The general Teen Tech Week logo is available for download. For online use, you can right-click the image to your left and save it. You can also download a high-quality version for use in print items your library may make:
Home | Registration | Plan Your Event | resources
Publicity tools | fAQ | Partners | products | wiki
Sample Press Release | Tips for Creating a Press Release | Sample PSA | Audio PSAs | Sample Letters to Editor | Using the TTW Logo
For Immediate Release
Date: [Insert Date] Contact: [Name, organization, and phone number]
Press Play @ Your Library® during Teen Tech Week 2009
Local teens will be tuning in at the library as [insert name of library or school] celebrates the second annual Teen Tech Week March 8-14, 2009. They join thousands of other libraries and schools across the country who are celebrating this year’s theme, "Press Play @ 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 technologies, especially those that are 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 in the field of information technology.
[Insert librarian, administrator, or staff person’s name here], feels that "Getting teens into libraries is essential. Offering a variety of technologies and providing top notch education about these resources is key in getting them in the door. Once they’re in the door, anything is possible.”
Recent studies from Pew Internet & American Life Project show that, on average, 8-18 year olds spend more than6 hours per day using technology including TV, DVDs, video games, audio media, and computers. “Teen Tech Week is a way for librarians and educators to collaborate with and educate teens about technology,” says [Insert librarian, administrator, or staff person’s name here]. “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.”
Teens are encouraged to celebrate Teen Tech Week. [Insert full name of librarian, administrator, or staff person] hopes to attract a wide variety of teenagers and increase teen technology literacy locally by offering a series of programs including: [Insert a bulleted list of the programs and services being offered. Provide contact information for readers who want to learn more.]
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.
###
Include these public service announcements during school announcements or over the loudspeakers at your library! You can also send them to your local radio or TV station and ask staff to include them on the air.
Press Play at Your Library March 8 – 14! Think the library is all about books? Think again. Libraries are chock-full of tech toys like CDs, DVDs and video games, and they're a great place to get connected to gaming, music, the Web and more. Stop by [insert name of library or school] or visit our Web site [insert URL] during Teen Tech Week to press play today. Sponsored by [name of library and school].
Get Connected @ Your Library® March 8 – 14!
Think the library is all about books? Think again. Drop by [insert name of library or school] to get connected online and to gaming, music and more. Sponsored by [name of library or school].
Use these Public Service Announcements featuring Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, to promote Teen Tech Week! Air them over the loudspeakers during school announcements or provide them to your local radio station to use. Thanks to TTW Promotional Partner Galaxy Press for the PSAs! Download them today:
Kenny PSA #1 (mp3)
Kenny PSA #2 (mp3)
Kenny PSA #3 (mp3)
Kenny PSA #4 (mp3)
Kenny PSA #5 (mp3)
Kenny PSA #6 (mp3)
The following are sample letters to the editor from a teen and a parent.
I'm [insert age here] and I read all kinds of articles and hear reports on TV about how MySpace is bad for me, or how teens steal music online. But most teens are not irresponsible when it comes to technology and one important reason why is the librarian(s) at my library, [insert name of school or public library.]
Libraries are not musty, old buildings filled with shushing librarians. I like to read, but one thing I really love about my library is all of the technology I can use there for free. I get on the computers to do my homework, to keep in touch with my friends and family, and to play games and relax. March 8 – 14 is Teen Tech Week.
I’d like to tell other teens who may not be using the library that they should definitely check it out. There is more to do here than they may think, and there are people here who can help you get your questions answered. Also, parents should go to the library, too. If they're worried about their teens and the Internet, a librarian can show them how to use things like Facebook in a way that keeps us safe. They can check out DVDs and CDs for us to use, for free.
My librarian, [insert name here] says that the theme for Teen Tech Week is "Press Play @ Your Library." I love to hang out with my friends, play video games, use the Web, and listen to music. I don’t think many kids realize you can do all this at the library. The library is a great (and safe) place to relax with friends, do homework, or have some time by yourself. And the librarian is there to help you learn all about the best way to use all this stuff.
Even though my children are educated, I worry a lot about my teenagers, especially when it comes to technology. I worry about predators that might lurk on MySpace. I worry my kids won't know how to do actual research for their school projects, but will just "Google" something instead or find answers on disreputable websites. I see them downloading music, and I just hope they know how to do it legally.
But I worry a lot less after talking to the librarians at [insert name of school/public library here]. Libraries are a safe place for my teens and I to learn how to navigate all these new things that pop up online, and I know they're teaching my kids to use all of the safely and responsibly. They answer all my questions and are more than happy to demonstrate how Facebook works or how my teens can get online homework help.
But my teens use the [insert library name here] for more than school projects and to show their nervous parent that they're safe online. Our library provides interesting, age appropriate, and free programs like [insert names of technology-specific events your teen has been to]. The library offers a wide variety of technology and has staff that are knowledgeable. With all the new technologies, it’s difficult to keep up as a parent, so it’s good to know that there are adults who are on top of all the new trends and can assist my child in a positive way. Plus, my teens can check out DVDs or CDs for free, play video games with their friends, and get online to read magazines or websites that interest them, all for free.
March 8 – 14 is Teen Tech Week, a national initiative aimed at teens, their parents, educators and other concerned adults. The purpose of this initiative is to ensure that teens are competent and ethical users of technologies, especially those that are offered through libraries. My librarian [insert name] informed me that this year’s theme is "Press Play @ Your Library." I’d like to encourage other parents to make a trip to the library with their teenager to check it out. There are more great resources and events than most parents would think, and there are trained professionals who can help you get your questions answered. Plus, it is a place where teens can engage in positive activities.
YALSA offers two Teen Tech Week logos. The general logo is available for download for anyone. To get the theme-specific logo, you need to register.
The general Teen Tech Week logo is available for download. For online use, you can right-click the image to your left and save it. You can also download a high-quality version for use in print items your library may make:
Get Connected JPG (high-quality, CMYK)
Get Connected EPS (best quality, vector graphic)
The use of the Teen Read Week logo and/or any other trademarked material related to Teen Read Week(TM), is limited to school and public libraries, or other non-profit groups, and is for non-commercial, educational purposes only. Any other uses must be specified in a Letter of Agreement between YALSA and the requesting organization or company. Questions regarding the use of the logo or other materials should be directed to YALSA at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4390 or by e-mail at yalsa@ala.org.