2016 Teen Tech Week™ focuses on STEAM and underserved teens
CHICAGO – The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA) invites library staff to encourage teens to “Create it at your library” for Teen Tech Week™ 2016.
This year’s theme, “Create it at your library,” encourages libraries to tailor the theme to show their community exactly how libraries can connect in meaningful ways with teens in order to help them gain STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) skills.
Teen Tech Week will take place March 6-12, 2016. Library staff are encouraged to visit and join the official Teen Tech Week website for free to access to planning and promotional resources and to exchange ideas with fellow library staff.
YALSA members can also apply for one of twenty Teen Tech Week stipends, worth $1,000 each to support digital literacy programming for and with underserved or marginalized teens. The deadline to apply by is January 1, 2016. Learn more and apply here. Eligibility requirements apply.
YALSA President Candice Mack notes that “Teen Tech Week is an excellent opportunity to take time to shine a light on what libraries do year round. It’s a great chance for us to turn outward and educate their entire community about the digital resources and services that all teens and their families can access through the library.”
Best Buy is the official national sponsor of the 2016 Teen Tech Week. As part of their support, Best Buy employees will be conducting web-making workshops for teens in more than 30 cities across the country during Teen Tech Week.
“Best Buy is a great fit for Teen Tech Week,” said Teen Tech Week Committee Chair Fallon Bleich. “Best Buy is focused on helping teens build the digital skills they need to succeed in 21st century careers, which closely aligns with YALSA’s mission.”
To learn more, visit and sign up for a free account at www.ala.org/teentechweek.
For more than 50 years, YALSA has worked to build the capacity of libraries and library staff to engage, serve and empower teens. For more information about YALSA or to access national guidelines and other resources, go to www.ala.org/yalsa, or contact the YALSA office by phone, (800) 545-2433, ext. 4390; or e-mail: yalsa@ala.org.
About Best Buy
As the leading provider of technology products and services, Best Buy is committed to igniting human potential and empowering people through technology. In the community, these efforts center around grassroots programs that support underserved teens by encouraging a passion for technology in future education and career choices. Since launching nearly a decade ago, Best Buy Teen Tech Centers and Geek Squad Academy camps have touched the lives of thousands of teens across the U.S. and Canada.
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Contact: Anna Lam
Communications Specialist
Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)
alam[@]ala.org
