February 20, 2009 (Charlotte, NC) – Local teens will be tuning in at the library as the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (PLCMC) celebrates the third annual Teen Tech Week March 8-14, 2009. They join thousands of other libraries and schools across the country who are celebrating this year’s theme, "Press Play @ Your Library®.” 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 technologies, especially those that are offered through libraries. Teen Tech Week encourages teens to use libraries' non-print resources for education and recreation, and to recognize that librarians are qualified, trusted professionals in the field of information technology.

Library spokesperson Sarah Poole feels that "Getting teens into libraries is essential. Offering a variety of technologies and providing top notch education about these resources is key in getting them in the door. Once they’re in the door, anything is possible.”

A recent report from the MacArthur Foundation’s Digital Youth Project stated that, “The digital world is creating new opportunities for youth to grapple with social norms, explore interests, develop technical skills, and experiment with new forms of self-expression. These activities have captured teens' attention because they provide avenues for extending social worlds, self-directed learning, and independence."

Youth Librarian Kelly Czarnecki says, “Connecting teens with libraries is essential. This is PLCMC's third year for participating in Teen Tech Week, and we have seen a pattern of teens returning to the library again and again to use a variety of technologies. Making these connections with their Graduation Project and other school work is a goal we'’re continually striving toward.”

PLCMC hopes to attract a wide variety of teenagers and increase teen technology literacy locally by offering a series of programs both online and in libraries throughout Mecklenburg County. Teens are encouraged to celebrate Teen Tech Week at one of the events listed here or by visiting the library’s web site www.plcmc.org during Teen Tech Week.

Here's what's happening during Teen Tech Week