Local teens will be tuning in as the Sevier County Public Library System (SCPLS) celebrates the annual Teen Tech Week™ March 4-10, 2018. They join thousands of other libraries and schools across the country who are celebrating “Libraries Are for Creating” to raise awareness about how the SCPLS offers opportunities to extend teens’ learning beyond the classroom in an environment 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 the 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.
Rhonda Tippitt, SCPLS Director, 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. “Libraries are for Creating” encourages teens to take advantage of all the great digital tools offered through the library to become content creators, and to leverage library resources to share out their creations, whether they be podcasts, videos, apps, games, wearable tech, or some other fabulous invention or creation!
“Teen Tech Week™ is a way for librarians and educators to collaborate with and educate teens about technology,” says Tippitt. “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™ and visit the King Family Library from March 4-10 to enjoy a variety of afternoon activities from 3:30-4:30PM. Teen Tech Week™ is held annually the second week of March. For more information about Teen Tech Week™, visit www.ala.org/teentechweek. For more information about Teen Tech Week™ programs at the King Family Library, contact Lisa at 865.453.3532 or at lyarber@sevierlibrary.org.
