Take a break at the 'Calming Corner' at Baldwin Public Library

A new space for teens to relax, unwind, and not think about schoolwork just opened in the Teen Zone at the Baldwin Public Library.

The area, which is called the Calming Corner, opened on Feb. 7. The Calming Corner is a public space, which was made possible by a $1,100 grant from the Nassau Library System. Once the grant money was received, Mariel DePalma, head of Teen Services at Baldwin Public Library, created the area with items that were carefully curated.

In the space, there are two bean bag chairs, a small table that houses a fidget spinner, a bonsai tree light, a glowing bear lantern, a Rubik’s cube, and other fun gadgets designed to help those who want to destress after a long day.

DePalma, who has been part of the library since 2007, said that the timeframe between the library being accepted into the grant and the creation of the center was about a month. After obtaining the center, DePalma received suggestions by the Nassau Library System on stuff they should buy and put in the relaxation zone.

“We took the advice of what other librarians said and bought bean bag chairs, different sensory toys, so we picked stuff that we knew worked in other libraries,” DePalma said.

Covering the walls of the zone are seven different posters and each one talks about ways to relax. For instance, one poster talks about how to control your thoughts, another one talks about breathing techniques, and other posters talk about how to cope with certain emotions and feelings.

“Teen mental health has really suffered since Covid,” DePalma. “And it continues to be a challenge. So we’re hoping that our Calming Corner will provide our teens with a safe place to be aware of, to process, to regulate, take responsibility, and be able to express their emotions.”

The goal of this space, according to DePalma, is for teens to be able to manage their stress in a healthier way. She also mentioned that she hopes this new zone will increase teens’ emotional wellbeing, reduce anxiety, and know that it’s okay to take a break. DePalma wants to be able to instill new confidence in the teens for the future so they can be ready to face new challenges.

“Teens have a lot of stress. It’s just a different space to remain calm,” DePalma said. “It’s meant for them to have a safe space and destress for their positive mental health.”

Right when this center opened, DePalma noted that the teens immediately gravitated towards the bean bag chairs. She said that the teens asked her questions about the items in the zone, which gave DePalma an opportunity to explain healthy coping mechanisms to the teens. DePalma noted that there are sheets of paper in a basket in the zone that lists tips and gives advice to help teens control their emotions.