Teens

Teen collage showing various images of teens in the library

Teen Services

7-12 th graders are welcome to hang out with friends and explore their interests at all Chemung County libraries. Teen feedback and participation is at the heart of teen services at all our libraries. Events are teen interest driven, and whenever possible, teen led. 

Steele Memorial Library has a dedicated Teen Space, and a Teen Advisory Group that meets twice a month for snacks, brainstorming event planning sessions, and input on what books, video games, and e-books/e-audiobooks are important to get for the collection. All our branch locations also welcome teen feedback and active teen participation.

Teen Events

This event is in the "Children" group.
This event is in the "Tweens" group.
This event is in the "Teens" group.
This event is in the "Adults" group.

Steele - Open Sew

5:00pm - 7:00pm
Children, Tweens, Teens, Adults

Student Resources

Brittanica High School

Brittanica High School logo

Meeting the reference needs for high school students. (NOVELny)

Database provided by NOVELny

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Brittanica Middle School

Brittanica Middle School logo

Meeting the reference needs for middle school students. (NOVELny)

Database provided by NOVELny

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Brittanica School

Brittanica School Edition logo

Meeting the reference needs for all students.

Database provided by NOVELny

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Library eBooks & eAudiobooks

Libby horizontal logo

Read with Libby

Teens who have their own library card can access Chemung County Libraries’ ebooks and e-audiobooks via the free Libby app. The Libby app allows patrons of all ages to download any book or audiobook they want with their library card.

SORA logo

Read with SORA

Teens who use the SORA app at school to get their school library’s ebooks can access our public library ebooks with their SORA app. Use the “hamburger” menu icon inside the SORA app to add your public library. Just select “Southern Tier Library System.” Please note that the SORA app limits teens to ebooks at their grade level only.

Recommended YA Reads

A blue bird on a yellow background with text that saysn "A Wing and a Prayer: The Race to Save Our Vanishing Birds"

A Wing and a Prayer : The Race to Save Our Vanishing Birds

A captivating drama from the frontlines of the race to save birds set against the devastating loss of one third of the avian population. 

Three years ago, headlines delivered shocking news: nearly three billion birds in North America have vanished over the past fifty years. No species has been spared, from the most delicate jeweled hummingbirds to scrappy black crows, from a rainbow of warblers to common birds such as owls and sparrows.

In a desperate race against time, scientists, conservationists, birders, wildlife officers, and philanthropists are scrambling to halt the collapse of species with bold, experimental, and sometimes risky rescue missions. High in the mountains of Hawaii, biologists are about to release clouds of laboratory-bred mosquitos in a last-ditch attempt to save Hawaii’s remaining native forest birds. In Central Florida, researchers have found a way to hatch Florida Grasshopper Sparrows in captivity to rebuild a species down to its last two dozen birds. In the Sierra Nevada Mountains, a team is using artificial intelligence to save the California Spotted Owl. In North Carolina, a scientist is experimenting with genomics borrowed from human medicine to bring the long-extinct Passenger Pigeon back to life.

For the past year, veteran journalists Anders and Beverly Gyllenhaal traveled more than 25,000 miles across the Americas, chronicling costly experiments, contentious politics, and new technologies to save our beloved birds from the brink of extinction. Through this compelling drama, A Wing and a Prayer offers hope and an urgent call to action: Birds are dying at an unprecedented pace. But there are encouraging breakthroughs across the hemisphere and still time to change course, if we act quickly.

An image of a boy and girl walking away with a small dog beside them on a yellow background

Twenty-Four Seconds from Now . . .

A New York Times Bestseller

“Jason Reynolds has done it again!...Fresh from start to finish…This is what it could be, should be, if only we were all as lucky as Aria. Girls (and everyone) wait for your Neon!”Judy Blume, New York Times bestselling author of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. and Forever...

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds tackles it—you know…it—from the guy’s perspective in this unfiltered and undeniably sweet stream of consciousness story of a teen boy about to experience a huge first.

Twenty-four months ago: Neon gets chased by a dog all around the parking lot of a church. Not his finest moment. And definitely one he would have loved to forget if it weren’t for the dog’s owner: Aria. Dressed in sweats, a t-shirt, hair in a ponytail. Aria. Way more than fine.

Twenty-four weeks ago: Neon’s dad insists on talking to him about tenderness and intimacy. Neon and Aria are definitely in love, and while they haven’t taken that next big step…yet, they’ve starting talking about…that.

Twenty-four days ago: Neon’s mom finds her—gulp—bra in his room. Hey! No judging! Those hook thingies are complicated! So he’d figured he’d better practice, what with the big day only a month away.

Twenty-four minutes ago: Neon leaves his shift at work at his dad’s bingo hall, making sure to bring some chicken tenders for Aria. They’re not candlelight and they definitely aren’t caviar, but they are her favorite.

And right this second? Neon is locked in Aria’s bathroom, completely freaking out because twenty-four seconds from now he and Aria are about to…about to… Well, they won’t do anything if he can’t get out of his own head (all the advice, insecurities, and what ifs) and out of this bathroom!

Steele Library Teens

Colorful teen space in the library

Teen Space at Steele

The Teen Space at Steele Library is a dedicated area on the second floor for 7th to 12th graders only. Teens can hang out with friends, read, study, enjoy snacks, books, computers, smart TVs, video gaming, and craft or art supplies. Teen library events held in the space are based on teen interests and feedback.

