“The goal of the Miller Branch Library Teen Center (hereafter known as MBL Teen Center) is to enrich the lives of Jersey City Teens by offering a comprehensive program to include quality leisure, social, and educational services in the form of both drop-in and organized activities.”

With that Mission Statement, Miller Branch Manager Reneé Moody, brainchild of the MBL Teen Center, introduces the opportunity for caring structure into the lives of Jersey City adolescents as part of services at the Jersey City Free Public Library. Currently, no Teen Center of its kind exists in the state of New Jersey. Most are recreational centers that offer little to no educational or social activities.

The Grand Opening of the Miller Branch Library Teen Center (MBL Teen Center), held on Saturday, August 23, 2008, ran from 12 noon to 4 p.m., where entertainment, music, games, speakers, and much more celebrated the opening day. The public – parents and teens, alike – is cordially invited to participate in the activities of the MBL Teen Center, which is located in a regional branch library (2nd floor, Miller Branch, 489 Bergen Avenue) and is open to all Jersey City teens.

Statistics show that more than 73% (American Civil Liberties Union Fact Sheet) of the youth in Jersey City have no parental supervision at home when let out of school, with most working parents reaching home about 6 or 6:30 p.m. “That leaves a window of 3 to 3 ½ hours of unsupervised youth roaming the streets of Jersey City or doing whatever they can get into,” says Miller Branch Manager Reneé Moody. “I am about promoting personal growth through artistic expression, community leadership and the exchange of ideas. It is our goal to create a forum in which teens can discuss and take action on teen related issues.”

Studies have proven that students who spend no time in extracurricular activities, such as what will be offered at the MBL Teen Center, lose their way. For example, 82% of teen pregnancies are unplanned and 66% of all teen pregnancies occur among 18-19-year-olds (Facts on American Teens’ Sexual and Reproductive Health, Guttmacher Institute, 2006), and with a significant population in drug use, all lending to the idea that students who spend one to four hours per week in extracurricular activities occupy their time much more wisely.

Beyond simply offering a safe haven, the Miller Branch Library, through its Teen Center, will offer youth opportunities to learn new skills such as conflict resolution, which is critical in helping development in a positive way.

One such opportunity for Jersey City teens will be to serve on the Teen Advisory Board, or TAB, for short. TAB members will be responsible for developing rules to govern the Teen Center. The Board is comprised of students that are achieving at a B, or higher, grade average, and meets bi-weekly to discuss programs and ways to help others reach their full potential. Aside from the emotional reward for volunteering that will be experienced by TAB members, the Miller Branch Library will reward the time and efforts of the Teen Advisory Board, in appreciation of being role models. The objective of the Teen Advisory Board will be to serve in an advisory capacity on issues of concern to the teens; create, plan and implement programs and projects; and promote the development of leadership qualities in non-advisory board members.

“A vast majority of adults share an overwhelming view of today’s youth. They are described as ‘wild, rude, and irresponsible.’ We read about juveniles committing crimes, teen pregnancy and substance abuse. However, we must ask ourselves, is there anything we can do to help? The answer is a resounding, YES! We will be calling upon the parents as well as community leaders and professionals to become involved in any way possible,” added Reneé Moody.

Jason Pearson has direct responsibilities for running the MBL Teen Center, and according to Supervising Librarian Hussein Odeh, who oversees the Miller Branch Library, he has been recruited specifically for this project. “Jason’s strengths are his enthusiasm and that he demonstrates great potential,” said Odeh.

“The Miller Branch has always been considered the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the Jersey City library system. Miller Branch was the first in the history of the Jersey City Free Public Library and Jersey City to open a Computer Learning Resource Center. When I passed the baton to Reneé as Branch Manager, I knew that great things would develop in that branch. I am especially proud of Reneé and Miller’s staff for keeping my vision and dreams alive, and it’s only fitting that Reneé Moody is opening the first Teen Center in the history of the Jersey City Free Public Library, Jersey City and the state of New Jersey. I know without a doubt that this Teen Center will be successful and a beacon in Ward B and all Jersey City,” Library Director Priscilla Gardner said.