As the first and Lead Donor for the Tween & Teen Center, The Darien Foundation awarded the Library a capital grant totaling over $314,000. This generous investment provided the means and momentum for Darien Library to pursue this long-awaited project.
“We’ve gotten suggestions from parents whose kids go to the Library’s Teen Lounge regularly that The Darien Foundation should look into augmenting the space. Investing in the future of Darien’s youth is at the core of our mission to move Darien Forward.”
— Ward Glassmeyer,"This is a complete reimagining of what a 21st-century learning and support space can be for kids during some of their most crucial years. We’ve wanted to revitalize the teen area for quite some time, and the wonderfully generous grant from The Darien Foundation truly kick-started this project and has gotten it off the ground. With their financial commitment, combined with additional support from local families, we are building something transformative, a library-within-the-library that will serve teens for generations to come."
— Kiera Parrott, Library DirectorThe Darien Foundation is an independent, community-based, 501(c)(3) public charity. Since 1998, The Darien Foundation has awarded over $7 million in grants for technology and capital initiatives. The Darien Foundation’s mission is to create opportunity for Darien’s youth, support Darien’s safety and security services, and enhance the overall quality of life in Darien. Their volunteer Board of Directors—who reflect the many constituencies of Darien—thoroughly evaluates grant requests and assist grant recipients in achieving their goals.
In addition to serving as the Lead Donor on Darien Library’s Tween & Teen Library, The Darien Foundation has awarded grants to Darien Library for the launch of their website and catalog, the wildly popular two phone booths and two study pods, and the Cafe at Darien Library. For more information about The Darien Foundation, visit darienfoundation.org.
We are pleased to announce a generous $150,000 capital gift from The Riley Family Foundation. This contribution will significantly impact the upcoming construction of the new, state-of-the-art Tween & Teen Center, slated to open in September 2026. A leading-edge makerspace, co-located with the Teen Center, will officially be named “The Riley Family Foundation Innovation Lab” in recognition of this transformative gift. For more information about The Riley Family Foundation, visit rileyfamilyfoundation.org.
"The Riley Family Foundation is thrilled to support Darien Library’s exciting new Tween & Teen Library. The establishment of the Innovation Lab will give Darien teens and tweens the freedom to explore their creativity and ingenuity in a dynamic new space. We look forward to seeing where imagination takes them!"
- Angela and Tim Riley
Since 2009, when the “new” Darien Library first opened its doors, Darien’s youth population has grown significantly — we now have one of the highest percentages of residents under 18 in Connecticut. At the same time, the pressures facing teens have intensified academically, socially, and digitally. Our community is keenly aware of the unique needs of this age group. Not only do they require safe, inviting spaces after school, but “third places,” where they can be themselves, explore ideas, learn new skills, and build relationships with their peers. We know that these opportunities are critical to their social-emotional development, mental health, and academic achievement. These needs are beyond what the Teen Lounge can currently support.
This is why we are renovating Darien Library’s Lower Level into a state-of-the-art Tween & Teen Center. This vibrant new space for children ages 12 to 18 will be the first of its kind in Connecticut and an exemplar for public libraries around the nation. In addition to housing a robust book collection for middle school and high schoolers, the Tween & Teen Library will feature reading nooks, collaborative study areas, a programming lounge, computer and homework stations, and a media and gaming space. Co-located with The Riley Family Foundation Innovation Lab makerspace, young folks will have the opportunity to train on and utilize an array of technical, digital, and analog hands-on creation tools and gadgets.
Nearly tripling the current square footage of the Teen Lounge, the Tween & Teen Center will expand the already popular range of afterschool programming and educational support for teens. With mobile, easy-to-move furniture and shelving, the space will be flexible and adaptable to various configurations and set-ups, depending on the needs of the day.
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays, when the kids are in school, adults will have access to the makerspace; the creation and fabrication tools will be readily available, and classes and workshops held regularly for adult learners. During after-school hours and weekends, the Innovation Lab will be exclusively for the use of patrons ages 12 to 18.
There's still time to contribute and ensure the Tween & Teen Center is the best in the country.
The new space features a striking design element called “The Ribbon.” It is a bright blue curved wall that surrounds and defines the various areas, complemented by creative drop-ceiling “clouds” outfitted with accent lighting.
Co-located with the new Tween & Teen Library is a state-of-the-art makerspace equipped with content creation and fabrication tools. Users will enjoy access to and special classes on everything from 3D printing and laser cutting to sewing and embroidery.
