Half a dozen teenagers were strewn on couches and the floor in Walker Memorial Library recently, browsing laptops and playing games on tablets.

It was the first day a group of teens had utilized the new “young adult” room at the library, and three library staffers were overseeing the operation during an otherwise slow day.

Megan Moynihan, who was hired in October as a part-time youth services assistant, said the staff rolled out programming during school vacation week, starting with mini-golf in the library last Tuesday.

Official hours for the room will begin in March, from 3-5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, offering games, crafts and snacks.

When the most recent round of library renovations was completed in July, a new employee lounge, renovated reading room and gathering room were open, alleviating programming space.

As the teen room gains more momentum, Moynihan said, she’ll be kicking off more art projects, perhaps creating an “open studio” atmosphere, where kids can experiment with a range of materials.

Kara Reiman, a longtime youth services librarian, said she’s hoping to host a screen-printing session, where kids can design T-shirts.

The teen room is located in the modern wing of the library, past the children’s room.

Chris Dorman, the library’s systems assistant, who maintains and organizes new technology for the library, said the newest tech acquisition is a 3-D printer, courtesy of funds from the Friends of the Walker Library, a fundraising and advocacy group.

“It’s super exciting for us,” she said, adding that related projects can bolster design-thinking, problem solving and website coding skills.

“The theme of these projects is STEAM,” added Moynihan, referring to a national educational initiative focusing on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

Work on the new room began a few months ago, when renovations to the historic portion of the library were wrapping up, allowing librarians to convert the space.

“There was stuff everywhere,” Reiman said about the shuffling.

But, she said, the room is still coming together. Moynihan is hoping the walls will soon feature artwork from the kids.

“Having them involved in making it their own space,” she said.

Having a designated space for young adults isn’t a completely new feature for the library. Reiman said previous shifts in funding eliminated a staff member who worked specifically on teen programming.

“We decided we wanted the new youth services assistant to be someone who could focus on teens,” she said. “We wanted them to have a spot that was really their own.”

Bill Alexander, who served as interim library director until Rebecca Albert took over on Feb. 9, said the needs of young adults at the library are different “both in literature and service.”

He said with the option of a separate room, the staff has much greater freedom to tailor a service to an age group, and that during his short time at Walker, he’s seen older teens using the library consistently.

“Particularly during the summer, they are in here socializing, using computers and reading casually,” he said. “From that summer experience of a welcoming open space, I think we will see them begin to use it after school as well.”

As for the 3-D printer, he said it allows the library to offer programming for teens interested in science.

“We are the only public library in the area to offer that and I think we will be very crowded when it gets under way,” he said.

Now, Moynihan said, they have to get the word out about the upcoming programs. She said they are still working to structure the hours, which will mostly be after-school time periods. A young adult book club, open to students in grades 7-12, begins Thursday, Feb. 26, from 4-5 p.m.

“We’re excited, things are happening,” she said.

With My Place Teen Center just across Main Street, Reiman said kids in the library have been “going back and forth” between each space, depending on what they’re looking to do.

Dorman said the library is home to multitude of computer games, tablets, and e-readers.

“They have all the video games,” she said, referring to My Place. “We have original Atari on the big screen, though.”