Please note: Adults can come in to browse for books, but they cannot stay in the space unless they are with a teen. Children younger than 7 th grade cannot hang out in the space unless they are with a teen 16 or older. All equipment, events, and seating are for 7th to 12th graders only.

Teens posing during Halloween event in the library

Teen Advisory Group at Steele

Anyone in 7th to 12th grades can join the Teen Advisory Group that meets twice a month at Steele Library. We have snacks, brainstorming event planning sessions, and input on what books, video games, and e-books/e-audiobooks are important to get for the collection. TAG members can also help set up and run events, as needed. There’s a fair amount of fun and silliness, too. Volunteer Credit is available. For more information, contact the Teen Space at Steele Library: 607-733-9173 x2311.

Youth Activities

Air Chemung Youth Clubhouse

Clubhouse is for Chemung County teens (ages 12-17), We provide a community-based, non-clinical setting for the promotion of long-term recovery through skill building, recreation, education, wellness, evidence-based prevention programs and other social activities.

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Chemung County Youth Bureau

recreational, educational, and employment programs and services for children, teens, and families in Chemung County

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EOP Head Start, Early Head Start

Birth to Five is a school readiness program. Free for qualifying families. Open enrollment all year.

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EOP: Ernie Davis Community Center

serves ages 13-21 with meals, afterschool programs, and tutoring

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Safe Zones

support and activities for LGBTQ teens in Chemung County; a program by the Chemung County Youth Bureau

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Southside Community Center

afterschool programs and snacks for all school age youth M-Fri

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Tanglewood Nature Center

educational programs for children and adults

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The SPOT program

recreational program for 12-15 year olds in Chemung County; a program of the Chemung County Youth Bureau

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YWCA Elmira

Offering quality before-school, after-school, and summer programs for Chemung County pre-schoolers through 6th graders at multiple sites.

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Teen Web Resources

Teen’s Top Ten - Teens around the nation nominate and vote on their favorite books each year.

YALSA Book Finder (or download the app) - Search 4,000+ books, audiobooks, and films from YALSA's book awards and book lists.

Queer Books for Teens - Find books, resources, and more for LGBTQ teens! From the site: "Created in part with support from the Carnegie/Whitney Grant from the American Library Association and the GLBT-RT resources committee, this website should act as a resource for anyone interested in Young Adult literature with significant LGBTQIAP+ content published between 2000 and 2017."

Khan Academy - Learn for free about math, art, computer programming, economics, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, finance, history, and more.

Hour of Code - Learn Computer Programming or Coding (free & fun for all ages)

Homeschooling resources - The Chemung County Historical Society has many resources available for homeschool families.

Loving Education At Home - A statewide organization dedicated to supporting and promoting home education throughout New York.

Common Core Curriculum - Common Core curriculum broken down by grade level.

New York State Homeschooling Regulations - No matter what state you live in, it's necessary to know your state's homeschooling regulations. And in a highly regulated state such as New York, it's especially important. Learn the regulations by studying the information on this site.

Home School Legal Defense Association: High School & Beyond - HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) is a national homeschooling organization that provides support and resources for homeschooling from young children through teens! This link is for teen specific homeschooling information.

Workforce NY (youth section) (for ages 16-24) - Everything from interviewing techniques, resumes, and working papers to applying to colleges.

Non-Driver ID Card- How to get a New York State ID if you don’t drive.

Getting Working Papers- New York State Department of Labor

Chemung County Youth Bureau‘s Employment Program- Youth ages 14 – 20 that are “work ready” have the opportunity to gain valuable job skills and experience through employment in several businesses and community organizations throughout Chemung County. For more information contact (607) 737-2907.

Free NY DMV Practice Tests - These NY DMV practice tests are good for the permit test and driver’s license test.

Applying for a Learner Permit - You must be 16 or older and apply at a DMV office.

Are you 18? Register to Vote! Let your Voice be heard!

Career One Stop "Get My Future" - A free site for teens from the Department of Labor. This site has everything from how to graduate from high school, job hunting help, and college application advice to finding the right careers for you.

211 Teen Helpline - A free, safe, and confidential source of support and information for youth, parents, and professionals, 2-1-1 Teen HELPLINE operates 24/7 through the various platforms – including calling the contact center, searching the website, and chatting online for meaningful, guided connections to help.

Get help for physical abuse - Chemung County Children and Family Services

For Those Left Behind - Grief resources for those who have lost someone to suicide.

Teens Against Bullying - Created by and for teens, this website is a place for middle and high school students to find ways to address bullying, to take action, to be heard, and to own an important social cause.

Teen Mental Health - MedlinePlus from NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine.

National Runaway Safeline - Judgement free help for runaways

Teen Sexual Health - MedlinePlus from NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Teen Pregnancy - MedlinePlus from NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Planned Parenthood & Southern Tier Pregnancy Place - Confidential, free, or low-cost help for teens re: pregnancy, sexual health, birth control, parenting, and more.

The Trevor Project - Help and information for LGBTQ+ teens and allies. Their 24/7 crisis line is 1-866-488-7386. Texting and chat is also available.

Feeling suicidal? Worried about a friend who is? - Chemung County Crisis Program (607.737.5369) or National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1.800.273.TALK) or text Hello to the number 741741.