the greatest attendance amongst her teen-related programs with around 20 participants.

“I think that they just really love to read,” said Kozak. “When they come together, they like the community sense with it. They’re so smart and I just really love working with them.”

Currently, TRL is discussing “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak and will have its next meeting on Saturday, March 14.

“We’re going to have a Holocaust speaker come in and talk with the kids about that in relation to ‘The Book Thief’ and they are going to watch the movie,” said Kozak.

The second teen-related program, TAG, is not a typical teen group.

TAG, Kozak said, is like a council consisting of teens who meet once a month to discuss and prepare future activities.

“Usually, we try to plan a couple of months in advance what we’re going to do,” said Kozak. “We kind of work as sort of like a council, so I’m like the moderator, but they have representatives who work on doing the minutes and everything. They all get to voice their opinion and think about what other teens might want to do at the library.”

Kozak said there are about eight to 10 members of the council with two representatives running the meetings.

Meeting are held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month and new members are welcome. TAG will not meet this week (March 12) due to Teen Tech Week.

With current teen programs and future events always in the works, Kozak believes what keeps bringing teens and new members to the library are the similar interests they share.

“I think they really just like the community aspect of it,” said Kozak. “Being with kids who like the same stuff that they do and are interested in the same kinds of movies, books, activities; you should hear them talk once they get going.”