2016 Teen Tech Week™ Grant recipients announced

CHICAGO – The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Services Association (ALA) has announced the recipients of its 2016 Teen Tech Week Grants.

The recipients were selected from among a pool of 52 applicants, and are as follows:

• Amazing, Sarah; Warren-Trumbull County Public Library; Warren, Ohio
• Blair, Jennifer; Covina (California) Public Library
• Brinkley, Morgan; Arlington (Texas) Public Library
• Buck, Megan; Dickinson County Library; Iron Mountain, Michigan
• Collins, Molly; Tewksbury (Massachusetts) Public Library
• Cox, Joanna; Davidson County Public Library; Lexington, North Carolina
• Crowley, Stephen; Putnam County Library System; Palatka, Florida
• Dunston, Beth; Paris (Kentucky) -Bourbon County Library
• Ewell, Stephanie; Wicomico Public Libraries; Salisbury, Maryland
• Gomez, Guadalupe; Haskett Library; Anaheim, California
• Hoak, Megan; Dalles-Wasco County Library; The Dalles, Oregon
• Holzweiss, Kristina; Bay Shore (New York) Middle School
• Hones, Kay; Hilltop Pregnant Minors; San Francisco, California
• Jimenez-Barrios, Ariadna; Spring Valley (California) Branch San Diego Library
• Knisely, Jennifer; Altoona (Pennsylvania) Area Public Library
• Mays, Marian; Washington Talking Book & Braille Library; Seattle, Washington
• McKean, Kelly; Gilroy (California) Library
• Richard, Jasmine; Lockport (Louisiana) Public Library
• Sweany, Rachel; Louisville (Ohio) Public Library
• Webb, Rebecca; Tanana Middle School; Fairbanks, Alaska

Each recipient will receive a grant of $1,000 to support Teen Tech Week digital literacy programming for and with underserved or marginalized teens. Grant recipients will blog about their experience on the YALSAblog.

Teen Tech Week will take place March 6-12, 2016 with the theme of "Create it at your library." Library staff are encouraged to visit and join the official Teen Tech Week website for access to free planning and promotional resources, such as digital, themed posters and bookmarks, as well as to exchange ideas with fellow library staff.

Best Buy is the official national sponsor of the 2016 Teen Tech Week. As part of their support, Best Buy employees will be conducting web-making workshops for teens in more than 30 cities across the country during Teen Tech Week.

To learn more, visit and sign up for a free account at www.ala.org/teentechweek.

For more than 50 years, YALSA has worked to build the capacity of libraries and library staff to engage, serve and empower teens. For more information about YALSA or to access national guidelines and other resources go to www.ala.org/yalsa, or contact the YALSA office by phone, 800-545-2433, ext. 4390; or e-mail: yalsa@ala.org.

About Best Buy

As the leading provider of technology products and services, Best Buy is committed to igniting human potential and empowering people through technology. In the community, these efforts center around grassroots programs that support underserved teens by encouraging a passion for technology in future education and career choices. Since launching nearly a decade ago, Best Buy Teen Tech Centers and Geek Squad Academy camps have touched the lives of thousands of teens across the U.S. and Canada.