GENEVA — The Geneva Public Library began limiting after-school student access Monday, the first day of class in the Geneva Area City Schools, due to an ongoing expansion project. Library capacity is capped at 50 unaccompanied K-8 students from 2-4 p.m.
, Monday through Friday for specific events. Registration can be done up to 30 days in advance, in-person at the Geneva library, by calling the library at 440-466-4521 or by visiting the Ashtabula County District Library’s website. Lauren Webster, the Geneva Public Library branch manager, said she recommends online registration, because space will quickly fill up.
“We have a much smaller space that’s available this year during those after-school hours as a result of the expansion project that we’re working on,” she said. “That really takes a big chunk out of the available space that we have for students to enjoy — really for the public in general to enjoy.” There are 12 seats available in the teen tech and archive rooms and 26 in the teen area study space.
Any other students who arrive need to be with a responsible adult who is not library staff. Parents are also discouraged from picking up their kids in the library parking lot due to the renovations. Registered students are expected to follow the library’s code of conduct, which include no bullying, vandalism, obscene language, disruption and disregarding of staff and other patrons.
Webster said students who break those rules may be suspended for the day. “We understand that everybody has a bad day every now and again, but [suspension] gives them a chance to kind of reset and come back into the space, utilizing behavior that aligns with out code of conduct,” she said. High school students are only required to be registered for specific events, but they can still use the library during those hours without a supervising adult.
According to Webster, the library is a common meetup place for students, because it is located right across the street from Geneva Middle School. The library averaged 75 students a day last school year, Webster said in a statement to the Geneva School Board earlier this month. “I had days where the low number [of students last year] might have been 45-46.
I know I had a peak census. There was a single day where I had 129,” she said. Webster said she is excited for the staff to show off the programs for students.
“I know that my staff [has] put a lot of time and effort into building out some really great activities for kids to enjoy after school, and I really hope that students and families take advantage of registering into those spaces and enjoying those programs,” she said. The student-cap policies will stay in place through the school year, with renovations scheduled to end in summer 2025. Webster said she and the rest of the library staff are excited for the results of the expansion.
“We are very much looking forward to having a grand opening celebration and inviting the public in to see that space,” she said. “We really look forward to opening the doors next school year and having this new expanded, really amazing, beautiful, fun space that’s available for students.”.
