Digital Inclusion, Teens, and Your Library: Exploring the Issues and Acting on Them

Shows how to help technologically disadvantaged teens to overcome barriers and become tech-savvy The digital divide is a disturbing reality, and teens increasingly fall into distinct categories of technological haves and have-nots, whether or not computers are available to them in the schools. This trend undermines the futures of our youth and jeopardizes the vitality of society. Today’s librarians are in a unique position to help bridge the gap. This guide helps librarians to identify the tech-nots - technologically disadvantaged teens - in a community or school and to reach out and build information literacy in underserved teen populations. The author goes beyond recommending computers for every teen, and demonstrates how to overcome teen misperceptions and disinterest in computers. After examining the problem and the populations most affected, the author discusses how to build awareness and motivation, train staff, create space and time, build the collection, develop partnerships with other agencies and organizations, offer services, and overcome barriers with specific populations. Citing benchmark programmes and services, Farmer offers a wealth of exciting new ways for libraries to connect with at-risk teens today. * Part of the Libraries Unlimited Professional Guides for Young Adult Librarians Series * Highlights the problem of the ‘digital divide among teenagers, and suggests strategies for overcoming it