We’re about three weeks away from ALA Annual in Chicago. Aside from the book cart drill teams and the vain hope that someday swag bags won’t be neon orange, for many of us that means getting ready for some fantastic YALSA programming.

By now, those of you attending have probably started using the event planner or penciling sessions into your calendar, and if you’re like me, you’re starting to have a tough time choosing between all the great events YALSA and other divisions have to offer. Or you’re realizing that the morning you fly home is also the morning of a great panel. Or you can’t make it to Chicago, but you’re really hoping the YALSA blog can help keep you up to speed.

Have no fear–liveblogging is here!

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The YALSA Board is comprised of dedicated, thoughtful, lively member leaders who come together to discuss the direction of our association.  Recently, Board member Sandra Payne resigned from the Board due to personal reasons.  We thank Sandra for her service and will miss her.  According to the YALSA Bylaws,   “Vacancies other than those provided for in these Bylaws shall be filled by the Board of Directors by appointment until the next annual election, at which time two candidates shall be nominated to fill each unexpired term.” (Article XIII, Section 15) The Board of Directors has appointed Jerene Battisti to fill this position.  Jerene will begin serving immediately and through the next Annual conference.

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Voting for the YALSA 2009 Teens’ Top Ten begins on August 25th.  There are 25 titles up for this award– the only book choice award that is chosen solely by teens.

Summer is the perfect time to promote this program.  Teens are out of school and are looking for great books to read.  You know the names of the books, but how can you promote the titles to your teen patrons?

As always, YALSA has what you need!  Now you can download and print bookmarks from the YALSA website.  (more…)

Looking for a way to participate in YALSA? Why not join the Partnership Advocating for Teens (PAT) Interest Group? The mission statement of the proposed group is:

To explore, recommend, highlight, and support partnerships between libraries, schools, and other organizations that serve young adults.

Currently PAT is a YALSA committee, but over the next year, we will be transitioning into an Interest Group. As a committee, PAT has regularly sponsored programs at conferences and has published articles. As an Interest Group we will be able to continue to do the same types of activities. Currently Pat is sponsoring the program “It Takes Two: School and Public Libraries, Partnerships that Work” at Annual on Sunday, July 12 from 3:30 – 5:30. We will also have an upcoming article in the Fall issue of YALS.

If you would like to get in on the ground floor of this Interest Group, now is the time to sign up. Just send the following information: name, ALA member number, institution, email, address, and phone number to acreger@chipublib.org. All we need are 15 current YALSA members to sign our petition in order for us to take our proposal to the YALSA Board.

This is an exciting time for our committee and we hope you will join us on our journey. If you have any questions at all about the Partnerships Advocating to Teens (PAT) Interest Group, please feel free to contact acreger@chipublib.org.

In 2009, only months after the Pittsburgh Steelers won an NFL record sixth Super Bowl, the Penguins won the NHL Stanley Cup with players who–not too long ago–were teens themselves. The win came alongside news that The Economist ranked Pittsburgh America’s most livable city and that President Barack Obama hand-selected Pittsburgh to host the September G20 summit. Pittsburgh’s also been fortunate enough to be seen as a national example for recovery from media outlets like The New York Times and Newsweek.

Indeed, it’s been a banner year for the Steel City. But what does it mean for your library’s teen services? (more…)

On June 9 YALSA hosted an online chat about the economy and its impact on libraries, teen services, and you. The chat was a great experience—I really enjoyed hearing so many different voices chime in, and the opportunity to answer questions in real time. This was definitely the sort of thing that I believe is “engaging the YALSA community”! It seemed clear that more online chats were in YALSA’s future and so I’d like to announce our next one:

On Wednesday, July 1, 8-9pm EST YALSA will host an online chat in ALA Connect. The topic for this chat will be Summer Reading Programs for teens. (more…)

On March 16 – exactly three months ago – I posted on the blog that I’d sent the YALSA Office names of members to appoint to process committees. Now, three months later, I am happy to report that the process of appointing members to process committees is complete. It was a longer road than I anticipated and I appreciate the patience of members (and the hard-work of YALSA’s Program Coordinator for Membership, Letitia Smith) as appointments were accepted (and declined). (more…)

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith

Sherri L. Smith’s Flygirl recounts the story of Ida, a light-skinned girl of African descent with an intense love and passion for flying. Although she lives during World War II, in a world where whites are dominant and males hold all real power, Ida is a clever, witty and compassionate character who passes for white to chase after her dreams of becoming a pilot for the military – the Women Airforce Service Pilots. (more…)

The AASL/ALSC/YALSA Interdivisional Committee on School/Public Library Cooperation is updating its clearinghouse of information about school/public library cooperative activities. The list of programs submitted in 2004 is located on the ALSC web site.

Also via the ALSC web site you can submit your successful school/public library partnerships. Your partnership story will be added to the clearinghouse and possibly shared at upcoming ALA conferences. Currently, the AASL/ALSC/YALSA Interdivisional Committee on School/Public Library Cooperation is planning for the AASL Conference in November 2009 and the 2010 ALA Annual Conference.

Thanks in advance!
Teresa Walls

on behalf of the entire committee: Connie Champlin (Chair), Sabrina Carnesi, Karen L. Egger, Ellen Jepson, Elisa McClain, Erika Thickman Miller, Cindy Pfeiffer and Tanya Tullos

By now, I’m sure you know that YALSA is seeking to provide more and different ways for members to participate in the division.  One of the ways this is happening is the transition of small committees to formats that allow for broader participation (with no conference attendance requirements!).

YALSA’s Outreach to Young Adults with Special Needs Committee is being restructured as an Interest Group so that any YALSA member interested in library services to young adults who do not or cannot use the library because of socioeconomic, legal, educational, or physical factors may participate. (more…)