Teens

TEEN EDUCATION & CREATION HUB


Visit the TECH Lab - A space for teens to come in, hang out and use 21st century technology to create exciting projects in the areas of science, technology, engineering, art and math.

TECH Lab Spring Hours:


Tuesday-Friday: 3-7 pm
Saturday: Open Lab 1-5 pm

The TECH Lab will be starting its

summer hours

on June 5th. Starting then, the hours will be:
Tuesday-Friday:
1-3 pm Focus Time (see below)
3-6 pm Open Lab
Saturday:
1-5 pm Open Lab


TECH Lab

  1. Wed May 23

    TECH Lab Open Hours

  2. Wed May 23

    Teen Art Club

  3. Thu May 24

    TECH Lab Open Hours
View All

Teen Events At-a-Glance


We have a lot of things going on at the library, so here's a quick list of all of our upcoming events. Scroll down the page to find more info on the program you're interested in, or call us at 696-8538.

  • TECH Lab Artist in Residence
  • Featured Program: SUMMER READING!
  • Summer Focus Times
  • STEAM Week
  • Model Rocketry
  • Teen Art Club
  • Magic: The Gathering Year End Draft Tournament
  • Tabletop Gaming Club
  • Teen Book Group
  • Teen Advisory Group (TAG)

Test Prep E-Books

Getting ready to take the SAT or GRE? Just need some extra help with geometry? Want to be a firefighter or police officer? Then check out the library's new collection of digital reference books for test prep and study help! All of the titles are free to access and download. All you need is a library card! See our selection, and get studying.

TECH Lab Artist in Residence.

Interested in being the TECH Lab's next Artist in Residence? Have some interesting skills you want to share? Or maybe just interested in working with teens, and making some extra money for it? Contact Cody at 696-8538 or e-mail him at allenc@ci.billings.mt.us.

Featured Program

Teen SR

Summer Reading is almost here! Sign-ups start on May 14, and you have until July 28th to read, attend workshops, and complete missions to earn points. Use those points to buy raffle tickets for great prizes like an Amazon Fire tablet, a Guitar Kit, a fair pass, and more! Check out our Summer Reading Page for a link to sign up!

Summer Focus Times

Every summer the TECH Lab splits its time between open lab and what we call "Focus Time." Each day during the week, the lab will reserve time for teens to come in and try out some new equipment or explore something that they find interesting, related to a given theme. There are no rules, grades or expectations. We just want you to come in and create something awesome! Focus Time topics will change throughout the summer, and possibly be replaced by certain programs, but right now the schedule we have is:

Tuesday: Design

Wednesday: Robotics

Thursday: Gaming

Friday: MAKING

Focus Time days start on June 5th and run from 1-3 pm in the lab. Be sure to stop by and see what we have going on!



Upcoming Programs

STEAM Week!

June 12-16

1-3 pm

TECH Lab

STEAM

We’re kicking off the summer, and SUMMER READING, with a STEAM week! Come to the lab from 1-3 all week to take part in an awesome program and see what the lab has to offer. No sign up is required, so feel free to just drop in.

STEAM Week Programs:

June 12: 3-D Printing

Mess around with Tinkercad or Sketchup, and print one of your own designs!

June 13: Fake Travel with Photoshop

Join Bailey, the lab's summer mentor, as she teaches teens how to use Photoshop to place themselves into photos of places they want to travel to!

June 14: Board Games

We've got Risk, King of Tokyo, Settlers of Catan, and more! 

June 15: Make a Cardboard Castle

Just what it sounds like. Build a cardboard castle, add some LED lights with copper tape, paint it, or whatever else you come up with!

June 16: Pancake Printing

Once again, we'll be breaking out our 3-D pancake printer, so think of a design and be prepared to literally eat your own art!

fake photoshop
pancakebot
Magic the Gathering

Year End Draft Tournament

Friday, May 25

4 pm in the TECH Lab


We’re ending the school year by holding one last draft tournament, and everyone who participates will get to keep the decks that they draft. The winner will get all the left over cards from the booster box too! We’re limiting sign-ups to 10 teens, so be sure to sign up ASAP.

catan

Tabletop Gaming Club


Saturdays, 1 pm
TECH Lab


We're moving our tabletop game club to Saturdays, so stop by the lab to learn how to play D&D, Pathfinder, Starfinder and more!


Teen Book Group


​Thursday, June 28th, 4:00-5:00 pm


Teen Study 2

Join the Library's Teen Book Group. We meet once a month on Thursday afternoons. Snacks and drinks are provided. In June, we’re reading April Henry’s Girl I Used to Be, a thrilling murder-mystery. Register and reserve your copy of the book by calling 657-8290.
2018 May Girl I Used to Be

Teen Advisory Group
Teens who are 13 to 19 years of age can apply to be part of our Teen Advisory Group - the TAG.  The TAG advises the library about programs for teens, helps promote services, and volunteers at the library.

Volunteering at the Library


Are you looking for ways to spend your free time? The TECH Lab is looking for 16-18 year old teenagers to help lead and mentor younger teens in the lab during open hours. Volunteers need to be interested in technology, willing to teach and learn alongside other teens, and be in the lab for a minimum of 4 hours per week. This is a great opportunity to gain valuable leadership experience, or just give back to your community! For more information, contact Cody in the TECH Lab. Submit an online application..

Looking for a good book?


Check out these great reads.

Suggest A Title


Is there a teen title you would like to see in the Library's collection? Submit your suggestion online.


Local Teen Interviews Architect of Billings Public Library

Katelyn Bauer interviewed Will Bruder, the architect for the new Billings Public Library building,
and used the TECH Lab equipment to edit the video together. Way to go Katelyn!