Next BATS Meeting Thursday, December 13th

All teenagers are invited to attend the next meeting of the B.A.T.S–Bennington Advisory Teen Scene Thursday, December 13th 6:00 -7:30 PM in the Library/Community Room.  Join us as we announce activities being planned for 2008 and have fun with a white elephant gift exchange.  Bring a gift (valued at $5 or less) for the gift exchange. 

BATS Swing into Action

New Teen Advisory Board Chooses a Name and Officers

B.A.T.S., which stands for Bennington Advisory Teen Scene, is the name of the Bennington Public Library’s newly formed teen advisory group.  The teens held their first official meeting to get organized on Thursday, September 27th in the Library/Community Room.  Seventeen fun and energetic teenagers attended the meeting.  After agreeing to a mission/purpose and discussing potential future activities, the group elected officers and committee chairs, and then had “Fun with Duct Tape.”

Congratulations and thank you for your willingness to serve as officers and committee chair of the newly formed BATS:  President – Lindsey Anderson, Vice President – Taylor Menke, Secretary – Kelsie Bridgeford, Treasurer – Mitch Marean, Community Service Chair – Kaitlin Carl, Book Selection Chair – Kathy Andersen, School Liaison Senior High – Anna Marie Curzon, School Liaison Junior High – Abbie Hunke, Fund Raising Chair – Paul Bencker, Publicity Chair – Marisa Tomjack

The mission of BATS is to help library staff create exciting and interesting programs and activities for teens at the library and promote young adult services and programs among their peers.  BATS membership is open to Bennington Public Library card holders 7th – 12th grade.  Some of the goals and objectives brainstormed at the meeting included doing community service projects, eating and having fun, choosing books for the library’s young adult collection, creating a BATS web page to promote the group and its activities, and decorating a tree for the Festival of Trees to benefit the library building fund.

BATS members plan to meet about once a month on a Thursday, if possible.  They agreed to annual dues of $1 per person and to take turns providing treats for future meetings/activities, as well as, sell soda for a minimal charge as an in-house fundraiser.  The teens were thrilled to hear the news of the Bennington Women’s Club $200 donation to help get the teen group started.  Thank you Bennington Women’s Club!