Friday Night Fun at the Library

In my early teens, there wasn’t a lot to do on a Friday night. There were a handful of home football games, and if we were lucky there might be a school dance followed by a mile long walk to eat at Pizza Inn. If we were really lucky, one of our friends’ parents had a VCR and we’d watch horror movies (Hard to believe we got away with watching films like “Pieces” and “Sleepaway Camp”). And if we were really, really lucky, one of our high school siblings would show great mercy (or capitulate to blackmail) and let us crouch down in the back seat of their car as they dragged Main. But truly, on Friday nights in a small town, there’s just nothing to do.

Kids today still have the same problem--few choices and very little to do, especially if they don’t have any money and don’t want to hang out with mom and dad. And that’s why our teen librarian, Amanda, has introduced “Fribrary.” Fribrary is a new program held at the library each Friday evening, usually from 6:30-8:30 p.m. It is for young adults in grades 6-12. It’s safe. It’s free. And it’s fun.

The first Friday of the month is “Teen Advisory Committee” when young adults can plan programs and give the library input on teens’ programming and reading needs. After the meeting, they’ll enjoy a film and food (I can absolutely promise you that neither “Pieces,” nor “Sleepaway Camp” will be shown). The second Friday is devoted to Anime Club, an already popular Friday night fixture.

The third Friday focuses on Makerspace activities, while the fourth Friday is reserved for special standalone programs like the one this Friday (Oct. 28) themed on “Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.” On Friday, teens will be making old-time and peculiar photos and buttons and sample some peculiar food. They’ll also have chances to win passes to the movie and everyone will get some sweet swag sent to us from the movie promoters. The fifth Friday of the month, which is fairly rare, will bring “Fandom Friday.”

Fribrary is currently an experiment. We’ll assess its success when we take a mid-December holiday break, and decide whether to continue on. So, we encourage anyone who is interested to attend now. For parents, I’d have to think that it would be an awfully convenient way for you to avail yourselves of two quiet hours on a typically frenzied Friday night.

For more info on the program, give Amanda a call at 405.372.3633 x8127 or email her at abell@stillwater.org.