Per L.W. Braun's recent article, "Now Is the Time: E-books, Teens, and Libraries," libraries are struggling to keep up technologically. In addition to a need for further training of library staff, to keep them up to speed, actually having the moola to pay for new tech services would help.
It's hard for libraries to not appear dated to 21st century teens even under normal circumstances. These kids grew up attached to computer screens, getting the their grubby little hands on the latest tech toys as soon as they came out. Libraries can't afford to buy the latest 3DS games, let alone enough 3DS models to keep teens happy. But while libraries can push video game funding to the wayside, they can't afford to not buy e-books that will get teens reading. Teens can now read their favorite books on their phone, their mobile gaming platform, their e-readers, their netbooks and their laptops.
To keep these teens reading, and using the library, libraries need to meet them half way and bring teens books in a medium they are comfortable with. E-books aren't a thing of the future, they're here NOW and libraries have to step up their services as a result.
Braun, L.W. (2011) Now Is the Time: E-books, Teens, and Libraries. Young Adult Library Services, 9(4), 27-30.
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