Burlington Library Awarded Competitive Grant for Teen Writing Program

The Burlington Public Library has launched their all-new Burlington Teen Writers Group after receiving a Young Adults Write Now grant.

The local library was one of four locations nationwide to receive the award from the Horror Writers Association, which comprises publishers and writers of the dark fantasy and horror genres.

Julie Burke, the Head of Youth Services at the Burlington Public Library, said when the library applied for the award they knew the endowment was competitive but also knew it was a great opportunity that they had to try for.

“We are just very, very excited to have been one of the very few libraries selected for it,” said Burke. 

Burke said the first gathering for teen writers, which took place on November 12, allowed library staff to get insight on “what direction to take” moving forward with these monthly meetings. She said the group of young writers in attendance had come prepared with their own stories and poetry pieces and were excited to receive live feedback. 

Having these in-person groups to share and get feedback on your work provides a deeper creative connection with real-time discussion and reactions, Burke said, compared with online writing groups. She said providing this outlet for teens has allowed the library to “know our teen patrons in a different way and [see] their talents,” while also giving them the space to share their work with friends and fellow group members. 

Burke also highlighted that they hope to continue to facilitate the program in a “student-led and not staff-led” format so that Burlington teens are able to take the creative reins, showcasing and growing in their own writing.

“I think one more piece for me too is seeing the opportunity for some ownership from the teens too, because it's a brand new program,” said Burke, “I'm really excited for them to be able to help shape it with us and be able to take it in the direction that they really want it to go.”

Burke said the library hasn’t had an established writing group or activity in ten or so years. But when a Burlington teen reached out to them looking for this kind of creative space, library staff and Young Adult Librarian Jenna Cantino began to reach out to the community to see what they could do. 

“So Jenna also reached out to some of the other teens that she works with regularly that are through her volunteer group and her teen advisory group,” Burke said, “and it just, again, came to a consensus that a writing program could be something really cool to try.”

Now, with the extra funding, Burke said there are a wide range of possibilities for activities the program can begin to organize for teen writers in the community. Some of these potential ideas included writing contests or even a Story-of-the-Month board located in the teen area of the library.

Burke said it's been exciting taking the steps to use this award funding to bring the program to life, especially knowing it's “rooted in what the Burlington community needs and wants to see here at the library.”

Burke encourages new and returning teens to join the program and hopes it also creates a new environment for “members of the community who maybe haven’t thought of the library as a space for them yet.”

The program, which will be free of charge and offered to youths in grades 6-12, will feature monthly meetings, special workshops, and an interactive installation in the teen space.