When you walk into the Cabot Public Library on Main St. in Downtown Cabot, you will not see just an ordinary library. This library is equipped with much more than it’s residents expected. However, when Kathleen Frankl came on board, it was just another added blessing to the library and the community.
With a large student population in the rural town of nearly 21,000 residents nearly 900 high school seniors graduate each year, and the new teen department has helped students going forward.
Frankl is the Young Adult and Adult Services Librarian. She works closely with the Cabot School District to ensure she understands the needs of the young adults. Moreover, Frankl says she has seen great results. “We have a group of kids who will come in after school and just spend time. They’ll play the X-Box, they’ll sit and talk, and they’re not on the street wondering around.”
Frankl says the most important part of her job is to ensure that the teens feel that they are in a safe place where they can be themselves. “That’s what’s really close to my heart.”
“Our Teen Department was almost non existent before we moved here because our Children’s Librarian was also our Teen Librarian. But our children’s department grew so dramatically with the population increase, that she did not have time to do a lot with the teens,” said Library Branch Manager, Tammie Evans in an interview last year. Now that Frankl is overseeing the Teen Department, Evans says she is very pleased. “She has just been absolutely wonderful.”
Some of the other services that the teen department at the library provides include, tutoring. According to Frankl, the AP Academy students at the high school volunteer their time and tutor students that need it for free.
“Since it’s a free service a lot of kids who come are elementary kids who can’t afford a tutor.” Said Frankl. “We’ve been doing this for about six months now. And it has been wonderful.”
The library also offers Chess Lessons for young adults and adults who are interested in learning how to play. A Crafters Corner meets on Tuesdays and the younger teenage girls learn how to crochet and knit from the older ladies. The library also host video game tournaments.
Frankl says she is hoping to add more services to the library that will continue to attract the teens and adults to the library. She says she hopes the services that she provides will bring the teens and adults closer. “What I’m attempting to do is developing a generational bridge, which is something that I’d like to be able to do because that gap narrows a little bit, because there is a gap.” She said.