Tweens and teens, the Mattapoisett Library is out to get you.

The library recently won a $15,000 federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to transform its young adult department.

“We have a very strong program for the younger students, and it’s hard to graduate them from the children’s services,” said Susan Pizzolato, Director of the library.

The grant will be used for a two-year initiative called “Serving Tweens and Teens” that will target grades seven to ten.

Pizzolato and librarians Liz Sherry and Linda Burke crafted the grant over several months and partnered with members of the community, including school staff and students to strengthen their application.

Now, the challenge will be getting the students into the library.

“We know from experience that not everything is on the internet. We still believe we can provide strong information,” said Pizzolato. “We also really want to be a welcoming, cool place for kids to socialize — to be a safe place for all types of students, not just the most studious kids in town.”

Sherry said that Mattapoisett has few venues for kids to hang out. She hopes revamping the young adult department will give them a place they can call their own.

But making the students comfortable in the space means breaking down old concepts of what a library is.

“We don’t mind drinks. We don’t mind if people bring their laptops or their smart phones. We’re not here to tell you to be quiet. There’s no shushing,” said Sherry, who wants to redecorate the department with dorm-style furniture as well as adding a snack bar and upgrading the technology.

To lay the groundwork for the program, the librarians will setup a teen advisory board. They are also surveying junior high students to understand their perceptions of the library.

The team will also evaluate the project throughout the two years to measure its effectiveness.

“Just like adults use this as a community center, so should young people,” said Pizzolato.