Menomonee Falls Public Library

Menomonee Falls Public Library opened 16 years ago and space specifically designed for teens was a significant shortcoming, and hampered staff efforts to serve the community. A creative set of staff space and local history collection relocations allowed for the creation of a vibrant new Teen Zone, with spaces for study, collaboration, socialization, and yes, gaming. The space opens directly into an existing vending area, a recognition of its most frequent users.

Adjacent to this new teen area is the Forge, a flexible maker environment with easy to reconfigure furnishings, ubiquitous power from pull-downs at the ceiling, and ample storage for all the tools, tech and materials the staff has assembled for the community to use and explore. As the tag line reads: “Let’s Make Things!”, and this just opening space is proving to be immensely popular.