The Grand Island Public Library is taking the initiative to get teens tech savvy to make it easier to write research papers, use tutoring services, and get ready for college. 
Librarian Celine Stahlnecker said technology literacy is now just as important as reading literacy. 

"Kids just say, 'We go online for this,' it's instant gratification," Stahlnecker said.

Everything is available in an instant if you know how to use the technology. 
Stahlnecker just returned from teaching hundreds of Grand Island middle schoolers the educational benefits of the Internet.

She said one of the top new services for teens, only available at the library, is Tutor.com.

But with technology comes Internet predators. The Nebraska State Patrol taught one teen, Walnut Middle School 8th Grader Kevin Madrid, a few things at the school Internet session.  Sgt. Jeromy McCoy also held a session Thursday night for parents and teens at the library.

Sgt. McCoy said MySpace is the most dangerous networking site for teens, with Facebook close behind. He's trying to warn teens before it's too late. He said about 30 percent of middle schoolers are targeted daily by predators right in our area.  Five other State Patrol sergeants across the state also host programs. They taught 30 sessions state-wide last year.   

"We're trying to get kids just getting on the Internet, that's middle school age,
when they're the most vulnerable," he said.
  
Madrid doesn't have MySpace, and the library blocks it in the teen section. But he does chat
online with RuneScape, a popular computer game.
 

"The game's almost like MySpace, you chat with other people. Some are my friends, some I just met on here," she said.
 

The library monitors every teen site constantly to keep kids out of trouble.
Improving Internet safety and literacy is their goal. 

They also recently added wireless Internet throughout the entire library.

"I see lots of teens carrying laptops and so it's really fun to see all the technology in their hands, and them using it for homework," Stahlnecker said. 

She said expanding their teen section has also brought in more readers. They saw a 47 percent increase in teens reading non-fiction since last summer.