Memorial Hall Library - Children's and Teen Services

Memorial Hall Library's first "Junior Room" opened after the 1927 addition and remodeling designed by Coolidge and Carlson of Boston.  The Junior Room was entered by a separate entrance on the northeast side of the building facing Main Street. Librarian Agatha Wade was the first to take charge of the new Junior Room at Memorial Hall Library which had seating for 34 children. The Junior Room offered space just for children at MHL. At that time, story telling, a stamp collecting club, small-scale dramatic performances, and holiday celebrations were all popular programs. In her address to the Select Board for the year 1927, Head Librarian, Edna Brown, said, "this room is knee deep with smiling children."

In 1961, a new modern, glass and stone Children's Room addition was added to the northwest side of the building designed by the Boston firm Coolidge & Carlson. To make room for Memorial Hall Library's 1988 addition and remodel, the 1961 addition was razed.

In the spring of 1990, two Andover 11-year-olds petitioned the Trustees of MHL for full, unrestricted access to the building. The Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts advocated for the them, stating publicly that the library's policy was in violation of state law. According to Massachusetts law, public libraries must adopt the standards of the American Library Assn's Bill of Rights, that libraries "should not limit access because of origin, age, background or view." The ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom weighed in publicly on the the case reiterating that MHL's policy was in violation of state law and stating, "don't kick kids out of the library to accommodate the adults you serve." For the first time, children younger than 7th grade were granted full, unrestricted access to MHL without an accompanying adult.

References

• Youngsters Protest in Massachusetts, Library Journal, July, 1990.
• Library Goes By The Book Boston Globe, July 22, 1990
• "Giving kids the boot (grant)," Andover Townsman, February 15, 2001.
• "Memorial Hall Library renovation is complete: Children's, young adult spaces reopen tomorrow," Andover Townsman, September 27, 2001.
• "The Teen-z Room," Andover Townsman, October 3, 2002, p. 12.
• "A room of their own: Kids check out CDs, DVDs, email friends (at library!)," Andover Townsman, October 10, 2002, p. 1.
• "With a 'wiggle,' tots begin loving words," Andover Townsman, September 4, 2003.
• "Summer listening list: Andover library lets students download assigned books onto iPods," Eagle Tribune, July 12, 2005, p. 1.
• "Poets vie for first place in local contest," Eagle Tribune, March 13, 2006.
• "Young poets vie for first place in annual Andover library contest," Andover Townsman, March 23, 2006, p. 7.
• "Library receives grant to enhance teen services," Eagle Tribune, August 24, 2006.
• "Hey, teens! Need a job? First stop of future may be Memorial Hall Library," Andover Townsman, August 24, 2006.
• "Library gets $20,000 grant," Boston Globe Northwest, August 27, 2006, p. 2.
• "Performing their hearts out: Teens shine in 'Andover Idol' competition at the library," Andover Townsman, December 14, 2006, p. 17.
• "Grant will allow free story time and parenting classes at library," Eagle Tribune, January 18, 2007.
• "From the heart, to the heartland: Teen volunteers help flooded Iowa library," Andover Townsman, August 7, 2008, p. 11.
• "Andover tries to give teens a place of their own, "Boston Globe", Jan 30, 2003, Globe NorthWest p., 13

--Stephanie (talk) 09:55, 21 September 2023 (EDT)

--Stephanie (talk) 12:14, 9 February 2023 (EST)

--Kim 11:18, October 18, 2013 (EDT)<span class="mwt-editable mwt-comment" id="R1708641546750" " draggable="false" contenteditable="true"> insert signature here, if desired

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