Teen read week theme: Get active@your library

The ninth annual Teen Read Week, to be held October 15 - 21, will feature the theme "Get Active @ your library." 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. This year's theme encourages teens to use the resources in their library to lead active lives.

Judy Nelson, YALSA's president, said "today's teens seem to have less and less free time, and there are increasingly more activities for them to take part in during what little leisure time they have. That is why it's important to encourage teens to set aside some time to read." Literacy is a topic of both local and national concern, and falling test scores and lower graduation rates among teens today are a serious issue.

Studies show a regular reading habit increases reading proficiency. Being around adults who are avid readers can counteract the latest statistics from http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard, which indicate that in homes across America the number of different types of reading materials has decreased, and a smaller percentage of seventeen-year-olds saw adults reading in their homes. Teen Read Week is held annually during the third week of October.

Last updated on 10/2/2006