Are you between the ages of 18 and 26? Looking for something fun and different to do after work or school? The obvious answer, of course, is to come to the library! Okay, so maybe it’s not the most obvious way to spend a couple of hours, but the library can actually be a great place to unwind, make something cool, play a game, and hang out with new or old friends.
You’re probably thinking, Why should I (GASP!) leave my house and come to the (DOUBLE GASP!) library when I can stream anything I want from home? Well, first of all that’s not exactly true. Not everything can be streamed and surely there are many people who do not have access to every single streaming service. Secondly, doesn’t it getting a little old, a little blah, after a while? Also, I happen to have what I call “Netflix Attachment Disorder.” In other words: I spend a ridiculous amount of time browsing through Netflix, only to turn my television off or watch yet another episode of The Office for the 100th time or start some random romcom, usually starring Meg Ryan, Drew Barrymore, or Jennifer Aniston. If this has also been happening to you, it might be a sign that it’s time to try something completely new–new setting, new people, new experiences.
The library is the perfect place to try something new. It’s close, it’s free, and the people who work here are awesome. For all you 18-26 year-olds, our Young Adult Department regularly hosts programs geared specifically for you, our “NextGen” patrons. Our September and October programs offer a little something for every personality and interest. If you prefer a quiet evening, we have Retro Movie Club, complete with pizza and snacks. For example, we recently showed The Neverending Story. September and October will be a celebration of the brilliant Jim Henson; The Dark Crystal will be shown on Tuesday, September 12th from 6:30-8:30 and Labyrinth (a personal favorite) will be shown on Tuesday, October 17th from 7:00-8:40. In the mood for something crafty? Make a “craft-tea” chalkboard necklace while trying various flavors of tea on Monday, October 23rd from 7:30-8:30; the perfect way to beat the crisp October chill!
Do you like your crafts with a little fandom mixed in? Are you still upset about Barb’s untimely demise (I KNOW I AM!)? Then stop by with a plain white t-shirt on November 6th at 7:30 and we will help you transform it into an article of clothing that would make the Duffer brothers proud.
Let’s say you don’t want to watch movies and you hate to craft. What about games? Everyone loves to play a good game! Beginning Thursday, September 14th and running through November 9th, 6:30-8:30 is the designated time for NextGen gaming. Dungeons & Dragons will be alternating with NextGen Board Game Night. Even if you have never played D&D, we all have a general sense of what it involves, thanks to pop culture depictions in The Big Bang Theory, Community, and of course most recently, Stranger Things. It’s a thrilling chance to take on a new character and embark on epic quests of mayhem and adventure. You can be a druid, a monk, a sorcerer!
In addition to D&D, our NextGen Board Game Night will give you the chance to play a wide-range of board games, including a number of cooperative games, which have become increasingly popular in recent years. Some examples from our board game collection include: Mysterium, Gloom, Pandemic, and Munchkin. Cooperative and role-playing games are not in my wheelhouse. HOWEVER, I have learned that if you give a game a chance, you might be surprised by how much you enjoy it. For example, I begrudgingly tried Munchkin, only to discover that it’s actually a lot of fun! I have since played (and won) many games.
Our Board Game Nights are also a great opportunity to sample our games before you buy your own. Bring friends, make new friends, and have fun for free. Just remember that registration is required, so check our newsletter for the registration dates of all programs. Don’t feel discouraged if it’s the day of a program, or even the hour of a program, and you completely forgot to call us to register–call anyway to see if there’s space. Not all hope is lost!
We look forward to making the LPL the destination for NextGen Levittowners!
Happy Reading,
Jess
