Library hosts safe space for teens to connect online

Free activities and social space available on Discord server

By Leslie Riker

Teens have a safe, fun place to connect online thanks to the South Fayette Township Library.

A virtual space on the app called Discord provides a hub for youth ages 13 to 18 to interact with peers and participate in game nights, book clubs, art hangouts, Dungeons and Dragons, and other activities.

Eleven libraries in the region are partnering to offer this service to any teen in Allegheny County with a library card. There is no cost for the program or for library cards.

Carrie Lowery, the South Fayette library’s youth services specialist, initiated the program to provide a private, moderated space for teens to share their interests and take part in digital programming.

“It’s kind of like social media and a chat room all in one,” she said.

Siblings Angelo Brunetti, 11, left, and Gina Brunetti, 14, visit the South Fayette Township Library in January. Gina sometimes posts her artwork on the teen Discord server that the library has set up as a safe space for programming and socializing.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

Discord is a free voice, video and text app that allows users, such as the library, to create invitation-only virtual places, called servers, where people can spend time together.

Discord servers are organized into topic-based channels where members can collaborate, share and just talk about their day.

About 90 teens in middle school and high school have participated in the library’s Cool Teen Discord server since it launched a year ago. In November 2021 alone, teens sent 2,580 chat messages and spent more than 90 hours in voice conversations.

“I would never be able to reach this amount of teens on my own,” Ms. Lowery said.

Librarians, with the aid of technology, flag any questionable language, keep eyes and ears on interactions, and moderate scheduled activities.

Safety is one the main selling points for South Fayette mother Cherie Brunetti, who homeschools her children.

“It’s not only just local kids hanging out, but there are librarians moderating it, so there’s another layer of safety,” she said.

Her 13-year-old daughter, Gina, checks the server about once a day on her iPad. The server can be accessed from a desktop computer, tablet or smartphone.

Interested in anime and digital art, Gina sometimes posts her work on the art channel and receives helpful feedback.

“Some people just say it’s nice, some people give critiques,” she said. “Nobody’s ever really mean about it.”

The South Fayette Township Library has set up a moderated Discord server for teens in Allegheny County.

Ms. Lowery said a big part of the program’s success is that teens select the monthly games, activities and topics through polls.

Participants not only enjoying gaming and socializing on Discord but also practice collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, multitasking and financial skills, she said.

In January 2021, the South Fayette library launched the teen Discord server as a digital programming space in response to a lack of in-person activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. T

he program has grown into a space where teens build friendships, even outside of scheduled library programming.

“We have such a nice group of kids on the server,” Ms. Lowery said. “They are extremely patient and understanding. It has been cool to see the mentoring and kindness.”

Teens age 13 to 18 may request to join the Discord server at tinyurl.com/y2kq6wht.

To join the teen server for Dungeons and Dragons, go to tinyurl.com/DiscDND.

Download the Discord app for free from the App Store or Google Play.

Leslie Riker is fundraising and development coordinator with the South Fayette Township Library.