The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest growing division of the American Library Association (ALA), is asking librarians to encourage their teenage patrons – young men and women ages 12 through 18 – to complete an online reading survey offered by SmartGirl.org. Teens may complete the survey on the SmartGirl Website from now until October 31, 2006.

 

Now in its ninth year, Teen Read Week^TM is a national literacy initiative of YALSA.  The theme for Teen Read Week^TM 2006, “Get Active! @ your library®,” encourages teens to read for the fun of it and use the resources at their libraries to help them lead active lives and find books on sports, fitness, volunteerism, activism, college preparation career direction and more.

 

This is the sixth time the reading survey has been offered by SmartGirl.org.  A report that was issued based on survey results provided invaluable information to librarians about teen reading interest and habits. 

The mission of SmartGirl, which now resides at the University of Michigan, is to provide a safe, online community where girls and boys, between the ages of 12 and 20, can express themselves.  There are currently 20,000 subscribers to their free monthly newsletter.