Category: Teens

fall26 teen spotlight (1)

Fall 2026 Events for Teens and Tweens

Mollie Hall

Pick up a copy of the Fall Teen & Tween brochure and the monthly youth department calendars at the Library or download PDFs below when available. See each event page for more details and to register. Registration is required for most Teen and Tween events – check each event page for more information.

mini graffiti fence

Mini Graffiti Fence Art

Saturday, September 19

2;00 – 3:15 pm

Grades 5 – 12

Registration required – Begins Wednesday, August 19

Create your own mini fence out of craft sticks and “tag” it with your own spin on graffiti art in a project inspired by “Ms. Amsler’s Artroom.”

plushie taxidermy

Frankentoys and Plushie Taxidermy

Monday, October 12

2:00 – 3:30 pm

Grades 5 – 12

Registration required – Begins Monday, September 14

Channel your inner Dr. Frankenstein or Sid from “Toy Story”! Use the toys and craft supplies provided to construct a creature, or use a previously-loved stuffed toy to make a decoration for your wall. Whether it’s silly or spooky, your creation will be totally unique!

cookies and canvasCookies and Canvas

Saturday, November 21

2:30 – 3:30 pm

Grades 5 – 12

Registration required – Begins Wednesday, October 21

Have a sweet treat while you paint to your heart’s content. We’ll supply the paint, brushes, canvases, and cookies – you bring your creativity.

 

Teen Advisory Group (TAG)

Grades 7-12

Registration required

Teens in grades 7 through 12 meet to enjoy a pizza lunch then work on projects to make the Library a better place. TAG members also get to give input on Library collections and events for teens and tweens. Make your voice heard!

teen books and bitesTeen Books & Bites

Grades 7 – 9

Registration required

Teens in grades 7 through 9 are invited to Books and Bites book club. Join us each month to eat snacks and talk about books with other teens. Read something new each month, or discuss books and series you’ve already read.

  • Wednesday, September 23, 4:30 – 5:30 pm – Theme: Fantasy. Registration begins Wednesday, August 26.
  • Wednesday, October 28,  4:30 – 5:30 pm – Book: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Registration begins Wednesday, September 23.
  • Wednesday, November 18,  4:30 – 5:30 pm – Genre: Historical Fiction. Registration begins Wednesday, October 28.

Tween Book Club

Grades 5 & 6

Registration required

Tween Book Club is for students in grades 5 and 6. Read this month’s book or theme and then join us for icebreakers, snack, discussion, and a related activity. Get a copy of the month’s book at the Youth Reference Desk after you register.

  • Tuesday, September 15, 4:30 – 5:30 pm – Book: Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez and Gabriela Epstein. Registration begins Tuesday, August 18.
  • Tuesday, October 20,  4:30 – 5:30 pm – Theme: Read a Fantasy book to discuss at book club. Check out a book from the Library or bring a book from home. Registration begins Tuesday, September 15.
  • Tuesday, November 10,  4:30 – 5:30 pm – Book: Ghost by Jason Reynolds. Registration begins Tuesday, October 20.

Magic: The Gathering

Grades 5-12

Join us for MTG tournament-style play on select Friday evenings from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Prizes awarded to top players. Everyone in grades 5 through 12 with knowledge of game play and rules is invited to attend. Please bring a Commander deck to each session. This event is co-sponsored with 5 Healthy Towns and SRSLY Dexter.

Teen/Tween Crochet Crafternoon

Grades 5 – 12

Registration required

Join us for a chance to learn crochet or practice your skills. Beginners and more advanced teen and tween crocheters are welcome. Learn a new project or bring in what you’ve been working on!

Chess Club

Kids and Teens

Registration required

Kids and teens: if you enjoy playing chess, join us! Compete in tournament-style play or a casual game and improve your skills. All kids and teens with at least a basic knowledge of chess gameplay are welcome to attend. Chess sets will be provided by the Library to use during Chess Club.

makerspaceMakerspace

Grades K-8

Drop-in Program; No registration required

Make, build, craft and explore. Participate in a variety of open-ended activities. We supply the materials and you supply the imagination.

Lego Club

Grades K-8

Drop-in Program; No registration required

Kids in grades K through 8 are invited to spend an afternoon making their own Lego creations while visiting with old friends and making new ones.  Everyone is welcome – Legos will be provided by the Library.

  • Tuesday, September 1, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
  • Monday, October 5, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
  • Monday, November 2, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
  • Monday, December 7, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
2026 srp photo contest

2026 Teen/Tween Summer Photo Contest

Mollie Hall

This photo contest ran from June 17 through July 31 as part of the Summer Reading Program at Dexter District Library. Teens and tweens entering grades 5 through 12 in the fall could enter up to one photo in each of three categories: Animals, Summer, and America the Beautiful. Library staff selected 2 winners in each category to receive a prize. See the entries below! Be sure to click/select to see the full image.

 

virtual library card logo A

Virtual Library Card

Scott Wright

To access your virtual library card:

  1. Sign into our catalog web page using your card number and pin: https://catalog.tln.lib.mi.us/?section=myaccount&config=dext
  2. Press the Triple Horizontal Line in the upper left corner of your screen
  3. Press “Library Card”

Virtual Library Card Tips:
All Dexter District Library cards are assigned a pin.  If you have never changed your pin, the default will either be the last 4 digits of the phone number you supplied to us or 1234.  If you forgot your custom pin, Library staff can reset it for you.

