YA Lit 2.0: How YA Authors and Publishers Are Using Web 2.0 Tools to Reach Teen Readers

Presented by Buffy Hamilton, Ed.S.Georgia Council of English Teachers Conference February 2009Jekyll Island, Georgia

Presentation materials, links, and resources are available at:http://theunquietlibrarian.wikipsaces.com

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

• To explore why we should tap into the power of Web 2.0 tools as educators

• To explore how authors, book publishers, and booksellers are using Web 2.0 tools to connect with teen readers.

• To explore resources we can use to enhance our personal knowledge of YA Lit and to share with our teen students.

Features of Contemporary YA Author Features of Contemporary YA Author WebsitesWebsites• Interactive multimedia• Personal narratives/advice for writing• Blogs• Book trailers• Book excerpts• “Latest News”• Appearance schedules• Music playlists related to a book/novel

Purposes of Web 2.0 ToolsPurposes of Web 2.0 Tools

• To promote an author’s books, especially new books

• To connect with readers• To connect with educators• To raise awareness of issues important to an

author

Why Use Social Media/Web 2.0?Why Use Social Media/Web 2.0?

As of December 2007…• 93% of teenagers are online, and their use of

the internet is intensifying. • 55% of online teens ages 12-17 have created

a profile on a social networking site such as Facebook or MySpace.

• Fully 57% of online teens say that they watch videos on video sharing sites such as YouTube.

Why Use Social Media?Why Use Social Media?

As of December 2007…• The number of teen bloggers nearly doubled

from 2004 to 2006. About 19% of online teens blogged at the end of 2004, and 28% of online teens were bloggers at the end of 2006.

• Overall, girls dominate the teen blogosphere; 35% of all online teen girls blog, compared with 20% of online teen boys.

Web 2.0 Tools Used by YA Authors, Book Web 2.0 Tools Used by YA Authors, Book Publishers, and BooksellersPublishers, and Booksellers

• Blogs• Facebook/MySpace• Book Discussions Via Chat in Social Networks• Twitter• YouTube Channels• Promotional book videos/trailers• Author interviews (audio or podcasts)

Others Ways to Use Web 2.0 For YA Others Ways to Use Web 2.0 For YA Readers’ AdvisoryReaders’ Advisory

• Social Catalogs: Library Thing, Shelfari, GoodReads

• Facebook/MySpace• RSS Feeds • Embedding Content from Favorite Authors

and Publishers into Teacher and/or Library Websites or Blogs

Tour of YA Lit 2.0 ResourcesTour of YA Lit 2.0 Resources

Let’s now take a live tour of the social media resources featuring today’s hottest YA authors, book publishers, and booksellers!

Works CitedWorks Cited

Beaman, Anita. “How Technology is Enhancing the Pleasure Reading Experience for Teens.” Knowledge Quest 35.1 (2006): 30-33. 2 Feb. 2009 <http://www.ala.org/ ala/ mgrps/ divs/ aasl/ aaslpubsandjournals/ kqweb/ kqarchives/ volume35/ KQW35_1Beaman.pdf>.

Lenhart, Amanda, et al. Teens and Social Media. 19 Dec. 2007. Pew Internet and American Life Project. 2 Feb. 2009 <http://www.pewinternet.org/ pdfs/ PIP_Teens_Social_Media_Final.pdf>.