My story provides a brief look into one of the many programs that the Arlington Public Library offers for its younger patrons. There has been a lot of discussion recently about the loss of third spaces for young people, and I wanted to highlight ways in which institutions like libraries are trying to create and foster them. The library hosts numerous events throughout the year catering to a wide range of ages.

One of these programs is the Tween Watercolor Workshop, also known as A Splash of Color. It takes place every Tuesday in the community room of the Southwest branch.

While the workshops are often very well attended over the summer, once school starts, the groups become much smaller. The workshop I attended was the second one hosted since school has been back in session. Five girls participated, all of whom were there the week before, according to Emily Allen, a librarian. One of them had also attended pretty consistently over the summer.

Allen had already been hosting a drawing class at another branch when kids began to express interest in learning other mediums. She settled on watercolor painting as it scratched the itch for something new while also providing an opportunity to work on some other skills like patience. Watercolor painting can be difficult to get right the first time, allowing children to be creative while providing less instant gratification.