MUSCATINE, Iowa — Musser Public Library is showing area youth that the library “isn’t just a warehouse for books.”

“We’re becoming a community center,” said library director Pam Collins.

From the Japanese animation movie screenings to the teen sewing labs,  the library is renovating not only its programs but its role in the community and attraction to young adults.

The teen sewing workshops and upcoming Halloween costume workshops tie into the thrifty living and economically friendly program layout, Collins said.

A library sponsored field trip to the Figge Art Museum in Davenport on Sunday, Oct. 18,  will allow teen fans of Japanese animation — or animé — to join other anime enthusiasts at Teen Anime Day.

“You go through stages at that age,” said library staff member Stephanie Derbin of teen interest in anime. “It’s good to have a place you know you can go and learn about things.”

To feed into the comic and animation interest, Derbin also shows anime features on the first Friday of every month at 3:30 p.m.

“I think we’re looking at our programs differently,” Collins said. “It’s hard to use books to get teens in. Usually after a program, they’ll leave with a book in their hand.”

Collins said all of the programs except O Baby Lapsit are new to the library, and she hopes the new opportunities will continue drawing people of all ages.

“It’s [the library] your community living room,” Collins said.