In Union County, we currently have four libraries that you can visit and check out books, read, and participate in different events and activities. Each of these libraries is based in a different town or city within Union County. This includes the Union West Library located in Indian Trial. The Union West Regional Library contains three main areas which separate books based on their children, teen, and adult content. Join me as I guide you through the areas and explain where you can find different books in these sections.
Children
When you first enter the library, you can either go left to Children or right to Adult and Teen. You will find many shelves in Children, but I will start in the middle. These lower shelves contain the picture books designed for kids who are starting to read. You will often find highlighted books placed by staff and volunteers on the top of the shelves. This includes books that follow a particular theme as indicated by an elevated card.
As you continue moving across the room you will find the early readers. Children who move out of the picture books can now read these books, which allows them to develop their reading skills. Alongside the early readers, you will find the graphic novels on the right side of the shelf. These books provide comic books, manga, and more to all readers, but mostly for older children.
As you move back toward the front part of the Children's area, you will find the juvenile books. These novels are fiction books that are primarily for older children as they select from various well-known and unfamiliar series. You will also find the nonfiction books. These books are for all ages as the shelves contain a variety of topics that are organized according to the Dewey Decimal System.
Across the Children's area, you will also find various places for kids to have fun. This includes a computer lab near the early readers and an interactive table behind the picture books. Then, you can check out other items available in the Children's area. This includes DVDs by the early readers and books in Spanish on the other side of the DVD shelf.
Teens
As you return to the main lobby of the library, you can now go to the right and then turn right again to enter the Teens area. At the front of the section, you will find the new fiction releases for teens. You will also find different teen activities on this shelf. This includes providing you with the latest issue of the Teen Vibe and the entry location for the monthly contest. I would recommend always checking this shelf for any news for Teens with the Union County Library.
As you enter the Teens area, you will first encounter the fiction books. These novels wrap around the entire section, allowing you to see all of your possible reading options. In the middle, you will find the nonfiction books. Though a smaller shelf, these books provide a variety of topics for you to learn from. You will also find a table and two seats for you to seat and read these books!
As you reach the end of the fiction books, you will find the graphic novels. Unlike with the Children's area, the graphic novels primarily contain comic books. Teen manga can be found with the adult comic books, which I will highlight later.
Then, you can participate with the Teen Chalk Wall and RAD Reads Gumball Machine. The chalk wall allows you to express yourself in the designated space. You may also be able to participate in any designated activities at the time with the wall. The gumball machine will provide book recommendations selection by TAG members. The options will rotate different themes, so make sure to check it often!
Adults
As you come out of the Teens area and enter the Adults area, you will first encounter the DVDs and new fiction books. The DVDs provide a large arrange of movies and shows that is constantly expanded with new content. This shelf hosts DVDs for adults and teens as well. Then, the new fiction books are a popular location where adults can pick up recent novels from their favorite authors.
Across from these shelves, you will encounter the main lobby of the Adults area. There are multiple tables and computers for you to use in this lobby. On the left side of the room, you can check out the two shelves found in this area. One shelf hosts the library's collection of audiobooks. The other holds the Adult Spanish and new nonfiction books. You can also find the Adult graphic novels and Teen manga on the other side of this shelf. On the right side of the room, you can utilize the two study rooms. These do require permission from the Adults reference desk to use.
As you come behind the two shelves, you will find the fiction and nonfiction shelves for the Adults area. The fiction books start with the large print fiction, which provides books at a larger font size, on the left. As you move to the right, you will first encounter the general fiction novels. Then, you will find the nonfiction books. Both of these collections provide a large selection of books, new and old.
In the back of the Adults area, you enter the Reading Room. This location is a closed-off, quiet room that allows you to read or work in peace. Various shelves host content for you to read. This includes a shelf that hosts the latest issues of various magazines. There is also a shelf that contains different historical books for Union County, such as different public schools' yearbooks.
There is a lot to enjoy and see at the Union West Library! Though you may only visit the Teen area, you may one day come to the Children's or Adults areas with a younger sibling or parent. It can also just be fun to explore a library and see its various sections. You may even find some of the places I did not highlight. I hope you enjoy your time at Union West!