February 19, 2016
For Immediate Release
Local teens 'Get Connected' at the library.
Local teens will be tuning in at the library as the Marshall County Public LIbrary celebrates the annual Teen Tech Week™ March 6th - 12th. MCPL joins thousands of other libraries and schools across the country who are celebrating this year’s theme, "Create it at Your Library," to raise awareness about how libraries create spaces to extend teens’ learning beyond the classroom where they can explore, create and share content.
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 take advantage of the technology at libraries for education and recreation, and to recognize that librarians are qualified, trusted professionals who can help them achieve greater digital literacy.
Young Adult Librarian, Ashley Hayden, 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.”
From maker spaces, to coding classes to online knitting clubs now offered by libraries across the country, the do-it-yourself theme shows how libraries provide meaningful contributions to the educational and social development of the teens in the community.
“Teen Tech Week is a way for librarians and educators to collaborate with and educate teens about technology,” says Zach Martin, Digital Media Coordinator. “Over the last several years the library’s role in increasing digital literacy has become more and more important, equal to that of reading literacy.”
Teens are encouraged to celebrate Teen Tech Week. Zach and Ashley hope to attract a wide variety of teenagers and increase teen technology literacy locally by offering teen focused programs, not just during Teen Tech Week, but year-round.
Teen Tech Week is held annually the second week of March. For more information, visit www.ala.org/teentechweek.