Teen Read Week's 2005 Web site launched

Contact: Nichole Gilbert


312-280-4387


ngilbert@ala.org
For Immediate Release


April 21, 2005

Teen Read Week’s 2005 Web site launched

CHICAGO - “Get Real! @ your library
®,” the theme for Teen Read Week (TRW) 2005, seeks to encourage teens to read for the fun of it by promoting nonfiction, biographies, documentaries, realistic fiction and more. This year’s celebration will be held October 16-22, 2005. The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) sponsors this annual event.

The Teen Read Week Web site, www.ala.org/teenread , includes annotated lists of recommended reading for teens; tips for planning and promoting Teen Read Week events locally; Teen Read Week products available for purchase; links to the Teens’ Top Ten, a list of book favorites chosen by teens; professional resources for librarians, teachers and parents and more. This year, participants who officially register for Teen Read Week on the Web site can download the Get Real! @ your library logo.

Now in its eighth year, Teen Read Week is a national literacy initiative of YALSA, a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The number of school library media centers, public libraries and bookstores that celebrate Teen Read Week has grown steadily over the years. In 2004, over 1,300 participants registered on the Teen Read Week Web site (
www.ala.org/teenread).

“Teen Read Week, by encouraging teens to become more avid readers, seeks to stem the tide of falling test scores and lower graduation rates among today’s teens,” says YALSA President David Mowery. “Programs and activities planned by past Teen Read Week participants have helped to spread the message that teens should ‘Read for the Fun of It,’” Mowery continued.

Lerner Publishing Group, Orca Book Publishers, and Pam Spencer Holley are official Friends of Teen Read Week. Teen Read Week’s nonprofit supporting organizations include: American Association of School Administrators, American Booksellers Association, Cable in the Classroom, KIDSNET, Kids Care, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Council of Teachers of English, SmartGirl.org, National Education Association, National School Board Association, PBS, Speak Up Press, International Reading Association,
TeenInk and The N/Noggin.

For more information, contact the YALSA office by e-mail at
yalsa@ala.org, or by phone at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4387.