Teen Tech Week
Teen Tech Week is a national initiative sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association and is 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 such as DVDs, databases, audiobooks, and videogames. Teen Tech Week encourages teens to use libraries' nonprint resources for education and recreation, and to recognize that librarians are qualified, trusted professionals in the field of information technology. Teen Tech Week began in 2007 and has a general theme of Get Connected @ your library.
The next Teen Tech Week will be held March 6-12, 2011, with a theme of
Mix and Mash @ your library. Learn more about Teen Tech Week in the
Teen Tech Week FAQs. Registration for Teen Tech Week 2011 will open in November.
If you are interested in sponsoring Teen Tech Week or other YALSA activities, learn more about our
sponsorship opportunities.
2010 Teen Tech Week Highlights
Teen Tech Week is a national initiative aimed at teens, librarians, educators, parents, and other concerned adults meant to encourage teens to take advantage of libraries' nonprint resources. The 2010 theme — Learn Create Share @ your library — fosters teen creativity and positions the library as a physical and virtual place for safe exploration of the many types of technology available at libraries, including DVDs, music, gaming, video production, online homework help, social networking, tech workshops, audiobooks and more.
- More than 1,300 librarians and educators registered to participate in Teen Tech Week 2010, celebrated March 7-13.
- Teen Tech Week 2010 Promotional Partners included ALA Graphics, Evanced Solutions, Galaxy Press, Rosen Publishing and Tutor.com. DoSomething.org was a 2010 Nonprofit Supporter.
- Had a great celebration? Tell us what you did on the
Teen Tech Week wiki! - See last year's
Teen Tech Week website.
Why Celebrate?
Teens’ use of nonprint resources has increased dramatically in recent years, yet more teens are doing this from home instead of the library. According to a recent study by Harris Interactive, in 2005, 86% of youth aged 8-18 have a computer in their home, and 74% have Internet access in their home. On average, 8-18 year olds spend 6 hours and 21 minutes per day using media (including TV, video/DVDs/movies, video games, audio media, computers and print media). Furthermore, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 71% of teens report that the Internet is their primary source for completing school projects. Yet multiple studies have shown that the majority of teens lack the critical thinking skills and technical expertise to use the Internet and other electronic resources effectively. Teens need to know that the library is a trusted resource for accessing information and that librarians are the experts who can help them develop the skills they need to use electronic resources effectively and efficiently.
Teens, in order to gain the skills necessary to compete in today's job market, need access to digital and online information and trained professionals who can help them use these resources effectively, efficiently and ethically. Librarians and educators know this and work with teens on a regular basis to ensure they develop these skills. Teen Tech Week is a chance for libraries to throw open their physical & virtual doors and show their communities all the great things they're doing for teens with technology.
- Nearly 1 in 4 youth aged 8 to 18 do not have Internet access at home.
- June 2007 study conducted by Harris Interactive for ALA found that one-quarter of teens who regularly visit the public library and nearly one-third who regularly visit the school library said their primary reason is to use the library's computers for fun.
- Multiple studies have shown that the majority of teens lack the critical thinking skills and technical expertise to use the Internet and other electronic resources effectively.
