Earlier this month, on a rainy Saturday morning, a stream of people entered the Kellogg-Hubbard Library for a special celebration: the grand reopening of the basement after the July 2023 floods.
Attracted by the fragrance of popcorn, I followed the crowd down the stairs to a bright space, finding the newly relocated teen center for local youths, which had been without a home since the 2023 flood. A program of Elevate Youth Services, in partnership with the library, the teen center provides a safe space for youths after school and on weekends. Young people have quickly located the games and have gathered on a rug in the corner. Others are sitting on comfy sofas and devouring snacks.
The adults, in the great tradition of Vermont, begin by talking about what the space used to look like back in the day, noticing that the supply closet doors are gone, allowing light to pour in from the windows. Carolyn Picazio, director of library services, remarks on the industrial vibe from the design, especially the brick walls, painted white, making the space seem larger. She leads me to photos of the heartbreaking flood damage and shares her memories of the cleanup.
“Today there’s still a bit of epoxy smell from the renovations, which will go away, but in the corners, I’m still finding a bit of flood mud, reminding me of that time and all the people who helped.”
Nikki Whelley, adult programs and outreach coordinator, leads me to the meeting rooms and offices.
“It’s such a transformation,” she said. “Most of the key mechanicals moved upstairs, and the construction down here is designed to make us flood-resilient. And now the year-round bookstore is down here again.” This project involved transporting hundreds of books from upstairs and organizing them on shelves.
Joy Lee, one of the “army of volunteers” said she loves the library and is proud of the work they did — especially for the working elevator. Also in the basement is the “KHL Book Shop,” selling used books. Lee found a book and CD to help her learn French; other visitors gather around the cookbook section in the clean, well-lit space.
I recognize locals, such as Jim Sheridan from the Montpelier City Council, who reminds us that the public library should be the center of any vibrant city. Families and children explore the space, competing in a scavenger hunt, enjoying snacks and drinks.
There are newcomers, too. In her first visit, Myrhh Brooks with her family is thrilled about the teen center. Her daughter, age 12, hopes to find her “unique friends” there, and the mother is happy that she can drop her off in a safe place with “See you at seven!”
Library Executive Director Dan Groberg speaks of his gratitude for the support of the community for this major project.
“It was a two-million-dollar investment without using municipal funds. We had support from many donors, from FEMA disaster funding, and from our insurance.” Future plans include air-conditioning, making the entire building a cooling shelter, a new “phone booth” room for virtual meetings, and a 90-inch screen for the teen center, Groberg said.
Joe Creighton, director of donor engagement for Elevate Youth Services (formerly the Washington County Youth Service Bureau) moved to Vermont for this opportunity. He urged folks in the area to visit elevateyouthvt.org to find out about their many programs and also to learn how to get involved.
Elevate’s Executive Director Favor Ellis sees the teen center as an exciting project to serve teens by providing them with their own space where they feel safe, seen, and celebrated. Initial plans are to open Thursday and Friday after school, and interested people can find each week’s schedule at basementteencenter.org