Gaming in moderation—be it video games or table-top board games—can boost social cooperation skills, foster resilience, and provide stress relief. The new Tween & Teen Library includes areas for casual hang-outs and opportunities for teens to decompress in a healthy way with their peers.
Ample areas for individual and collaborative work support academics, with flip-top tables, marker boards, computers, and one-on-one reference and readers’ advisory help from expert librarians and teen services specialists.
Though there may be a handful of days during demolition when Darien Library may be closed, the Library will be open and accessible throughout construction.
Books and materials for tweens and teens will be temporarily relocated to other parts of the building, and teen programming will continue in a reduced capacity throughout the summer.
There's still time to contribute and ensure the Tween & Teen Center is the best in the country.
The new Tween & Teen Center will have book collections for everyone! The tween collection is perfect for middle school students starting their YA reading journeys. Comic lovers will enjoy an expanded graphic novel and manga collection.
There'll be new seating arrangements for readers to relax in as well as collaborative spaces for studying in groups or working together on projects. A large markerboard and markerboard tables will be available. Forget your study materials? The Library will have some supplies on-hand.
Four iMac computers will be available. Friends can continue to challenge each other in the gaming area with a new large screen. The game systems are Nintendo Switch, Playstation 5, and XBOX Series X. Additionally, a tabletop and board game collection is available to use in-house.
Exciting new events and programs will utilize the expansive new space. Tweens and teens can attend craft programs to learn DIY skills that encourage process-based learning. In the Innovation Lab, makerspace classes will teach how to use technology like 3D printers.
3D printers and CAD software enable the production of three-dimensional objects from digital files by depositing materials layer by layer. It is an efficient means of creating prototypes, tools, and complex parts. Applications are limitless—from articulated fidget toys and custom phone cases to specialized replacement parts, cosplay props, and personalized desk organizers.
A Glowforge laser printer cuts and engraves materials like wood, acrylic, leather, paper, and fabric. A Cricut offers computer-controlled cutting used for DIY and craft projects, enabling precise, intricate cuts on paper, vinyl, cardstock, iron-on transfers, and fabric. These tools can be used for a wide array of projects, including custom apparel, decals, and personalized décor.
Multiple sewing machines and a specialized embroidery machine will be available to Library users for DIY repairs, projects, and beginner-level classes.
A workstation designed for creating, editing, transferring, converting, or accessing digital content such as audio, video, or graphic design will be available.
Library users interested in any of the creation and fabrication machines and tools will have weekly opportunities to attend classes and project-based group programs. Pre-requisite classes on safety and proper use will be offered to certify new users to each piece of equipment.
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays, adults will have access to the Innovation Lab. The creation and fabrication tools will be readily available, and classes held regularly for adult learners. During after-school hours and weekends, the makerspace will be exclusively for the use of patrons ages 12 to 18.
We’re turning the Lower Level into a brand new space for tweens and teens! The project will nearly triple the square footage currently dedicated to serving this youth demographic. Underutilized areas of the Library’s Lower Level, including the former Power Library, Tech Center, and several offices and meeting spaces, will be transformed to make way for an ultra-modern Tween & Teen Center co-located with a leading-edge makerspace.
Darien Library is accepting capital gifts at various levels, many of which include acknowledgment opportunities. Those seeking additional information, including opportunities to be a part of the project, may contact Teen Library Project Co-Chair Alex Eising at aeising@darienlibrary.org.
The Lower Level is closed to the public for the duration of construction. Alternate bathrooms and water fountains are available on the First Floor, Second Floor, and Mezzanine Level of the building.
Teen books can be found throughout the Library this summer. There are teen book locations on Main Street and the Second floor. The Tween Book Collection will be in the Children’s Library.
Although the gaming lounge won't be available in the Library this summer, patrons are welcome to check out the Library’s extensive collection of video games.
Teens are welcome to utilize spaces on the First Floor, Second Floor, and Mezzanine Level for group work, quiet reading, and meetings.
There will be programs for teens this summer, as part of our Teen Summer Reading program. They will take place throughout the Library (and in the Courtyard as weather allows).
Teen patrons can access computer services on the second floor in the Research Room.
Demolition of the current space will begin in late May, and construction will last throughout the summer, with a planned Grand Opening in September 2026.
The new Tween & Teen Center has bookshelves throughout the perimeter of the space. The collection will have 30% more shelving in the new space than it did in the previous location, allowing the Library to expand access to tween and teen books.
Adults can make a reservation to use the Innovation Lab Makerspace from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tweens and teens ages 12-18 have access to the space all day, including both weekend days.
