TEEN TECH WEEK™ :

Show your community how you help teens build digital skills to succeed

in school and prep for careers

Teen Tech Week

Created by YALSA in 2007Annual event the second week of MarchPurpose: to provide a special time of year

for libraries to showcase to the community they ways they help teens build the digital literacy skills they need for school success and careers

Dates for 2015: March 8 – 14To keep the event fresh, there is a

different theme each yearThe 2015 theme is customizable so that

all types and sizes of libraries can tailor the event to their community’s needs

Key Dates

November: TTW web site goes live, registration opens and products go on sale

December: free webinar to help libraries plan their activities

January: TTW issue of YALSA’s journal, YALS, mails & deadline to apply for grant

March: TTW is celebrated nationwide

Planning Timeline: November

Register to participate at www.ala.org/teentechweek

Browse the TTW web site for ideas Meet with your Teen Advisory Group (TAG)

to decide how best to celebrate TTW. Use the TTW planning form to plan your

eventBased on your TAG meeting(s), write up a

proposal and budget to share with your supervisor

Planning Timeline: December

Participate in the free webinar (registration is required – sign up at TTW site)

Continue planning with your TAG. Think about what area organizations might be good to partner with.

Order supplies, invite presentersCommunicate your plans to the library staff

and get any TTW events on the library calendar

Planning Timeline: January

Read the winter issue of Young Adult Library Services for TTW ideas and resources

Confirm presenters or speakers for your TTW events

Send VIPs invitations to attend TTW events

Work with your TAG to identify ways to market TTW events then create marketing materials

Planning Timeline: February

Market TTW events to area teens Invite local press/media to TTW eventsFind volunteers to be photographers or

videographers for your TTW events Work with your TAG to finalize plansUpdate and prepare library staff for TTWWork w/ TAG to create a TTW display in

the library, school, community center, etc.

Planning Timeline: March

Contact local press and media to confirm attendance at event(s)

Contact VIPs to remind them of the event(s)

Work with your TAG to implement event(s)Evaluate your effortsSend thank yous to volunteers, press, VIPsSend press wrap up press release, photos,

etc.

Educational Tech Programs

Have a “Build a Blog” workshop and incorporate digital citizenship skills into the event

Recruit teens to teach a computers or Internet 101 workshop to senior citizens

Host a “Painless Research Papers” workshop and teach teens tips for efficient, effective researching

Connecting Reading & TechCreate a space where teens can share book

reviews onlineSet up a Twitter account, encourage teens to

subscribe & use to alert them when new reading materials arrive or to send brief reading recommendations

Have teens create book trailers featuring their favorite books and post on YouTube.

Host an e-chat for teens w/ a favorite author

Community Service & TechHave teens collect used tech items, such

as cell phones, and donate them to an appropriate charity

Recruit teens to volunteer their tech expertise at a local charity or organization

Help teens create audio recordings of stories and distribute on CDs to parents of young children

Celebrating the Lighter Side of Tech

Host a film or anime festival and show age appropriate movies with a tech focus

Put on a gaming tournamentHave a tech crafting event

(e.g. make jewelry out of discarded computer parts)

Sponsor a texting contest to see which of your teen patrons can text the fastest

Additional Resources from YALSACool Teen Programs Under $100 (book available in

ALA store)Future of Library Services for & with Teens report,

www.ala.org/yaforum Making & DIY Wiki at http://ow.ly/EupaZ Teen Tech Week web site at

www.ala.org/teentechweek TTW on Twitter, #TTW15YA-YAAC, a listserv for library workers to share

programming ideas, http://tinyurl.com/YAYAACYoung Adult Library Services (quarterly journal)

Please contact YALSA if we can be of help

YALSA

50 E. Huron St.

Chicago, IL 60611

1.800.545.2433 x4390

yalsa@ala.org

www.ala.org/yalsa (web site)

http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/ (YALSAblog)

http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php (wiki)

Who is YALSA?YALSA stands for the Young Adult Library

Services AssociationParent organization is the American Library

Association (ALA)Has over 5,100 members who are school

librarians, public librarians, educators, grad students and library supporters

Mission is to expand and strengthen library services for teens, aged 12-18. Through its member-driven advocacy, research, and professional development initiatives, YALSA builds the capacity of libraries and librarians to engage, serve and empower teens.

Questions or Comments?