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Sample Press Release

For Immediate Release

Date: [Insert Date] Contact: [Name, organization, and phone number]

Tune In @ Your Library® during Teen Tech Week 2008

Local teens will be tuning in at the library as [insert name of library or school] celebrates the second annual Teen Tech Week March 2-8, 2008. They join thousands of other libraries and schools across the country who are celebrating this year’s theme, "Tune In @ 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.

[Insert librarian, administrator, or staff person’s name here], 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.”

Recent studies from Pew Internet & American Life Project show that, on average, 8-18 year olds spend more than6 hours per day using technology including TV, video/DVDs/movies, video games, audio media, and computers. “Teen Tech Week is a way for librarians and educators to collaborate with and educate teens about technology,” says [Insert librarian, administrator, or staff person’s name here]. “Over the last several years the library’s role in increasing technology literacy has become more and more important, equal to that of reading literacy.”

Teens are encouraged to celebrate Teen Tech Week. [Insert full name of librarian, administrator, or staff person] hopes to attract a wide variety of teenagers and increase teen technology literacy locally by offering a series of programs including: [Insert a bulleted list of the programs and services being offered. Provide contact information for readers who want to learn more.]

Teen Tech Week is held annually the first week of March. For an updated list of sponsors and supporting organizations, visit www.ala.org/teentechweek.

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Tips for Creating a Press Release

• Address the who, what, where, when, why and how in the first paragraph.
• Email or fax your release 7-10 days in advance of the release date. Check with your local newspaper or TV or radio station for their preferred format.
• Remember to include library contact information (contact name, title, department, telephone number) in all your releases.

Sample PSA

:30 seconds

Get Connected @ Your Library® March 2 – 8! Think the library is all about books? Think again. The library is also about blogs, podcasts, gaming, music, and more. Stop by [insert name of library or school] or visit our Web site [insert URL] during Teen Tech Week to tune into these technologies.

Sponsored by [name of library and school].

:10 Seconds

Get Connected @ Your Library® March 2 – 8!

Think the library is all about books? Think again. Drop by [insert name of library or school] to tune into blogs, podcasts, gaming, music, and more. Sponsored by [name of library or school].

Sample Letters to the Editor

The following are sample letters to the editor from a teen and a parent.

Letter from Teen

I’m [insert age here] and I hear on the news and read in the paper a lot about teens doing bad things. But I want to say that not all teens are like that, and I wish the newspaper would print more stories about the good things that teens do. One of the places where teens can go and not be in trouble is the library. I use the [insert library name here] for more than my homework and school projects. They have cool programs like [Insert name of event you’ve been to here] and great things to read like magazines, graphic novels and books. The other thing I like about the library is that they have great technology like [insert a list of favorite technologies such as computers, gaming equipment, music, videos, etc.]. And, the best part is, it’s all free!

I love using the computers for homework, to keep in touch with my friends and family, and to play games and relax. March 2 – 8 is Teen Tech Week. I’d like to tell other teens who may not be using the library that they should definitely check it out. There is more to do here than they may think, and there are people here who can help you get your questions answered. Also, parents should go to the library, too. It’s nothing like it was when they were growing up.

My librarian, [insert name here] says that the theme for Teen Tech Week is "Tune In @ Your Library." I love to hang out with my friends, play video games, surf online, and listen to music. I don’t think many kids realize you can do all this at the library. The library is a great (and safe) place to relax with friends, do homework, or have some time by yourself.

Letter from a Parent

As a parent of a teenager, all the negative stories I hear on the news and read in the paper about teens troubles me. I know that most teens do not engage in illegal behavior like the ones portrayed in the news, but I worry about my teen being exposed to some of the dangers that are so prevalent in today’s society. I would just like to state that there is at least one place in our community where teens can go and are encouraged to engage in positive activities, and that’s the local school and public libraries. My teen uses the [insert library name here] for more than homework and school projects. They have a wide selection of reading materials including magazines, graphic novels, and books as well as provide interesting, age appropriate, and free programs like [insert names of technology-specific events your teen has been to]. I also like that the library offers a wide variety of technology and has staff that are knowledgeable. With all the new technologies, it’s difficult to keep up as a parent, so it’s good to know that there are adults who are on top of all the new trends and can assist my child in a positive way.
March 2 – 8 is Teen Tech Week, a national initiative aimed at teens, their parents, educators and other concerned adults. The purpose of this initiative is to ensure that teens are competent and ethical users of technologies, especially those that are offered through libraries. My librarian [insert name] informed me that this year’s theme is "Tune in @ Your Library." I’d like to encourage other parents to make a trip to the library with their teenager to check it out. There are more great resources and events than most parents would think, and there are trained professionals who can help you get your questions answered. Plus, it is a place where teens can engage in positive activities.