Local teens will be tuning in at the public library as the Natchitoches Parish Library (NPL) celebrates annual Teen Tech Week™ March 6-10. The NPL will join thousands of other libraries and schools across the country who are celebrating this year’s theme, “Get Connected,” to raise awareness about how the Natchitoches Parish Library system creates a space to extend teens’ learning beyond the classroom where they can explore, create and share content.

Teen Tech Week is a national initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) aimed at teens, their parents, educators and other concerned adults. The purpose of the initiative is to ensure that teens are competent and ethical users of technology, especially the types offered through libraries. Teen Tech Week encourages teens to take advantage of the technology at libraries for both education and recreation, and to recognize that librarians are qualified, trusted professionals who can help them achieve greater digital literacy.

Teen Programmer, Michelle Pichon, is working to create unique and interesting opportunities for each evening during Teen Tech Week. On Monday at 5 PM, teens will learn about both digital art and 3D printing, with presentations by NPL employees, Annabel Jones and Alan Niette. On Tuesday at 5 PM, NSU’s Curtis Desselles will be leading teens in building tiny radio transmitters and explaining the technology behind them. On Wednesday and Thursday at 4:30 PM, teens will take part in several fun experiments and discuss the science behind them. Friday night at 6 PM teens will end Teen Tech Week celebrations with a video game and board game night. Also, going on all week (March 6-11), is a QR Code scavenger hunt with prizes for teens who complete it by Saturday.

For more information regarding Teen Tech Week at the NPL, you may contact Michelle at michelle@natlib.org, or by phone at 318-238-9240. For an updated schedule, check out the library’s Facebook page.