The Tween & Teen Center is available to ages 12 to 18. Unaccompanied adults may not use the Tween & Teen Center.
A registered Library card is required to reserve time in the Innovation Lab Makerspace. Patrons can register their library card from any Connecticut library with the Welcome Desk to access this service.
Equipment is available for 2-hour appointments. Users must take a certification course prior to using the equipment. Certification appointments can be made in advance.
Darien Library announced today a generous $150,000 capital gift from the Riley Family Foundation. This contribution will significantly impact the upcoming construction of a new, state-of-the-art Tween & Teen Center, slated to open in September 2026. A leading-edge makerspace, co-located with the Teen Center, will officially be named “The Riley Family Foundation Innovation Lab” in recognition of this transformative gift.
The Riley Family Foundation Innovation Lab will offer hands-on learning, encourage the development of DIY skills, and inspire creation. The makerspace will feature a variety of high-tech and analog fabrication and design tools—including a 3D printer, a Glowforge laser printer, a Cricut paper-and-vinyl design tool, sewing and embroidery machines, and a digital media station for creating and editing visual and audio content. Classes and workshops will be held regularly for library patrons of all ages, and the equipment will be reservable for self-directed activities. During after-school hours, weekends, and the summer months, the Lab will be exclusively for patrons ages 12 to 18; during the school year, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Lab will host classes and open hours for adults.
“The Riley Family Foundation is thrilled to support Darien Library’s exciting new Tween & Teen Library,” commented Angela and Tim Riley. “The establishment of the Innovation Lab will give Darien teens and tweens the freedom to explore their creativity and ingenuity in a dynamic new space. We look forward to seeing where imagination takes them!”
This latest capital gift comes on the heels of the recent public announcement of the overall Tween & Teen Library project. The Riley Family Foundation, whose mission is to provide essential funding for outstanding non-profits making an impact in Fairfield County, is among the early supporters. Their gift, which is enabling the construction and outfitting of the makerspace, is a milestone accelerator for the project, building upon the visionary investment of The Darien Foundation, who is Tween & Teen Library Center’s lead donor, recently granting the Library over $300,000 to kick-start the project.
The idea to reimagine the Library’s Lower Level and expand space for youth has been a goal for several years.
“Anyone who’s visited the Library can attest to how busy we are on a daily basis—and middle and high schoolers are some of our most frequent and enthusiastic users! We’ve outgrown the current Teen Lounge space, and it is the extraordinary generosity of local foundations and families that is enabling this vision to come to life,” says Kiera Parrott, Library Director. “We simply would not be able to create this new ‘library-within-the-library’ without the significant financial investment of the Riley Family Foundation, The Darien Foundation, and numerous other early supporters who’ve stepped up for the kids in our community.”
Mia Orobona, Head of Tween & Teen Services at Darien Library, is excited for the range of possibilities the Innovation Lab will provide. “There is a growing need and desire for experiential, project-based learning that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and technical ability,” says Orobona. “The Riley Family Foundation Innovation Lab will support the kind of experimentation, problem-solving, and collaboration that builds these essential skills.”
Construction on the Tween & Teen Library Center is scheduled to begin in late May, with a projected grand opening in September 2026.
The Library is currently accepting donations for this capital project. Those seeking additional information on how to support the new Tween & Teen Center may contact Teen Library Project Co-Chair Alex Eising at aeising@darienlibrary.org.
DARIEN, CT — April 7, 2026 — Today, Darien Library and The Darien Foundation officially announced the commencement of a major capital project to transform the Library’s Lower Level into a state-of-the-art, dedicated learning and discovery space for ages 12 to 18. The Darien Foundation has awarded the Library a capital grant totaling over $314,000, making the Foundation the first and lead donor on a transformative project that will provide local youth with an inspiring, welcoming, and technology-infused “third space” designed specifically for teens.
The project, which is set to begin in May 2026, will nearly triple the square footage currently dedicated to serving this youth demographic. Underutilized areas of the Library’s Lower Level, including the former Power Library, Tech Center, and several offices and meeting spaces, will be replaced by an ultra-modern Tween & Teen Center co-located with a leading-edge makerspace.
“This is a complete reimagining of what a 21st-century learning and support space can be for kids during some of their most crucial years,” says Kiera Parrott, Library Director. “We’ve wanted to revitalize the teen area for quite some time, and the wonderfully generous grant from The Darien Foundation truly kick-started this project and has gotten it off the ground. With their financial commitment, combined with additional support from local families, we are building something transformative, a library-within-the-library that will serve teens for generations to come.”
