Teen Resources
You can look here to find helpful websites that we've gathered just for you! Ranging from local non-profits and government aid programs to internet safety, KFL has you covered.
Please let us know if there are other resources we should include here. Thank you!
Kennebunk Free Library is not responsible for the information on outside websites. We only provide links to them as a courtesy.
Studying Help
SCIENCE RESOURCES
STEAM for Teens - Provided by NYPL, “STEAM for Teens” gives you the chance to hone in on your STEAM skills by expressing yourself in new ways using special tech, software, and art supplies at home with videos and live recordings of events.
Scratch - Designed by MIT, Scratch is a programming website designed for teens to create games, stories, and animations to share with everyone on the website.
Explore.org - From livestreaming of a bald eagle nest located in Iowa to looking in on animals at a watering hole in Kenya, this enchanting live nature cam network and documentary film channel also includes free lesson plans for students.
ARTS, MUSIC, AND SOCIAL STUDIES BASED RESOURCES
Young Composers - Do you play an instrument or like composing your own musical pieces? If so, Young Composers is the place for you! You can upload your own compositions and get community feedback, rate other people's work, and participate in the monthly competitions. Not only is it a great place to talk with like-minded people, but it will also build up your confidence in music.
Underlined - If you like reading or writing, you should head on over to Underlined! Their team posts regularly with their latest book recommendations, fun quizzes, and activities, and you can post your own stories to share with the community too!
Asian Art Museum - Located in the heart of San Francisco, the museum is home to one of the world’s finest collections of Asian art, boasting more than 18,000 awe-inspiring artworks ranging from ancient jades and ceramics to contemporary video installations. Dynamic special exhibitions, cultural celebrations and public programs for all ages provide rich art experiences that unlock the past and spark questions about the future.
National Museum of African American History and Culture - The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. To date, the Museum has collected more than 40,000 artifacts and nearly 100,000 individuals have become members.
Congress.gov - This resource provides full-text access to the Congressional Record, bills, public and private laws, roll call votes, and schedules of both houses.
American FactFinder - This resource provides Access to data from several censuses and surveys (population, housing, economic and community) from the United States, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas.
STUDYING AND DESTRESSING
Stress Reduction during COVID-19 for Teens - Presented by BeWell Health & Wellness, this video gives strategies to help manage and reduce stress during difficult times.
Websites for Health, Safety, and Mental Health Resources
HEALTH
Center for Young Women’s Health - In partnership with the Boston Children’s Hospital, the Center is an educational entity that is committed to providing girls and young women with carefully researched health information, educational programs, and conferences.
Center for Young Men’s Health - In partnership with the Boston Children’s Hospital, the Center is an educational entity that is committed to providing boys and young men with carefully researched health information, educational programs, and conferences.
What Are Eating Disorders? - General information about eating disorders provided by NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health)
HOTLINES AND LOCAL ADVOCACY GROUPS
Preble Street First Place - Open to homeless youth ages 16 to 21 who cannot safely return to their families, First Place offers participants single-occupancy apartments and case management for up to 18 months, after which time the tenant is expected to be prepared to assume responsibility for the lease
Love is Respect - A project of the National Domestic Violence Hotline, love is respect offers 24/7 information, support, and advocacy to young people between the ages of 13 and 26 who have questions or concerns about their romantic relationships.
NEDA Eating Disorder Hotline - You can contact the NEDA Helpline for support, resources, and treatment options for yourself or a loved one who is struggling with an eating disorder.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.
GLSEN - Every student has the right to a safe, supportive, and LGBTQ-inclusive K-12 education. GLSEN is a national network of educators, students, and local GLSEN Chapters working to make this right a reality.
Day One - Based in Maine, Day One is a continuum of care for youth and families. Day One helps individuals and families build on the courage needed to reach out, with the resources and support to re-map their journey and change their story.
DoSomething - DoSomething is a not-for-profit designed for young people to help them get involved in social change. You can find out about and join their campaigns to make a real, good impact on the world that you are growing up in.
Youth Friendly Websites to Find Resources Regarding Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Alcoholics Anonymous - Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who come together to support each other in achieving sobriety. It doesn’t cost anything to attend A.A. meetings. There are no age or education requirements to participate. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about their drinking problem. Find a local chapter here.
Al-Anon - Alateen meetings in the Mobile App are for young people aged 13 to 18 who have been affected by someone else’s drinking. We are invited to share experience, strength, and hope with other teens.
Digital Maine Library
To use the Digital Maine Library, you will need your library card!
Digital Maine Library offers Maine residents a collection of full text articles from magazines, newspapers, and reference books that are credible, reputable resources. Because the information originates as a print source, it counts as a print source rather than an internet source for your project! One of the drop down features allows you to sort by audience (such as elementery, middle school, and teen & high school) for resources that are best for your project.
EXAMPLES OF RESOURCES INCLUDE:
Nature - Nature is a weekly international journal publishing the finest peer-reviewed research in all fields of science and technology.
Business Economics and Theories - Provided by Gale, this resource is useful for starting a business, marketing a product, developing policy, analyzing trends, constructing economic models, investing for the future, and researching rates.
Environment Complete - This resource provides extensive coverage in the areas of agriculture, ecosystem ecology, and energy.
GreenFILE - This resource is a free research database that provides scholarly, government and general-interest sources covering the environmental effects of individuals, corporations and governments and what can be done at each level to minimize negative impacts.
Hobbies and Crafts Reference Center - This resource offers detailed "how-to" instructions and creative ideas to meet the interests of virtually every hobby enthusiast.
In Context: College - Provided by Gale, In Context offers interdisciplinary content that reinforces the development of skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, communication, collaboration, and innovation through videos, images, and audio selections.
Pro Citizen - This course will prepare you for the Civics, Reading, and Writing portions of the Naturalization Test. A Pronunciator Language Learning Tool, this resource contains a series of 100 informative videos, plus practice exercises and quizzes to pass the Naturalization Test.
Pronunciator Language Learning - This resource provides self-paced language learning courses for 80 languages and ESL for 50 non-English languages.
Gale Literary Sources - Gale Literature brings together Gale's premier literary databases in a new digital environment that allows researchers, faculty and students to search across these resources to discover and analyze content in entirely new ways
Business Economics and Theory - This content is useful for starting a business, marketing a product, developing policy, analyzing trends, constructing economic models, investing for the future, and researching rates.
Black Freedom Struggle in the United States - With Over 2,000 curated primary-source documents related to critical people and events in African American history, this resource aims to support anyone interested in learning more about the foundation of ongoing racial injustice in the U.S. – and the fights against it.
Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts - Click here to discover specialized, editorially-curated and relevant scholarly research and technical literature critical for scientists researching the world's living aquatic resources.
Vocations and Careers - Provided by Gale, this resource provides content from general career guides to highly specialized industry journals.
World History - Provided by Gale, this resource provides access to scholarly journals and magazines useful to both novice historians as well as advanced academic researchers.
How do we decide what goes into the Children's Room, and what goes into the Teen Room?
People sometimes ask what the cutoff is for titles in the Children's Room vs. the Teen Zone. At what age can children start reading the Teen Books? There is not a clear, black and white delineation. Since everyone has different values, the decision is best left up to the people who know the children best, namely their parents. Here is how we decide which titles end up shelved in the Children's Room, and which are shelved in the Teen Zone. Click here to read the entire article.