Geek Out @ Your Library® During Teen Tech Month

Local teens will be tuning in at the library as St. Louis County Library celebrates the Teen Tech Month in March. SLCL will join thousands of other libraries and schools across the country who are celebrating this year’s theme, Geek Out @ your library®.” Teen Tech Month is a national initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) aimed at teens, their parents, educators and other concerned adults.

Teen Tech Month 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.  

SLCL Youth Services Assistant Manager, Sarah Wood said, "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.” 

Recent studies from Pew Internet & American Life Project show the majority of teens own cell phones and mp3 players. Ninety-three percent of teens regularly use the Internet — 73 percent of all American teens go online to use Facebook or other social networking sites. Three-quarters of American teens send text messages every day. Nearly 40 percent of teens share something online that they created themselves, like artwork or a video.

“Teen Tech Month is a way for librarians and educators to collaborate with and educate teens about technology,” says Charles Pace, St. Louis County Library Director. “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.”

SLCL will be offering a fun line-up of programs at a variety of branches to increase teen technology literacy during March. Programs include Hunger Games Tribute Challenge, LAN (local area network) parties, techno jewelry programs, audio recording workshops, gaming and movie nights and more. A full list of Teen Tech Month programs can be found on the library’s Teen Book Blog.

Information was provided by the communications department of the St. Louis County Library.