Thousands of teens celebrate during Teen Tech Week 2007, “Get Connected@ your library”

Contact: Stephanie Kuenn

Communications Specialist, YALSA

312-280-2128

skuenn@ala.org

For Immediate Release

May 7, 2007

Thousands of teens celebrate during Teen Tech Week^TM 2007, “Get Connected @ your library”

CHICAGO - The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest-growing division in the American Library Association (ALA), has successfully completed its first annual Teen Tech Week^TM, “Get Connected @ your library.” Thousands of school and public libraries celebrated the event March 4 – 10, 2007, by hosting an array of events aimed at getting teens to use their libraries for the different technologies that are offered there, such as DVDs, databases, audiobooks, electronic games and more.

Library programs varied widely. The Bloomington Public Library in Bloomington, Ill., hosted a podcasting workshop and an animation workshop for young adults in grades 7 through 12. The Arnold O. Beckman High School in Irvine, Calif., hosted two technology talks for its teen users and their parents—one from Orange County Register reporter Tamara Chuang on the latest tech gadgets and one from Sgt. Steve Wolf of the Irvine Police Department on safely using social networking software and the Internet.

Participants also had the opportunity to try out programs from promotional partners.

Tutor.com offered two weeks free access to Live Homework Help and Ask a Librarian Services. In addition, when registering for Teen Tech Week^TM, registrants were able to try out E*Vanced Solutions Summer Re*ader Program; E*Vanced awarded one year’s free subscription to a winner of a random drawing—Ben Carter of Conyers-Rockdale Library in Conyers, Georgia. Rosen Publishing also offered four free weeks access to their new database, Teen Health and Wellness, and gave away a free year’s subscription to one library.

“I cannot even begin to describe to you how pleased I am that the Greenwood County Public Library will be able to offer the Teen Health & Wellness database to our teens,” said Tracey Ouzts, the young adult librarian who won the free year’s subscription to Rosen’s database, Teen Health and Wellness. “Teens are often reluctant to speak to an adult about health issues, and this concerns us. To be able to add the Teen Health and Wellness database is a welcome service.”

Teen Tech Week^TM is a national initiative to educate teens, their parents, librarians, educators and other concerned adults about the technology resources available in libraries. Teen Tech Week^TM will be celebrated next March 2 – 8, 2008.

Promotional Partners of Teen Tech Week^TM are Amulet Books; E*Vanced Solutions; Rosen Publishing; and Tutor.com. For information and ideas about Teen Tech Week^TM 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, three 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.