YALSA Names Teen Tech Week Contest Winners
Contact: Stephanie Kuenn
YALSA Communications Specialist
312-280-2128
skuenn@ala.org
For Immediate Release
April 24, 2007
YALSA names Teen Tech Week Contest winners
CHICAGO - The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) announced that Old Bridge Public Library in Old Bridge, N.J. won a visit from popular Young Adult (YA) author Lauren Myracle (“ttyl,” “Rhymes with Witches”) for producing the program that best exemplified “Get Connected,” the theme for Teen Tech Week 2007. YALSA also announced the winners of the Teen Tech Week YouTube and display contests.
Old Bridge Public Library staff worked with a nearby Apple store to present a session called “Podcasting Basics” for teens in grades 6 through 12. The Apple staffers explained what podcasts were and how to use them before walking attendees through creating one of their own. Using Garage Band software, the Old Bridge teens incorporated music and pictures into the podcast, called the “Old Bridge Rant.” Participants who also served on the library’s Teen Advisory Board decided to create podcasts for all of the board’s future meetings.
Theresa Wordelmann, young adult librarian at Old Bridge Public Library, credited YALSA’s support of Teen Tech Week with helping her create her award-winning programming. “The events we hosted for Teen Tech Week were ones that would never have been planned without YALSA's sponsorship of this week-long celebration,” she said. The win took both Wordelmann and her teens by surprise. “Several of my teen volunteers were in the room when I found out and stared at me in wonder as I did a happy dance.”
The author visit is compliments of Amulet Books, an imprint of Harry Abram, Inc., a Promotional Partner for Teen Tech Week.
Three students—Michael Morse, Michelle Gillman, and Dave Burgmeyer—at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School in Plymouth Meeting, Pa., won the Teen Tech Week video contest with a short video highlighting the many great technological resources the library has to offer students. The teens each won $50 Borders gift cards, and their librarian, Erika Miller, received $100 in books from YALSA. The video will be posted on YALSA’s Web site and can also be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-anHpB1OFE.
Four libraries won gift certificates from the ALA Graphics Store for their unique Teen Tech Week displays. First prize went to Mona Shores High School in Norton Shores, Mich., which won a $100 gift certificate for its display.
"Librarians are an important resource to help guide teens in their use of technology," said YALSA President Judy Nelson. "Our Teen Tech Week contest winners prove that the technology has an important place in libraries and makes an impact in teens' lives."
Learn more about the contest winners at YALSA’s Teen Tech Week Web site at www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/teentechweek/contests/contests.htm.
Teen Tech Week is a national initiative to ensure that the nation’s teens are competent and ethical users of technology, especially those technology resources available in libraries. It began in 2007 and will be celebrated in March each year.
Promotional Partners of Teen Tech Week are Amulet Books; E*Vanced Solutions; Rosen Publishing; and Tutor.com. For information and ideas about Teen Tech Week go to www.ala.org/teentechweek.
For 50 years YALSA has been the world leader in evaluating, selecting and recommending books, audiobooks and DVDs for teens via its annual selected lists, four literary awards, web site and publications. Recommended reading, listening and viewing for teens can be found on YALSA’s Web site at www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists.
For more information, contact the YALSA office at yalsa@ala.org or 1.800.545.2433 x4390.