The Darien Foundation, a local nonprofit that provides grants for technology and capital initiatives that create opportunity for youth and enhance the overall quality of life in Darien, eagerly stepped forward to provide early support for the project.
“We’ve gotten suggestions from parents whose kids go to the Library’s Teen Lounge regularly that The Darien Foundation should look into augmenting the space,” said The Darien Foundation's Board Chair Ward Glassmeyer. “Investing in the future of Darien’s youth is at the core of our mission to move Darien Forward.”
“The need for an expanded space for middle and high schoolers has been obvious for years,” says Mia Orobona, Head of Tween & Teen Services at the Library. Darien has one of the highest concentrations of youth in the state, with over 25% of its residents under 15 years old.
“On any given day, the entire Library is packed with kids and teens. Some come here to study and do homework, others come to our programs, and others like to hang out with friends after school. Our current Teen Lounge is a very popular destination, but most of the time, it’s not nearly enough space to accommodate all the kids who’d like to be here,” Orobona explains. “The new Tween & Teen Center will have more chairs, more tables, more books, and more spaces to gather and work. Plus, it will have amazing opportunities for learning and creation in the makerspace. We can’t wait!”
The concept design, created by Dattner Architects, a firm based out of New York City, features a bright, open space that includes
The plans feature a striking design element called “The Ribbon.” It is a bright blue, curved wall that surrounds and defines the various areas, complemented by creative drop-ceiling “clouds” outfitted with accent lighting. A detailed floor plan and 3D-renderings of the project can be viewed in person on the Library’s first floor or on their website at darienlibrary.org/teens.
A local architectural firm, Locus Design Collaborative, will serve as the architect of record, working closely with Dattner to realize the ambitious concept design. Construction is slated to begin in May, with a grand opening targeted for September 2026. The Library will remain open during the construction.
“It may be a bit nosier than usual,” warns Parrott, “but we are dedicated to keeping the Library open and accessible to all during this period.” Books and materials for teens will be temporarily relocated to other sections of the Library, and tween and teen programming will continue in a reduced capacity throughout the summer.
The Library is currently accepting donations for this capital project. Those seeking additional information on how to support the new Tween & Teen Center may contact Teen Library Project Co-Chair Alex Eising at aeising@darienlibrary.org.
Darien Library is among the busiest libraries in the state, with over 1,300 visitors on an average day and the highest per-capita circulation of items in Connecticut. The Library collection includes over 72,000 print books, over 1.5 million eBooks, and thousands of newspaper and magazine subscriptions. In addition, the Library presents over 1,200 public events annually, including bestselling authors, technology classes, early literacy programs, and workshops for lifelong learners.
For more information about Darien Library, visit darienlibrary.org, or find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn @darienlibrary.
The Darien Foundation is an independent, community-based, 501(c) (3) public charity. Since 1998, The Darien Foundation has awarded over $7 million in grants for technology and capital initiatives. The Darien Foundation’s mission is to create opportunity for Darien’s youth, support our town’s safety and security services, and enhance the overall quality of life in Darien. Our volunteer Board of Directors—who reflect the many constituencies of Darien—thoroughly evaluates grant requests and assists grant recipients in achieving their goals. Most recently, The Darien Foundation has awarded grants to At Home in Darien, Darien High School, the Darien Land Trust, EMS-Post 53, and the Mather Homestead Foundation.
For more information about The Darien Foundation, visit darienfoundation.org.
A capital gift made to the Tween & Teen Center is a
The Darien Foundation kick-started the Teen Library Project, becoming the first and lead donor by awarding Darien Library a capital grant of over $314,000. Additional capital gifts from many local families and foundations are helping to close the gap. You can join them — there is still time to be a part of this exciting project!
We are accepting capital gifts at various levels, many of which include acknowledgment opportunities. For more information on major giving, please contact Teen Library Project Co-Chair Alex Eising.
Inquire About Capital GiftHelp us fill the Innovation Lab makerspace with equipment! This unique public space in Darien allows patrons the opportunity to explore new technologies, learn retro ones (think sewing), and meet people with similar interests. When thinking about making a capital gift, consider what items could be procured with your generous contribution:
Please note that gifts to the Project go directly to the construction and outfitting of the new Tween & Teen Center and Innovation Lab, and are distinct from gifts to the Library’s Annual Fund, which funds the purchase of books, materials, programs, and services throughout the Library each year.
We are accepting gifts to help construct and outfit the New Tween & Teen Center.
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