Superheroes and comic book stars will mingle with wizards and witches at the upcoming Albright Memorial Library’s Teen Character Ball.

Organized by the Lackawanna County Young Adult Librarians, the ball is a chance for area teens to socialize, dance and have fun while in costume.

The event will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Albright Memorial Library, 500 Vine St. Costumes are not required.

“We like to associate good feelings and good vibes with the library,” said Anna Kilcullen, the young adult librarian for Albright Memorial Library.

A disc jockey will be spinning tunes, pizza and refreshments will be available, and each library will enter a basket for a raffle. There will be a photo booth and art displayed created by the teenagers. And, of course, there will be dancing, said Ms. Kilcullen.

The library held a successful vampire ball a few years ago. But the librarians felt vampires were a little passé these days and decided a “character ball would be great,” said Ms. Kilcullen.

For more than a dozen years, the library has organized teen-centric events created with input from the students, said Mary Garm, head administrator of the county library system.

The Young Adult Librarians are a group of local librarians who host different book clubs, social events and arts and crafts for kids in grades seven to 12 at area libraries.

They work with a teen advisory board, who feeds them ideas and keeps them up-to-date on what interests teenagers.

“The kids who have chosen to participate help the library make decisions on resources and programs,” said Ms. Garm. The teens can also serve in a volunteer capacity, she said, and help younger kids by tutoring.

Teen programs at the libraries are part of a program called PA Forward Initiative, which promotes the values of libraries in the 21st century, said Ms. Garm, the steering committee chairwoman.

“It is essentially a recognition that a library has a unique connection with the people of Pennsylvania,” she said. “We believe that libraries have the resources to help Pennsylvanians improve their lives.”

A large percentage of juveniles involved in the court system are functionally illiterate and only half of preschoolers are read to, she said.

“Those earlier literacy skills really influence a child’s success in life,” she said. “We certainly know the more people are able to read, the better off they’re going to be in life.”

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