Picture It! @ your library

Teen Read Week 2011

Bertha Bartlett Public Library will celebrate Teen Read Week™ (October 16-22, 2011), which is aimed at encouraging area teens to read for the fun of it. Thousands of libraries, schools and bookstore across the country will hold similar events centered on this year’s theme, Picture It! @ your library®, which encourages teens to read a variety of materials, including graphic novels, movies, books about photography, and more.

Teen Read Week™ is the national adolescent literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest-growing division of the American Library Association. 

“Teens have more activities to fill their free time than ever — web videos, social networking sites, video games, afterschool activities, athletics —and increasingly high expectations in the classroom,” said Teen Services Librarian Denise Froehlich. “It’s important that we show them that reading is something that’s fun and relaxing that they can do for free. And that reading for fun can translate into better performance at school.”

“Many families have learned to make do with less as a result of the economy and have flocked to the library,” Froehlich said. “Teen Read Week™ is a great time to make sure teens and their families know about all the free services the library can offer them and to reach out to teens who aren’t regular users and encourage them to come see what they can find here.” 

Parents of teens are encouraged to celebrate Teen Read Week™ at home, as well. Froehlich offers these ideas:

• Visit the public or school library with your teen to attend a program or to check out books.
• Set aside time each night for the family to read.
• Give books or magazine subscriptions to your teen as a gift or reward.
• Share your favorite book with your teen.
• Go online with your teen to learn about new books or authors. A good place to start is YALSA's Booklists and Book Awards page, www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists.
• Join a book discussion group at the school or public library.

Teen Read Week™ is held annually during the third week of October. An updated sponsors and supporting organizations list can be found at the Web site, www.ala.org/teenread.