Tech for Teens and Others (AKA: Information Literacy)

The Young Adult Library Services Association has proclaimed March 4 through 10 to be Teen Tech Week, but what, exactly, does that mean?  According to the ALA (American Library Association), "the purpose of the initiative is to ensure that teens are competent and ethical users of technologies, especially those that are offered through libraries". 

In case you're now asking, "What does that mean?" I'll take a moment to explain...This week, libraries across the country will be making an extra effort to showcase the technology being offered every day and many will be holding special technology-related events like (ours is scheduled for Monday at 4:30) and Wii tournaments (we won the first one held within the Washington County Library System).

The timing of this very special week suits us well because technology is strongly tied to Information Literacy, the only one of PA Forward's literacies not yet mentioned in previous blog entries. 

When it comes to this type of literacy, the PA Library Association's vision is of "a Pennsylvania where citizens know how to use online resources and current technology to improve their education, to enhance their job skills, and to fully participate in a digital society" and we at the Frank Sarris Public Library are proud to have already taken steps to promote information literacy. 

If you haven't already stopped in to look around, please do!  You'll see that our spacious new home has allowed for an expanded number of computer work stations for public use and, as part of the Washington County District Library system, we offer both wi-fi connectivity and . 

Not only that, this month, in addition to the above mentioned DS Link-up for children in 4th - 6th grades,  is scheduled for Saturday, March 17th at 11 a.m. 

If you're an adult having issues with a piece of technology or a high school student looking to get a few community service hours, give us a call at 724-745-1308 to sign up.  Remember, too, that you can always find information about your library and its programs at our website.