YALSA presidential candidates discuss teens & technology on the YALSA blog.

Paula Brehm Heeger:

As information professionals – especially information professionals working with teens –it is our responsibility to not only be comfortable with technology, but to embrace it and consistently consider ways we can harness it to improve, expand and enhance the service we deliver to our teens. For them, solutions and conveniences realized through the use of technology aren’t unique or noteworthy. It’s what they expect. Our libraries may not be ready or able at this moment to move forward with the coolest technology ideas, but we should start educating ourselves now so that we’ll be in a position to give informed, reliable input when opportunities do come down the road. And I believe these opportunities will come!

Allen Nichols:

Too many libraries don’t have the money or the resources to provide the types of technology that teens are wanting and using. I know of small town Ohio school systems that only have a single laptop projector for the entire district…much less using or exposing teens to the technology of today. Many public libraries are in a similar situation; most are certainly not loaning out Ipod shuffles as I know some are doing. Not only is there a digital divide within society, but within our profession as well.

This makes the challenge of serving YALSA’s members all the more difficult, but Michele is right. We have to lead in this area because our teens are on the leading edge and we need to meet their needs. How can YALSA do this? First, it can offer a consistent stream of conference programming, preconferences, institutes (the gaming program was a great first step), publications, and online learning focused on technology. If nothing else, this exposes our members to the trends and interests of teens…even if their own libraries cannot afford the technology for their customers.

Read more: On the Yalsa Blog