CAMP ZAMA, Japan (Feb. 27, 2018) - The Camp Zama Library held a grand opening Feb. 22 for its new teen station.

Command Sgt. Maj. Will Holland, command sergeant major of U.S. Army Garrison Japan, along with personnel from the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the occasion.

"I think it's amazing," said Holland. "It's definitely set up for teens ... with all the electronic devices they can plug into."

The teen station includes shelves of teen-focused books, comfortable recliners for reading, a 32-inch TV monitor, outlets for computers and other devices, and a space for teens to work together on group projects, according to James Lacombe, supervisory librarian at Camp Zama Library.

Lacombe said the teen station's Japanese rail system design was inspired by the fact Camp Zama is located near two railways.

Several teenagers who came out to the ceremony had the opportunity to explore the new area created for them

"These days we are all on our phones," said Cassidy Peterson, 7th-grader at Zama American Middle-High School, "so I think it's good to be in the library because you can read and also charge your phone."

Chanel Lowery, 7th-grader at ZAMHS, said she thinks it is great to have a bilingual teen station with English and Japanese languages.

"When the Japanese kids come here, they'll know what it means and they can read in Japanese," said Lowery.

James Elliot, a junior at ZAMHS, said he is excited about the teen station and the new Manga (Japanese comics) series now available in it.

"Usually we (teens) come here and we think the library is quite boring and there's not a lot to see," said Elliot. "Now you can come and actually relax here and read whatever you want."

Command Sgt. Maj. Holland said he hopes the new teen station will encourage youth to take advantage of the resources the library has to offer.