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 7-13, 2010. Learn more about Teen Tech Week in the Teen Tech Week FAQs.

2009 Teen Tech Week Highlights

More than 1,700 librarians and educators registered to participate in Teen Tech Week 2009, celebrated March 8-14.
Teen Tech Week 2009 Promotional Partners included Evanced Solutions, Galaxy Press, Rosen Publishing, Simon & Schuster, Tutor.com, and the Verizon Foundation. DoSomething.org was a 2009 Nonprofit Supporter.
Twenty libraries across the United States won 2009 Teen Tech Week Mini Grants. See who won and learn more about their winning programs. Thanks to the Verizon Foundation, a 2009 TTW Promotional Partner, for supporting the mini grants.
Courtesy of TTW Promotional Partner Galaxy Press, YALSA offered six public service announcements featuring Tom Kenny (the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants!) to help promote Teen Tech Week.
The 2009 Teen Tech Week Committee created interactive VoiceThread presentations: Getting Started with Teen Tech Week, Teen Tech Week in School Library Media Centers and Teen Tech Week on a Budget.

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.
A 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.