TeenTober is a new, nationwide celebration hosted by libraries every October and aims to celebrate teens, promote year-round teen services and the innovative ways teen services helps teens learn new skills, and fuel their passions in and outside the library. TeenTober replaces YALSA’s previous Teen Read Week™ and Teen Tech Week™ celebrations, allowing libraries the flexibility to celebrate all types of literacies according to their library’s schedule.
Library staff are encouraged to utilize this new celebration to advocate for and raise awareness of the importance of year-round teen services in libraries.
Check out what Caitlin Miller, Library Specialist, from the Hewitt Public Library in Hewitt Texas is doing for TeenTober during the pandemic.
Type: Active Age: Middle school Optimal size: 11-20 Estimated cost: $26 - $50 Planning time: 2-5 hours Frequency: Daily
● Think flexibly ● Innovate ● Demonstrate technology use that is safe, ethical and responsible ● Leverage digital tools to broaden their perspective
We got the READsquared software this year for our Fall Reading Program, and I thought it would be awesome to use for TeenTober as well. The main aspect of it will be a BINGO card the teens will get to complete, and they will earn points as they complete the card. They can complete the card by attending certain teen programs, such as Take & Make or Dungeons & Dragons, and there are other things they can do too, such as ‘Read a graphic novel’, ‘Binge watch a show on Netflix’ or ‘Do a random act of kindness’. The screenshot for BINGO is attached.
Aside from the regular programs that the teens will get to enjoy, there will be some special events for TeenTober as well, such as a Book Tournament, where they can vote on their favorite book, and a button design contest, where they can submit a design for the next year’s TeenTober logo. Teens will earn points and prizes as they participate in the program, and all of it can be done from home or virtually.
Click here to download TeenTober graphics
Since this is the first TeenTober since COVID, there will be no evaluations.
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