About the Vortex

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The Vortex is unique space specifically designed for teens to read, study or hang out with friends. Teens in grades 6–12 can play board games and video games, use the computers or reserve a study room with a library card or school ID. You can use our maker cart and kits to create your own blackout poetry, duct tape wallet or beaded bracelets.

We also host regular programs just for teens, like movie screenings, anime nights, arts and crafts and much, much more! Visit our events calendar to view a complete list of our programs including dates and times for video game open play.

Vortex Hours:

The Vortex opens at noon on Valley View School District holidays and 1 p.m. on early release days. 

Vortex Homeschooling Hours:

The Vortex will open at 10 a.m. on Fridays, September 3, October 1, October 29, November 5 and December 2, 2021 to accommodate homeschool teachers and their students.

Vortex Collections

The Vortex is home to our young adult fiction and audiobook collections, as well as our brand new, CREATE collection. The Vortex is not open during all the hours that the library is open, but staff at the 2nd Floor Service Desk can provide short-term access to the Vortex’s collections any time that the library is open. Non-teen patrons can access the Vortex to browse the collections but may not remain in the room.

Right outside the Vortex, you can browse our new displays featuring popular materials and genre fiction. You can also browse our anime collection as well as our entire graphic novel and teen nonfiction collections.

New Collections

Explore. Make. Create.  Our new collection of CREATE books will inspire you to think outside of the box and spark your creativity to produce wonderful results. The collection includes DIY books on drawing, science experiments, manga, face painting, screenwriting, costume design, nail art and much more!  If you’ve been wanting to learn how to draw your favorite manga characters, make a duct tape wallet or build your own robot, stop by the Vortex and explore.

Located just outside the Vortex, our new Teen Test Prep collection brings together the most up-to-date study guides needed for school exams all in one place. We own over 100 test prep books that will help prepare you for the ACT, SAT, SSAT, ISEE and the PSAT.  We also have guides in a variety of AP courses, including biology, chemistry, computer science, English, European history, U.S. history, Spanish and U.S. government.

Questions? Vortex staff can be reached at 630.685.4199 or fountaindaleteen@fountaindale.org.