New Avon Teen Librarian Fosters Reading Passion Through Fun Programming

For new teen librarian Marisa Hicking – also known as Miss Marisa – the Avon Free Public Library is about more than books.

“It’s not just a shushing place,” said Hicking, who started the new full-time job in July after a year of working part-time as a children’s library specialist at the Avon library. “It’s a place where you can come and have fun with rules.”

The Manchester native and Vernon resident said that as she wrapped up making brightly colored duct tape wallets, flowers and bracelets with some teens.

Fun has been an atmosphere Hicking has helped create since her first day at last year’s ice cream social. The energetic librarian’s sense of humor creates a lively experience for teens to interact in a controlled setting, making the new teen center the ultimate hangout.

As a play on NBC’s Fear Factor, Hicking ate ketchup on M&Ms at a recent teen lock-in event. The fun doesn’t stop there. She has many ideas for new programming to compliment the staples from a spa day Thursday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. to a locker decoration next Thursday from 4 to 5 p.m.

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Friday teen days will be at 3 p.m. once the school year kicks off Sept. 4.

After library renovations last year, the teens were given their own space for the first time. The library often becomes a place for teens visit after school. There are comfy chairs, booths as well as a computers and a TV lounge with an Xbox.

“I love the awesomeness of the new building,” Hicking said.

Teens voted for the orange and green color scheme for the room. It’s just one example of them making a difference in their library, she said. Hicking plans bring back the Teen Advisory Board so they can share their input on programming, new books to get and other ideas for improving the teen center experience.

Hicking’s heart has long been in reading, from constantly having her head in books as a kid to majoring in English at the University of Connecticut in Storrs.

There, she interned at the main library and worked in the archives at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center. In August 2010, she got her master’s degree in library sciences at Southern Connecticut State University. She also spent seven year as a manager in the children’s section at a Barnes & Nobles.

She’s always excited to recommend new books to the teens and there are flowcharts in the teen room suggesting books teens might like if they are fans of certain popular titles. The dystopian genre – like The Hunger Games –  is very popular right now. So are books about zombies and graphic novels like the Asterix collection.

Many other teen favorites will be offered at the teen summer reading auction next Friday, such as Twilight, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and The Maze Runner series. Teens have been earning Library Loot for reading, writing book reviews and participating in programs that they can use to bid in the auction on books, gift cards and other prizes. The Monopoly-like Library Loot was the brainchild of Children and Teen Services Manager , who is leaving Friday for a new job in Granby.

Until the “new Amber” is hired, Hicking with be running story times for 2-year-olds.

As full-time teen librarian, the town is paying her $50,000 salary, she said. The library has long requested authorization to hire a librarian to be devoted to their teen patrons.

In her new role, Hicking hopes to bring consistency to the teen department and be a role model.

“A library isn’t just books anymore,” she said. “It’s a place…..a place to be a teen.”