Discord Server

We're meeting you where you're at: online. Enjoy a new digital space where you can connect with your peers in a safe, supervised, and accessible environment with our JPL Teen Discord server. Hang out with friends, share art and stories, chat about books, get help from Youth librarians, and more! 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

What is Discord?

Discord is a text, video, and voice-based chat app that allows you to communicate safely and securely with your friends.

 

How do I sign up for the Discord server?

Patrons wishing to sign up for the Discord server must be teens ages 12 - 17 in Greene County with a JPL library card. If this applies to you, you can get started with these steps:

  1. First, you will need to make a free account at www.discord.com. If you need help getting started, check out this guide here.
  2. You can use Discord in your internet browser, but you can also download the mobile app (Android or iOS) or download the program to your computer (Windows or Mac) here.
  3. Fill out the Discord Application Form to join our server.
  4. Once you submit the form, hold on tight and we will send you an email with an invitation link within 72 hours to the email provided on the form. Please note that the link is good for 1 use and will expire in 24 hours.

  5. Click the invitation link and that will take you to Discord. You may need to click on the Plus sign on the left hand side of the page and select "Join a Server." Copy & paste the invitation link and click "Join."

  6. Follow the prompts, fill out what your interests, re-read the rules of the server, and you're in!

What is the purpose of a Teen Discord Server?

The purpose of having a Teen Discord server is to provide online programming and community among teens. It is a digital space where teens can connect with their peers in a safe, supervised, and accessible environment. An online server allows the Youth Services Librarian to stay in communication with teens and assess their interests for collection items, programs, and events as well as their availability for relevant programming.

Through the server, teens interact with their peers in ways such as:

  • Sharing their stories, creations, interests, and experiences
  • Discussing books and other media
  • Attending virtual programs and events
  • Offering advice, compassion, and friendship to their peers
  • Providing suggestions for server features, enhancements, and improvements
  • Serving as off-site teen volunteers ("Teen Mods" and "Club Assistants") on the server
  • Asking questions to Teen Service staff/Teen Mods/Club Assistants

As teens introduce/explore/discuss these communities of interest, the server organically becomes dynamic and interactive for any teen looking to make new connections with their peers.

 

Why not just have teens meet up in-person at the library?

While we always love having teens meet up in our library, many teens are busy with extracurricular activities, homework, jobs, and other obligations that can prevent them from visiting in-person. Our Discord server removes that obstacle by enabling teens to meet each other and access library services in a more accessible location: the digital world. By allowing teens to connect online with a virtual service, we eliminate barriers of transportation, location, and physical building parameters.

 

How do teens and staff interact on the server?

Teen-to-teen interaction is the main priority of our Discord server. As such, our Youth Services Librarian primarily serves as a supervisor, moderator, and observer of the server. The Youth Services Librarian will occasionally comment on ongoing conversations or start new conversations as appropriate, and certainly will respond when needed (as indicated by a teen pinging them directly) or when a library-specific question is asked.

 

Who can I contact for more information?

If you have further questions, please contact Bailey Mount (Youth Services Librarian for the Jefferson Public Library) at jeflibr2@netins.net.