Celebrate Teen Tech Week March 2 to 8
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SLJ Staff -- School Library Journal, 02/26/2008
Here’s something guaranteed to get kids excited: the theme of this year’s Teen Tech Week, from March 2 to 8, is "Tune In @ Your Library." More than 1,500 libraries nationwide have said they'll participate by showcasing youth-friendly technology that enhances literacy skills and offers tips on staying safe.
La Puente Library in Los Angeles County plans to offer a digital photography class for teens and offer gift card giveaways for correct answers to scavenger hunt queries about databases and other online resources. A lesson on Web safety and privacy will be offered through an activity that encourages kids to shop online for books to add to the library’s YA collection. Teens also can look forward to Guitar Hero and Dance, Dance Revolution as part of the week of fun.
The Forest Hill branch of the Queens Borough Public Library in New York, meanwhile, will launch a "Tech Buddies" program that matches teens with seniors who want to become more tech-literate. Safety issues will be highlighted, along with the entertainment potential of technology.
Studies show that most teens lack the critical thinking skills needed to conduct effective online searches. At the same time, in 2006 the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire reported that only one-third of students surveyed were learning about Internet safety at school.
Sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association, Teen Tech Week aims to ensure that teens become competent, ethical users of technology, especially as they use nonprint resources such as DVDs, databases, audiobooks, and video games. Dungeons and Dragons is this year's Teen Tech Week corporate sponsor. To learn more about Teen Tech Week, visit YALSA online.
