WICOMICO PUBLIC LIBRARIESCELEBRATES TEEN TECH WEEK™

Local teens will be tuning in at the library as Wicomico Public Libraries celebrates Teen Tech Week, March 8 – March 14, 2015. They join thousands of other libraries and schools across the country who are celebrating this year’s theme, “Libraries are for Making…” to raise awareness about how Wicomico Public Libraries creates a space to extend teens’ learning beyond the classroom 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.

Andrea Berstler, Executive Director, stated that, “providing a ‘space’ for teens in the Library is important. We offer activities, access to computers, and homework help so that they can succeed not only today, but so they can realize their future potential. Once they discover how to use these resources, we show teens that with an education, anything is possible.”

Teens are encouraged to celebrate Teen Tech Week. Wicomico Public Libraries hopes to attract a wide variety of teenagers and increase teen technology literacy locally by offering a series of programs including:

Fan-art Contest- teens are challenged to create an original work of art inspired by their favorite character

Master Chef Apps and Dessert Contest - teen cooks prepare their favorite appetizer or dessert and are judged by local culinary experts

Wicomico Teen Video Contest – teens show their vision by creating a 5-15 minute video which is uploaded to You Tube and judged at the Teen Tech Week Film Festival

Film Festival – Videos from the Teen Tech Week Video Contest are viewed and voted on for best film. During the Film Festival teens enjoy treats from the Master Chef Apps and Dessert Contest

Teen Tech Week is held annually the second week of March. For more information, visit http://www.wicomicolibrary.org.

Wicomico Public Libraries are located in Downtown Salisbury, the Centre at Salisbury, in Pittsville, and the Library Bookmobile. Wicomico Public Libraries offer numerous resources such as free Internet