Stuff for the Teen Age, Teens
Get Creative for Teen Tech Week!
Ah, technology. It has become such an integral part of our everyday lives, it is hard to imagine what our life would be without it. Technology gives us a chance to explore, create and share content like never before, technology that goes beyond just Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat.
Best of all, teens do not have to be confined to the classroom to do so. Teens can truly tap into their creativity using all of the digital resources and services literally at their fingertips. But it doesn't just stop there. Weird as it may sound, creativity with tech doesn't just stop at the computer or phone screen. And that is what this week is all about, to let teens know all the resources they can find at their local library.
Still not convinced? Then why not check out these books and see why it is important for you to improve your digital skills, learn something new, and most importantly, have fun altogether:
Fun With LEGO
The LEGO Mindstorms EV3 idea book: 181 Simple Machines and Clever Contraptions by Yoshihito Isogawa
Who says only kids can have fun with LEGO? That all changes with this great idea book! This book provides step-by-step instructions for over a hundred creative models with the use of LEGO. All provide simple instruction that will give you great "building blocks" for your amazing creations.
The Art of LEGO Design: Creative Ways To Build Amazing Models by Jordan Schwartz
LEGO bricks are more than just toys, they can also be works of art. Schwartz's book takes readers through the eyes of some of the best LEGO builders. Get inspiration and light up your imagination to help with your creations with this useful guide.
LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 For Teens by Jerry Ford
Love LEGO and robots? Try and putting them together! Learn how to create amazing creations such as robots, animals, vehicles, much more. Although this book is a guide for the LEGO Mindstorms set, you can use this to help you creative this week at your library with your other creations.
Creative With The Web
The Rough Guide to Blogging by Jonathan Yang
Take a whack at entering the blogosphere. Yang's book is a great reference guide on blogging, starting from blogging's beginnings to what its future will be and the impact it will have. This book covers various topics from how to start a blog to how to blog for money. A useful guide for any beginner blogger.
Coding For Kids by Dr. Camille McCue, PhD
Ever wonder how your favorite game or social media website got started? Well, here is your chance to learn! Fifteen projects that will teach you the basics of writing computer code that can help build a game, an app, or other tools. If you want a crash course into computer science and dream of a future in computer technology, then this is the book for you.
The Joys (and Pains) of Social Media
Teen Tech Fiction Reads
Unfriended by Rache Vail
"When thirteen-year-old Truly is invited to sit at the Popular Table, she finds herself caught in a web of lies and misunderstandings, made unescapable by the hyperconnected social mediaworld"
Where Futures End by Parke Peevyhouse
"Five interconnected stories that weave a subtle science-fictional web stretching out from the present into the future, presenting eerily plausible possibilities for social media, corporate sponsorship, and humanity, as our world collides with a mysterious alternate universe."
He Said, She Said by Kwame Alexander
"When a popular football 'playa' and ladies man and the smartest girl in school lead a school protest, sparks fly as their social media-aided revolution grows"
So Yesterday by Scott Westerfield
"Hunter Braque, a New York City teenager who is paid by corporations to spot what is "cool," combines his analytical skills with girlfriend Jen's creative talents to find a missing person and thwart a conspiracy directed at the heart of consumer culture."
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
"After being interrogated by the Department of Homeland Security after a major terrorist attack on San Francisco, Marcus is released into what is now a police state and uses his expertise in computer hacking to set things right."
Brush up on your digital skills or learn something new and get creative at your local library this week!
Read E-Books with SimplyE
With your library card, it's easier than ever to choose from more than 300,000 e-books on SimplyE, The New York Public Library's free e-reader app. Gain access to digital resources for all ages, including e-books, audiobooks, databases, and more.
If you don’t have an NYPL library card, New York State residents can apply for a digital card online or through SimplyE (available on the App Store or Google Play).
Need more help? Read our guide to using SimplyE.