Dacula High School Teen Read Week October 15-21, 2006

Get Literary @ Your Library!

More to Come!

For Immediate Release

Contact: Hoppenrath, Kiefer, Losch

Get Active @ your library® during Teen Read WeekTM 2006

Area teens will be reading for the fun of it as Dacula High School celebrates the ninth annual Teen Read WeekTM, October 15 – 21, 2006. They join thousands of other libraries, schools and bookstores across the country who are encouraging teens to celebrate this year’s theme, "Get Active @ your library®." Teen Read WeekTM 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.

Pam Spencer Holley, YALSA’s president, feels that "today’s teens seem to have less and less free time, and there are increasingly more activities to 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. Here in Dacula, Georgia standardized reading test scores for teens are average.

Studies show a regular reading habit increases reading proficiency, and area librarian Mrs. Hoppenrath agrees. "One of the most important ways teens acquire the habit is by watching adults they respect" says Mrs. Hoppenrath. Being around adults who are avid readers can counteract the latest statistics from The Nation’s Report Card(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.

Mrs. Kiefer hopes to increase teen literacy locally by offering a series of programs for teens during Teen Read WeekTM. Description coming soon!Parents of teens are encouraged to celebrate Teen Read WeekTM at home. Mrs. Kiefer offers these ideas:

  • Visit the local 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.
  • Surf the Internet with your teen to learn about new books or authors. A good place to start is www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists .
  • Join a book discussion group at the school or public library.

Teen Read WeekTM 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.