Publicity Tools

teen tech week, mix and mash @ your library, is march 6-12, 2011.

Sample Press Release

For Immediate Release

Date: [Insert Date] Contact: [Name, organization, and phone number]

Mix and Mash @ your library® during Teen Tech Week 2011

Local teens will be tuning in at the library as [insert name of library or school] celebrates the third annual Teen Tech Week March 6-12, 2011. They join thousands of other libraries and schools across the country who are celebrating this year’s theme, "Mix and Mash @ your library®.” Teen Tech Week is a national initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) 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 technology, especially they types offered through libraries. Teen Tech Week encourages teens to use libraries' non-print resources for education and recreation, and to recognize that librarians are qualified, trusted professionals who can help them navigate new developments in technology.

[Insert librarian, administrator, or staff person’s name here], feels that "Getting teens into libraries is essential. Offering gaming, access to computers, and online homework help is important, and letting them know that we can help educate them on how to use these resources will get them in the door. Once they’re in the door, we can show teens that with technology at the library, anything is possible.”

Recent studies from Pew Internet & American Life Project show that, on average, 8-18 year olds spend more than 6 hours per day using technology including TV, DVDs, cell phones, video games, audio media, and computers. 93 percent of teens regularly use the Internet, and three-quarters of American teens send text messages every day. “Teen Tech Week is a way for librarians and educators to collaborate with and educate teens about technology,” says [Insert librarian, administrator, or staff person’s name here]. “Over the last several years the library’s role in increasing technology literacy has become more and more important, equal to that of reading literacy.”

Teens are encouraged to celebrate Teen Tech Week. [Insert full name of librarian, administrator, or staff person] hopes to attract a wide variety of teenagers and increase teen technology literacy locally by offering a series of programs including: [Insert a bulleted list of the programs and services being offered. Provide contact information for readers who want to learn more.]

Teen Tech Week is held annually the second week of March. For an updated list of sponsors and supporting organizations, visit www.ala.org/teentechweek.

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Tips for Creating a Press Release

Address the who, what, where, when, why and how in the first paragraph.
Email or fax your release 10-14 days in advance of the release date. Check with your local newspaper or TV or radio station for their preferred format.
Remember to include library contact information (contact name, title, department, telephone number) in all your releases.

Sample PSA

Include these public service announcements during school announcements or over the loudspeakers at your library! You can also send them to your local radio or TV station and ask staff to include them on the air.

:30 seconds

Learn Create Share at Your Library March 6 – 12! Libraries are chock-full of tech toys like CDs, DVDs and video games, and they're a great place to get connected to homework help, research resources, gaming, music, the Web and more. Stop by [insert name of library or school] or visit our Web site [insert URL] during Teen Tech Week today. Sponsored by [name of library and school].

:10 Seconds

Get Connected @ Your Library® March 6 – 12!

Teen Tech Week is coming! Drop by [insert name of library or school] to get connected online and to homework help, gaming, music and more. Sponsored by [name of library or school].

Audio PSAs

Download one of six audio PSAs promoting Teen Tech Week, featuring Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants. The audio PSAs are courtesy of Galaxy Press. All PSAs are broadcast quality, 30-second spots that can be played over school announcements or provided to your community's public radio station.

PSA #1 featuring Tom Kenny (mp3)

PSA #2 featuring Tom Kenny (mp3)

PSA #3 featuring Tom Kenny (mp3)

PSA #4 featuring Tom Kenny (mp3)

PSA #5 featuring Tom Kenny (mp3)

PSA #6 featuring Tom Kenny (mp3)

Sample Letters to the Editor

The following are sample letters to the editor from a teen and a parent.

Letter from Teen

I'm [insert age here]. I hear adults talk about how other people my age get into trouble online, whether it's putting up videos or photos online that shouldn't be or downloading music illegally. But most teens are not irresponsible when it comes to technology and one important reason why is the librarian(s) at my library, [insert name of school or public library].

My librarian, [insert name(s)], is always happy to answer questions about technology for me and my parents. And [he/she] has shown me a lot of great, free technology that I can use at the library: I know how to use the computers to do my homework, to keep in touch with my friends and family, and to play games and relax.

