Sometimes during workshops I tell a story about a conversation I had about 13 years ago with a friend of mine. At that time I was leaving the job I was in and planned to start working for myself teaching librarians and teachers about the Internet. It was the early days of the Internet in libraries and my friend said to me, “But Linda, what are you going to do when everyone knows how to use the Internet?” The idea behind that question being, there will come a time when everyone knows how to access the web, send email, use search engines, etc. and I would be stuck pretty much without a job.

That story keeps coming back to me as I think about how what we knew about technology and the way people use it has grown and changed in those 13 years. (more…)

Blog Manager Needed! YALSA is looking for a member to become manager of the YALSA Blog. The Member Manager will be responsible for the content and look of the blog, and will work closely to recruit and oversee designated bloggers. Check out the job requirements, and be sure to apply to Beth Yoke, YALSA Executive Director, by Dec. 31.

$$ for Teen Tech Week Through funding from Verizon Communications, YALSA is granting up to 20 mini grants worth $500 each for innovative Teen Tech Week celebrations.  Read the rules and apply using this form by Jan. 19, 2009. Winners will be notified the week of Feb. 9.

Winter Online Courses Start the new year with continuing education from YALSA! We’re offering three online courses starting in February: Booktalks Quick and Simple, taught by Nancy Keane; Boys and Books, taught by Jenine Lillian; and Power Programming for Teens, taught by Amy Alessio. See course descriptions and register on the YALSA online courses web page.

See more YALSA News — including Midwinter news and early details on our member drive — after the jump!

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This year, we’ve seen a lot of quality novels, but we’ve also seen some notable short story collections and anthologies.  Short story collections might not sell huge numbers, but they do provide for worthy discussions and make a great choice for both teens and librarians who are short on time but want an enjoyable, complete story.  I’ve been a big fan of short stories all my life, from fairy tales to Shirley Jackson to Margo Lanagan.   Here are some books that will both complete and diversify your collection.

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When we talk about getting ready for conferences, we don’t talk too much about preparing a presentation or what makes a good presentation (or bad one for that matter). Many of us have been to a conference before or have seen someone present that we might like what they do and want to remember next time for our own presentation.  What tips/tricks do you have? (more…)

I’ve been watching a lot of Top Chef lately. As a result, I find myself thinking at various times during the day about what contestants on the show say and do.  One thing I was thinking about just yesterday was that when eliminated most contestants say something like, “I’m sorry to go but I learned a lot.”  Since so many of those eliminated say that kind of thing, I usually just laugh about how canned it is as a “leaving the show” comment. Then, yesterday, I started thinking about it differently. Maybe the chefs really do learn a lot, and if they do, then I realized I need to think more about how that Top Chef learning happens. (more…)

As teen librarians, we have to connect with our users–and this may be true for us more than other library professionals. Teens are great at seeing straight through us, and being fake is no way to earn a teen’s trust or get them interested in using the library. With that said, there are some easy ways to learn about things that interest teens.

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They’re Back…

I am happy to announce that YALSA will once again award 20 Teen Tech Mini Grants, each valued at $500! The grants will assist libraries that are planning creative Teen Tech Week events for the 2009 celebration, Press Play @ Your Library.

Applications are due no later than January 19th, 2009.  Winners will be announced the week of Feb. 9th.  The brief grant application is available. (more…)

Last week Yahoo! announced their 2008 top searches. Number 1 on the list is Britney Spears and number 2 is WWE.  I found out about this list when listening to a couple of podcasts (Net @ Night and Buzz Out Loud). Both of the podcasts were somewhat dismissive of the list, and stated that the top 10 demonstrates that those who use Yahoo! for search are, as one podcaster said, “nudniks.”

However, as I heard these podcasters analyzing the results, I thought something else entirely.  It seems to me that the list demonstrates the power of teen (and probably tween) searchers.  Take a look at the list and think about whether or not you agree.   (more…)

Two articles I read recently have me asking myself over and over again, “Where are the parents?” The first, Compulsive Gamers not Addicts, appeared on the BBC News web site in late November. The article discusses how young people being treated in in Britan for gaming addiction are actually not addicts at all.  The founder of a UK clinic to treat gaming addiction, Keith Bakker is quoted saying, “…the more we work with these kids the less I believe we can call this addiction. What many of these kids need is their parents and their school teachers – this is a social problem.”

That seems to say it all.  Many teens who game hours and hours on end aren’t necessarily doing it because they are addicted. They are constantly gaming because they don’t have anything else to do and don’t have anyone else helping them to figure out what to do with their time. (more…)

What’s your look? Do you, or someone you know, have a professional fashion sense that you think others can learn from? Do you like to find just the right clothing that combines your individual style with a professional appearance? If so, then you could walk the runway at YALSA’s first ever fashion event hosted by Steven Rosengard of Project Runway Season 4!  (more…)