CELEBRATE BOOKS WITH BITE @ YOUR LIBRARY DURING TEEN READ WEEK 2008

Racine - Area teens will be reading for the fun of it as the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., celebrates the eleventh annual Teen Read Week, October 12 – 18, 2008. They join thousands of other libraries, schools and bookstores across the country who are encouraging teens to celebrate this year’s theme, "Books with Bite @ 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 read a wide variety of books and graphic novels, from animals to vampires to cooking, just "for the fun of it."
Librarians agree that 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. One of the most important ways teens acquire the habit is by watching adults they respect. Being around adults who are avid readers can counteract the latest statistics from The Nation’s Report Card, 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.
The Racine Pubic Library hopes to increase teen literacy locally by offering a variety of programs for teens during Teen Read Week and throughout the year:
TeenSpace Takes a Bite: Teens ages 11-18 are invited to join TeenSpace for a Library scavenger hunt, mystery food tasting, and book art project on Thursday, October 16 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. in the Martin Room.
Parents of teens are encouraged to celebrate Teen Read Week at home. The Racine Public Library 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 YALSA's Booklist's page.
• Join a book discussion group at the school or public library.
Teen Read Week is held annually during the third week of October. More information can be found at www.ala.org/teenread. For more information about Racine Public Library programs call 262.636.9245.