Want a Library Catalog button on your phone?  Here’s how:

For Android Devices via Chrome:

For Apple Devices via Safari:

  • Navigate to this website: catalog.tln.lib.mi.us/?config=dext
  • Tap the Share button at the bottom of the page. It looks like a square with an arrow pointing up.
  • Scroll down and tap “Add to Home Screen.”
  • Choose a name for the page and tap “Add” in the upper right corner.
apply online

Apply For A Library Card

Scott Wright

We are now offering online library card registration.  If you are registering on behalf of a Dexter Elementary student participating in Reader Roundup, please use the link their teacher supplied and NOT this page.

Please fill out the form below to apply for a temporary Dexter District Library borrower’s card.

We will provide your card information via e-mail and send your physical card to your home address via standard postal mail.  If you need a Library card immediately, please visit the Library to register.  The Library is open to the public for registration and browsing materials.  Processing time for online registrations may vary and physical card delivery is dependent on postal mail.

A valid card number is required to access the Library’s electronic content.  This content is always available and can be accessed from home.

We require all new applicants to visit the Library building to complete the registration process and extend the expiration date of new cards beyond the temporary registration period.  

Our borrower’s cards are only available to residents of the Dexter School District, including students.  If you reside outside our service area, please check with your home library about getting a card.

Parents:  When registering a child for a Library card, please use a parental e-mail address.  Dexter Community School student e-mail addresses prevent receipt of all external e-mails, including those from the Library.

    Magic: The Gathering

    Mollie Hall

    Join us monthly during the school year for pizza dinner and MTG tournament-style play on Friday evenings from 5:00 to 7:00 pm – please note the new time for 2026-27!  Prizes awarded to top players and to randomly-drawn participants.  Everyone in grades 5 through 12 with knowledge of game play and rules is invited to attend.  Please bring a Commander deck to each session. See below for tournament dates or check our Events Calendar. Co-sponsored with SRSLY Dexter and 5 Healthy Towns.

    2026-27 dates:

    September 18

    October 23

    November 6

    December 4

    **More dates and links to be added!**

    Contact:  Mollie Hall mhall@dexter.lib.mi.us

    TAG

    Teen Advisory Group (TAG)

    Mollie Hall

    TAG, or Teen Advisory Group, is a chance for teens in grades 7 through 12 to help make the Library a better place. At each meeting, enjoy a pizza lunch, talk with other teens, and give input on upcoming Library programming. Make your voice heard!

    TAG meets on select Saturdays each month during the school year, and on various dates during the summer. New members are always welcome.

    Check our Teen & Tween Events calendar for meeting dates!

    Contact:  Mollie Hall, mhall@dexter.lib.mi.us

    internet world

    Computer and Internet Access

    Mollie Hall

    teenzone

    Computers for Public Use:

    The Dexter District Library has 4 public use computer terminals for teens ages 13 through 17 located in the Teen Zone.  These computers have Windows 7 and are loaded with the Microsoft Office 2016 suite.  Full color printing is available for $0.20 a page.  Black & White printing is available at $0.10 a page.


    General Rules for Internet Use:

    1. Hardware and Software settings may not be changed.
    2. Users will respect all copyright laws.
    3. Users saving files from the Internet to their own disks do so at their own risk. The Library assumes no responsibility for viruses transmitted from the Internet to disks through the use of Library computers.
    4. Any users caught hacking into computer systems or disrupting the functions of other computer systems will have their Internet use privileges revoked.
    5. Users will not use the Library terminals to violate any Federal, state or local laws or to engage in unethical behavior.
    6. Users can be held financially liable for damage to the Library’s equipment and software.

     

    printing

    Wi-Fi Printing

    Scott Wright

    The Dexter District Library now offers wi-fi printing compatible with your smartphone, tablet, or laptop!  For black and white, the price is $0.10 per page.  For full color, the price is $0.20 per page.

     

    Click Here to Wireless Print

    3/10/2025 – New options for emailing print jobs to the release station, printing from Google Drive, and printing a URL directly have been added.
    For directions, see below:  

    1. Go to this web site and log in with your library card number / password:
    https://smartalecplus.smartalecprint.com/?id=TLN

    2.  Press “Choose File”, browse to the file you wish to print, and then click upload.  You may now upload multiple files at a time.  You don’t need to be inside the Library building for this step, so the print jobs can be sent from home if you wish.  Alternatively, you can email the files as attachments to: smartalec@smartalecprint.com, attach directly from Google Drive, or paste a URL you desire to have printed.  Note that if you chose the email option, it may take a little while for the file to show up – logging into the wireless printing page linked above will accelerate the process.

    3.  Once you have all the files uploaded, sign into the Print Release Station on the 2nd Floor of the Library, and you will see the files you had uploaded previously.  Click them to select, then click “Continue”

    4.  You will be shown a summary of the charges.  Make your selection for Black & White or Color printing.  Additional funds may be added to the library card number at the circulation desk.
    study group

    Group Study Rooms

    Scott Wright

    The Library has three group study rooms available on the second floor.  Groups may call ahead to reserve a room – individuals may only use the rooms on a walk-in basis.  Reservations can be taken for the current week and the following week.  Every Monday, the next week opens up to reservations.

    To reserve a group study room, please call 734-426-4477 and ask for the Adult Reference Desk.  For the study room policy, see attached:

    Logo Combination Vertical Colored lg

    Michigan Activity Pass

    Scott Wright

    The Michigan Activity Pass presented by The Library Network program is a partnership between 638 public libraries, 11 library cooperatives, and 400+ destinations. The program is designed to enhance the learning experience for people of all ages through books and other library materials, and to provide reduced cost or complimentary access to arts and cultural organizations across the state of Michigan, from Monroe to Mackinaw City to Marquette, and all points in between.  All passes are issued online through the MAP site:

    http://MIActivityPass.org