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January 2023
Welcome to Bits & Bytes
Welcome to Bits & Bytes, the bimonthly newsletter from the Minneapolis Central Library Best Buy Teen Tech Center. This newsletter is a place for staff to share with families (that’s you!) what is happening in the tech center, projects members are proud of, cool things mentors are supporting, and fun technology youth ages 12-19 years old have access to. Membership to the tech center is free. There is no cost for materials and youth can take projects with them.
The Best Buy Teen Tech Center, located on the second floor of Minneapolis Central Library, is a creative and safe out-of-school-time learning environment with a recording studio, digital photography and video cameras, Adobe Creative Suite and other specialty software, embroidery and sewing machines, t-shirt press, laser engraver, professional photo and 3D printers, professional art supplies for drawing and painting, and gaming PCs and consoles.
We emphasize learning more than teaching in our youth-centered, interest-driven, and project-based space. Teens are encouraged to become producers – rather than just consumers – of media, and learn through tinkering, playing, and designing.
Visit the tech center
As we welcome 2023, we want to invite you to visit the tech center any Thursday between 3-8 p.m. Come see what youth have been working on, the relationships we are building, and the space where they spend their time. Thursdays are also AlumNights, for those who have aged out of the tech center to visit, work on projects, and connect with current youth.
Meet our staff
Every day in the space you can expect to see our full-time staff, our afterschool youth staff, and mentors. We are here to support members with their projects and development, and to listen.
 Dante, Henry, Amelia
Please share this message with others who might enjoy checking out our space and send any interested youth our way! If you have any questions about our space or what’s available, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are open Monday through Thursday 3-8 p.m., whenever Central Library is open.
Connect with us
- Dante (they/them), Tech Squad Coordinator
- Henry (he/him), Mentor Coordinator
- Amelia (she/her), Tech Center Coordinator, 612-543-8045
Volunteers needed
Volunteer mentors are an important part of our program. We invite those interested, and able to commit to volunteering once a week for a 6-month period, to join us. We can teach you technology, you just need a passion to connect with youth.
Thank you to our partners
The tech center is made possible by support from Friends of the Hennepin County Library; A Proud Member of the Clubhouse Network, an international network of afterschool programs; and the nationwide Best Buy Teen Tech Centers program.
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