Books and Snacks Ready for Pick Up? Teens, Check Out a YA Book Box from Prince William Public Libraries

Are you struggling to pick your next read but know what genre you like? Looking for a new book, but would love some recommendations from a librarian? Want to get that and some free snacks? Prince William Public Libraries is now offering YA Book Boxes and Adulting 101 Kits for teens to reserve online and pick up at any of our 12 libraries.

Book subscription boxes are popular among teen readers, but they cost money. The library’s YA Book Box is free and is carefully created based on the teen’s request so they’ll get a new book and snacks each time.

Interested teen readers fill out an online form so library staff can curate a box to suit their interests. Questions include preferred genres, subject material to avoid, drink and snack preferences, and so on. The box will include a book, a snack and drink, and occasionally an ARC (advanced reader copy). A library card is needed as the box is put on hold for the card holder and the box and library book must be returned. All other items are for patrons to keep! The online form can be found at pwcva.gov/department/library/young-adult-book-box.

Additionally, Adulting 101 Kits are available through Prince William Public Libraries. A backpack with a binder of information can be checked out at any time or placed on hold through the library catalog at pwcva.gov/library by searching “learning circle adulting kit bag.” The binder has sewing tips, recipes, resources for LGBT+ patrons, a list of textbook rental sites, and more. For convenience, the backpack and binder are checked out as a pair and should be returned together. Books inside the backpack are related to adulting and are checked out to the patron individually with the backpack, but don’t need to be returned with the backpack and the binder at the same time. This is a perfect item for soon-to-be high school graduates and new college students.

Due to their increasing popularity, Prince William Public Libraries is adding more book boxes. We are happy to serve our young adult patrons and hope they enjoy these new items as much as we enjoyed creating them.

Written by Alexa Hall, Haymarket Gainesville Library Technician