A welcoming face for teens at Seaford Library
Despite Seaford’s relatively small size, children’s programs draw as good attendance as any public library in Nassau County. Jillian Pelliccia is looking to bring that same success to the Young Adult Department.
Pelliccia, who has worked at the library since May 2004, is the new Young Adult librarian. She previously worked in the Children’s Department, but when the opportunity to work with teens became available a few weeks ago, she jumped at the chance.
She is looking to take the department to a level never before seen in Seaford. That includes adding new programs and books, and physically revamping the section, located on the lower level. Painting over the beige walls with a vibrant color is just one of her ideas. She also wants a new sign and a table for teen-related displays. A visually appealing section is a big first step, she said.
Another mission is to thoroughly review the collection. Some book series are incomplete, she said, so finishing those off is important. She wants the book shelves to include the most popular teen series, such as “Dystopia,” as well as other items that would interest young adults.
Pelliccia, a Seaford native, earned a bachelor’s degree from Molloy College and her master’s in library science from Queens College. Before coming to the Seaford Library, she worked in Farmingdale for two years. Being a young adult librarian has been a long-time goal, as it is her passion.
“I’m in my 30s,” she said, “and I still read young adult literature.”
Many teenagers do not realize what the library offers for them, Pelliccia explained, so another goal will be to do more outreach. “There’s so much at their fingertips,” she said, adding that most of it is for free.
She wants the library to adapt to the interests of teenagers. She noted that Manga, anime-style books, are very popular, so she wants to grow the collection and start a club. To her, the library should be a place for teens to talk about literature, whatever the genre, and make new friends.
