Have you heard about the YALSA survey? We are on the final homestretch; it ends September 30th, so you’ve got a few more days to make your opinion known.

YALSA is ALA’s fastest growing division, and wants to hear more about your experiences. YALSA uses your responses to make sure we continue to be an enthusiastic and productive group. Previous surveys have led to big changes; we have mentioned some of them before. Other benefits from past surveys include:

• Expanding our portfolio of CEU offerings by adding monthly webinars and launching the YALSA
  Academy
• Encouraging and supporting research in Young Adult Librarianship by launching JRLYA.
• Those monthly Tweet-ups? You asked for more social media communication, so YALSA added social media as an option for member engagement and communication, while maintaining existing methods for those who wanted/needed them to remain.
• The Hub came out of your feedback!
• YALSA increased advocacy efforts by creating District Days and writing Issue Briefs
• Created guidelines for Teen Spaces, updating competencies, and creating a teen program evaluation tool 

These changes have been so important — but there are more to make and we can only do it with your help! It doesn’t matter if you are a current member, a former member, or a non-member. If you care about teens and libraries, your voice is important. The survey should only take about fifteen minutes. And, as an incentive to complete the survey, YALSA is offering one lucky winner, who submits their email address at the end of the survey, the opportunity to win a free group registration (Valued at $195) for an upcoming educational webinar.

Current members: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YALSAmbr
Former members: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LapsedMbr
Non-members: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NMbr

Please take some time to speak up. Be a part of positive change. Your voice is crucial!

It’s a familiar saying…but true.

YALSA is soliciting feedback about your experience so that YALSA can tailor resources and services to meet your needs.

Who are we asking? Nearly everyone: members! Non-members! Lapsed members! We want to learn from you: how should YALSA grow as an organization? How can we help you help teens? YALSA is listening; we want to hear your thoughts.

Any member who completes the survey and who chooses to provide their email address will have a chance to win a free group registration ($195) value in an upcoming webinar.

• Current members: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YALSAmbr
• Former members: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LapsedMbr
• Non-members: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NMbr

The survey is open through September 30th. We can’t wait to hear what you have to say!

Are you going to Annual next week? If you’re a new member to YALSA, the amount of programming and opportunities within the organization can seem overwhelming. Or maybe you’ve been a YALSA member for years, but want to get more involved! Either way, a great way to learn more about YALSA and how to get involved is to attend the YALSA 101 session on Friday, June 24th in New Orleans!

YALSA 101 is a mixer style event where seasoned YALSA members will be seated at tables available to talk about various YALSA events and initiatives. Conference attendees can wander and visit the tables they are most interested in learning more about! This is a great chance to address specific questions, issues and to provide a networking/mentoring opportunity for all involved.

YALSA 101 will take place Friday the 24th from 3 to 4p.m., just before the Opening General Session. All members are encouraged to attend and to contribute!

At last, things are starting to settle down! As a school librarian the first month of school is the most chaotic and tiring of the whole year, well except maybe the last month. Getting the library set up – new books unpacked and shelved, posters hung, letters to parents and staff; the list goes on and on. The beginning of the year is always overwhelming; no matter how long you have been a librarian. For most of the country that beginning rush is starting to wane. For many of us, we rarely have time to collaborate with teachers, let alone other librarians.
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Are you new to the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)? How can this ALA division help you?

Get the answers to these questions at YALSA 101, a mixer-style orientation where new members and those considering membership will get an overview of the division and its activities, and can learn more about the benefits of joining YALSA!

YALSA 101 will be held on Friday, June 25th, from 4-5 p.m. in Embassy Suites Convention Center, Capital D.

Guest speakers include:

• Linda Braun (YALSA President)
• Carrie Kausch (Local Arrangements Committee Chair)
• Eve Gaus (Webinar Instructor)
• Kristin Brand Heathcock (YA Literature Symposium Committee)
• Kelly Czarnecki (Teen Tech Week Chair)
• Sandra Hughes Hassell (YALSA Research Journal Advisory Board Member)
• mk Eagle (YALSA Blog Manager)

and more!

New and established members are welcome to attend this great networking opportunity!

Are you new to YALSA?  Wondering what the Young Adult Library Services division of ALA is? Are you thinking, how can this organization help me?  Then YALSA 101 is for you! 

Learn more about YALSA in this mixer-style orientation, where you can get an overview of the organization and its activities. New members and those considering membership will learn more about the benefits of joining YALSA. Established members are also encouraged to attend, YALSA 101 is a great networking opportunity!

Stay tuned for information regarding “presenters” at this great event!

Heading to our nation’s capitol this summer? Whether you’re a brand new or seasoned YALSA member, we need your help manning our action-packed booth in the exhibit hall! (more…)

The Division & Membership Promotion Committee will host YALSA 201 at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Boston on Friday, January 15th from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in Boston Convention Center Room 160A.

This program is designed for YALSA members who are interested in leadership positions such as committee chair or board member.  Guest speakers will discuss these roles in YALSA, and there will be a Q&A session.

The YALSA Happy Hour will begin right after this program at 5:00 p.m. in the Boston Convention Center Grand Ballroom Foyer.

Confirmed speakers for YALSA 201:

• Candice Mack – Chair, Division & Membership Promotion Committee
• Angie Manfredi – Road Trip Coordinator
• Francisca Goldsmith – Course Instructor
• (virtual) Lesley Farmer – YALSA Member/IFLA Representative
• Sarah Flowers – Editor, YALS
• Pam Spencer Holley – YALSA author
• mk Eagle – Blog Manager
• Dora Ho – Convenor, Anime Discussion Group
• Angela Carstensen – Award/Selection Chair
• Kelly Czarnecki – Chair, Teen Tech Week Committee
• Ritchie Momon/Pam Spencer Holley – Task Force on Committees Chair
• Nick Buron – Board Member
• John Sexton – Chair, Nominating Committee 2011
• Audra Caplan – ALA Councillor/YALSA member

To follow up their YALSA 101 program at ALA Annual, the Division & Membership Promotion Committee will host YALSA 201 at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Boston.

This program is designed for YALSA members who are interested in leadership positions such as committee chair or board member.  Guest speakers will discuss these roles in YALSA, and there will be a Q&A session.

The program will be held Friday, January 15, 2010 from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in the Boston Convention Center Room 160A. This is before Midwinter officially begins, so full registration is not required to attend this event.

The YALSA Happy Hour will begin right after this program at 5:00 p.m. in the Boston Convention Center Grand Ballroom Foyer.

Confirmed speakers for YALSA 201:

• Nick Buron – Board Member
• John Sexton – Chair, Nominating Committee 2011
• Sarah Flowers – Editor, YALS
• Pam Spencer Holley – YALSA author
• mk Eagle – Blog Manager
• Francisca Goldsmith – Course Instructor
• Angela Carstensen – Award/Selection Chair
• Dora Ho – Interest Group Convenor
• Angie Manfredi – Road Trip Coordinator

Banned books.  Are there two scarier words in our profession?  Every September librarians celebrate the freedom to read and spread the word about “banned books.”  This year, let YALSA help you support your teens and their freedom to read. 

The 2008 most frequently challenged author’s list reads like a who’s who of YA authors – six of the eleven authors listed are YA (Chris Crutcher, Lauren Myracle, and Phillip Pullman to name a few).  What is it about YA literature that scares people, especially parents?  As librarians, how can we continue to educate ourselves; and in turn our patrons and their parents about teens’ freedom to read?  (more…)