Books, bánh mì, banking, pet care, health care, haircuts, job resources, legal resources, ID cards, tarot cards, clothes, compassion, community.
All of these resources and more were in abundance at The Seattle Public Library’s second annual Young Adult Resource Fair (aka YARF) on Wednesday, July 30, at the Central Library. Between 150 and 200 young people visited the fair, connecting with the more than 35 nonprofit partners, and with the Library.
On Level 3, in the Living Room area, a patron named Lichen visited every table, checking off squares on their YARF bingo card. They were happy with the haircut they received from a pop-up hair salon on Level 4. Another joy, they said, was collecting small everyday resources, including a pen, a tiny fan and snacks.
“I ran out of food money this month so this helps tide me over,” Lichen said. “And even though I knew about some of these resources, it’s helpful to ask questions in person.”
Nearby, a patron named Andrew talked with staff at the Disability Empowerment Center. “Now that I’ve graduated from college and am looking for work I need all the resources I can get,” Andrew said.
“It’s a tumultuous time for young people. We need to keep the safety net as strong as possible,” said a staff member with Teen Feed, which has provided meals seven nights a week to youth in the University District for 40 years.
Other organizations in the Living Room area on Level 3 included Q Law, Washington Teen Link, Youth Care and Lambert House.
Around the corner in the teen area, young people could get a tarot card reading or receive job support from organizations like ANEW, which helps women and people of color get started in fields such as construction and manufacturing. Northwest Education Access talked to young people about how to navigate higher education.
Up on Level 4, the Library’s Red Floor was also alive with young people finding connection and support. Room 1 offered a range of health resources, including Kaiser Permanente’s Orion Clinic, Neighborhood House, NeighborhoodCare Health, and Talkspace, which offers free mental health support to teens.
One Health Clinic, which offers integrated health care for both pets and their humans, filled a corner of the room with pet toys, bags of pet food and other supplies.
A young cat owner named Katie played with Nugget, a kitten, while talking with a One Health staff member. Two dog owners arrived to receive support and dog food for their companions.
In Room 2, a one-chair, pop-up hair salon was busy. As the hairdresser held up a mirror, Alex enthusiastically displayed their new cut.
“I go to the Library a lot,” Alex said. “It’s a good place to chill when life is crazy. Librarians are very understanding. Library vibes are the best.”
Jude, the hairdresser volunteering their time, gave 12 haircuts in four hours, which must have set some kind of a record.
In the same room as the haircuts, visitors could “shop” for clothes and makeup, another popular stop. Trans-WA, a nonprofit that advances health equity for gender-expansive people in Washington, staffed the clothing closet.
Level 4 was also home to one of the most popular services at the fair: Lunch!
Chu Minh Tofu restaurant, based in the Little Saigon neighborhood, provided vegan spicy tofu bánh mì sandwiches free to all participants.
Community service is part of Chu Minh’s mission. In 2018, the restaurant’s owner, Thanh-Nga Nguyễn, began serving free meals every Sunday to anyone who showed up.
“Food is such a nice community bonding glue,” said Karissa, who represented Eggrolls, a volunteer mutual aid group that operates out of Chu Minh.
The resource fair, which was held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., extended beyond Library walls. Two mobile vans provided on-the-spot services outside of the Central Library on Fourth Avenue.
On the Central Library plaza, a line of people waited their turn at one of the fair’s most popular tables: DOL2Go, a Washington State Department of Licensing effort to provides onsite ID card and driver licensing services at a discount. Also popular was a display of grab-and-go Library books that could be borrowed without a Library card, and lawn games, including a giant Connect4.
“What really stood out to me was a theme of care for everyone involved,” said Eliza, a librarian who helped organize the fair.
“For our partners, it was an opportunity to feel good about the work they’re doing. And for patrons, it was a place to visit for a couple of hours and get a refresh.”
“It was a gift to everybody.”
Lake City Resource Fair: Another Resource Fair will be held at and around the Lake City Branch on Friday, Aug. 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Find out more on our calendar.
The Young Adult Resource Fair, organized by the Library’s Social Services team and teen librarians, is an extension of work throughout The Seattle Public Library to connect patrons between the ages of 13 to 26 to medical care, mental health services, and job resources. It is supported in part by the 2019 Library Levy, which funds a youth-focused community resource specialist.
Thanks to our community partners who participated in the Young Adult Resource Fair
- ANEW
- BECU
- Boulder Care
- Creative Justice
- Disability Empowerment Center
- Doorway Project
- Eggrolls (Chu Minh Tofu)
- Greater Seattle YMCA Social Impact Center
- Hair Stylist – Jude
- Hair Stylist – Oscar
- Heather Adams – Semi Woo
- JUMA
- Kaiser Clinic @ Orion Center
- Tarot
- Lambert House
- Mockingbird Society
- Neighborcare Health Clinic
- Neighborhood House
- New Horizons
- Northwest Education Access (NWEA)
- One Health Vet Clinic
- Peer Seattle
- People’s Harm Reduction Alliance
- POCAAN
- Powerful Voices
- Project Access Northwest
- QLaw
- ROOTS
- Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness
- Talkspace
- Teen Feed
- Teen Link
- Trans-WA
- Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL2Go)
- Washington State Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS)
- YouthCare