Scottsdale Public Library this fall opened a College and Career Corner at its Civic Center Library, a dedicated space for teens and families seeking college and career advising and resources. The library and Scottsdale Unified School District partnered on a ribbon-cutting event and a college-and-career fair in September that the library said drew about 2,000 attendees and more than 100 recruiters.

The College and Career Corner is based inside the OASIS teen room at the Civic Center Library and combines in-person workshops, volunteer advising and electronic resources. "We recently just launched our new College And Career Corner space. This is located at the Scottsdale Public Library at our Civic Center Library location within our Oasis Teen Room," said Sarah Kaufman, senior library manager for programs, outreach and training at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library.

Why it matters: the library says the space is intended to supplement Scottsdale Unified School District counseling services and widen access to college and career planning beyond school hours. The library hosted a college-and-career fair in coordination with the district and said that event provided families direct access to recruiters and information about local colleges and technical programs.

Services and schedule: the library said volunteer advisers—many of them retired educators—offer free appointments and some walk-in advising. Advising is currently scheduled Monday through Friday from 3 to 5 p.m.; appointments are recommended. "We do schedule appointments and also take walk ins as we can," Kaufman said.

Partners and programming: the library said it is working with local higher-education and career partners, including Scottsdale Community College, East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT), Grand Canyon University and Northern Arizona University to present workshops on topics such as paying for college, finding scholarships and choosing majors. The library also works with Scottsdale career services to refer families to job and career resources.

Online resources and funding: the College and Career Corner received an Arizona State Library grant to add an electronic resource called Brainfuse College Now. The library said Brainfuse will let users access college-prep materials remotely and connect with a live adviser; the resource is expected to be onboarded by late fall. "You can access it from home anywhere where you have internet connection," Kaufman said.

Access and volunteering: the library said anyone with a Scottsdale Public Library card can use the services. To get a card, patrons may visit any of the librarys four Scottsdale locations with proof of identification such as a drivers license. The library said it is recruiting volunteers with experience in education and college advising.

Outlook: Civic Center will be the program hub for now, though the library said it may expand similar services to other branches in the future. Kaufman described the initiative as a complement to existing district services and a new access point for families and teens seeking college and career guidance.