I’d like to tell other teens who may not be using the library that they should definitely check it out. There is more to do here than they may think, and there are people here who can help you get your questions answered. Also, parents should go to the library, too. If they're worried about what their teens are doing online, a librarian can show them how to use Facebook safely. They can check out DVDs and CDs for us to use, for free.

March 6 – 12 is Teen Tech Week. It's a time for teens and parents to go to the library and learn more about the technology they can find there. My librarian, [insert name here] says that the theme for Teen Tech Week is "Mix and Mash @ Your Library." I love to hang out with my friends, play video games, use the Web, and listen to music. I don’t think many other people my age realize you can do all this at the library. The library is a great (and safe) place to relax with friends, do homework, or have some time by yourself. And the librarian is there to help you learn all about the best way to use it all.

Letter from a Parent

Even though my children are educated, I worry a lot about my teenagers, especially when it comes to technology. I worry about predators that might lurk online. I worry my kids won't know how to do actual research for their school projects, but will just "Google" something instead or find answers on disreputable websites. I see them downloading music, and I just hope they know how to do it legally.

But I worry a lot less after talking to the librarians at [insert name of school/public library here]. Libraries are a safe place for my teens and I to learn how to navigate all these new websites that pop up online, and I know they're teaching my kids to use all of the safely and responsibly. They answer all my questions and are more than happy to demonstrate how Facebook works or how my teens can get online homework help.

My teens use [insert library name here] for more than school projects and to show their nervous parent that they're safe online. Our library provides interesting, age-appropriate, and free programs like [insert names of technology-specific events your teen has been to]. The library offers a wide variety of technology and has staff that are knowledgeable. With all the new technologies, it’s difficult to keep up as a parent, so it’s good to know that there are adults who are on top of all the new trends and can assist my child in a positive way. Plus, my teens can check out DVDs or CDs for free, play video games with their friends, and get online to read magazines or websites that interest them, all for free.

March 6 – 12 is Teen Tech Week, a national initiative aimed at teens, their parents, educators and other concerned adults. The purpose of this initiative is to ensure that teens are competent and ethical users of technologies, especially those that are offered through libraries. My librarian [insert name] informed me that this year’s theme is "Mix and Mash @ your library." I’d like to encourage other parents to make a trip to the library with their teenager to check it out. There are more great resources and events than most parents would think, and there are trained professionals who can help you get your questions answered. Plus, it is a place where teens can engage in positive activities.

Sample Proclamation

Whereas, the ability to read and process information online is a necessary skill for success in our global information society;
Whereas, 71 percent of teens report that the Internet is their primary source for completing school projects;
Whereas, 93 percent of teens regularly use the Internet;
Whereas, 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;
Whereas, teens’ use of nonprint resources has increased dramatically in recent years
Whereas, the library offers teens and their families free access to multiple types of technology, including but not limited to Internet access, gaming, audiobooks, research databases, online homework help, DVDS, and music;
Whereas, the library is a trusted resource for accessing information;
Whereas, librarians are information knowledge professionals who can quickly sort through the glut of information in print and online and find what patrons need;
Whereas, librarians are uniquely suited to show teens and their families how to safely and ethically use the many types of technology available at the library;
Therefore, be it resolved that I (name, title of official) proclaim March 6-12, 2011, Teen Tech Week(TM) in (name of city, state) and encourage teens and their family to get connected at the library.

Using the TTW Logo

YALSA offers two Teen Tech Week logos. The general logo is available for download for anyone. To get a lo-res theme-specific logo to use on your website, you need to register.

The general Teen Tech Week logo is available for download. For online use, you can right-click the image to your left and save it. You can also download a high-quality version for use in print items your library may make:

Get Connected JPG (high-quality, CMYK)

Get Connected EPS (best quality, vector graphic)

The use of the Teen Read Week logo and/or any other trademarked material related to Teen Read Week(TM), is limited to school and public libraries, or other non-profit groups, and is for non-commercial, educational purposes only. Any other uses must be specified in a Letter of Agreement between YALSA and the requesting organization or company. Questions regarding the use of the logo or other materials should be directed to YALSA at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4390 or by e-mail at yalsa@ala.org.