Teens will be tuning in at libraries across the country as the American Library Association celebrates the third annual Teen Tech Week March 6-12, 2011. Thousands of libraries and schools across the country are celebrating this year's theme, "Mix and Mash @ your library®."
Teen Tech Week is a national initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) aimed at teens, their parents, educators and other concerned adults. The purpose of the initiative is to ensure that teens are competent and ethical users of technology, especially the types offered through libraries. Teen Tech Week encourages teens to use libraries' non-print resources for education and recreation, and to recognize that librarians are qualified, trusted professionals who can help them navigate new developments in technology.
Recent studies from Pew Internet & American Life Project show that, on average, 8-18 year olds spend more than 6 hours per day using technology including TV, DVDs, cell phones, video games, audio media, and computers. Ninety-three percent of teens regularly use the Internet, and three-quarters of American teens send text messages every day.
"Teen Tech Week is a way for librarians and educators to collaborate with and educate teens about technology," says Denise Lyons, Library Development Services Director at the South Carolina State Library. "Over the last several years, the library's role in increasing technology literacy has become more and more important, equal to that of reading literacy, just as the role of teens in the library is also becoming increasingly important."
Teen Tech Week is held annually the second week of March. For an updated list of sponsors and supporting organizations, visit www.ala.org/teentechweek.
