On June 24, 2013, YALSA will celebrate it’s 56th anniversary and we want you to be a part of the festivities!In 1957, when YALSA was founded, it wasn’t the large organization we know today. Originally called the Young Adult Services Division (YASD), there are many things you would recognize in today’s organization. YASD was committed to librarians who served teens in all kinds of libraries and focused on selected booklists and a professional publication (a joint venture with ALSC). For 56 years YALSA has been committeed to serving and connecting young adult librarians, and this year we want to celebrate our organization’s accomplishments.
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If you were like me, you heralded November 7^th as a chance to get away from all the political attacks and posturing. Alas, it seems it cannot be escaped. We may be done with another election cycle but as the media reminds us, we are too close to the “fiscal cliff” for comfort. Several politicians have proposed changes to the tax code in 2013 that would affect charitable donations. With that uncertainty in the future, now is the time to donate to the Friends of YALSA and support a Spectrum Scholar like Hannah Gomez (a YALSA blogger).

I am so excited to be joining YALSA as the 2011-2012 Spectrum Scholar. My best memories are linked to books, writing, or libraries. I grew up in Tucson, Arizona, and attended the University of Arizona, where I studied music, creative writing, and Spanish. My parents and sister are teachers. Education and progressivism are family traditions. With my love of literature and experience working with at-risk youth, becoming a youth services librarian seems like a natural choice. It’s my way of contributing to the field of education and social justice.

I’m a school and book nerd, so I chose Simmons College’s dual degree in children’s literature and library science. Combining literacy services with literature scholarship will satisfy my personal and professional interests. Outside of school, I am working on a novel and a collection of short stories. I adore traveling: I’ve been to nine countries in the past six years. I’m also a classically trained pianist and singer. I hope to be able to draw on all my experiences and interests in library services. I can’t wait to begin!

Help us raise $6,500 by the end of 2012 to help the Friends of YALSA support Spectrum Scholars like Hannah.

Last week, we worked together to raise over $800 for the Friends of YALSA. Through the end of the year we will work to raise $6,500 to support a Spectrum Scholar. Every year, YALSA selects a library student or worker from and underrepresented group who will help shape the future of library services for young adults. This opportunity changes lives as 2010 Spectrum Scholar Hoan-Vu Do explains:

“It was not until I visited a public library in the sixth grade did I know the word for library in Vietnamese, “thu vien.” My local library has been instrumental in helping me as a student through out mu school years. If it weren’t for the library I would not have been where I am today. My local library have inspired me as a student and taught me many skills. I was drawn to librarianship after working as a library clerk for the San Diego Public Library system. I really enjoy serving my diverse community and being around the fusion that is created through its diversity.

I feel that when I start my MLIS program in the fall at San Jose State University I have come full circle. My local library has inspired me when I was a youth now I want to become a youth services and science librarian so I can inspire the next generation of youths in my community. Now more than ever I strongly believe that libraries and librarians are needed to teach and provide a place to explore, create, and produce the next generations of academics. I would like to thank YALSA for selecting me as their 2010 Spectrum Scholar, it is a great honor.”

Help us change the lives of librarians and donate today to the Friends of YALSA and support future generations of Spectrum Scholars.

Thanksgiving is a time to take a moment to reflect on the things that enrich our lives. This year I thought about how lucky I was to have such a wonderful profession with such supportive colleagues. My entire professional life I have been surrounded by coworkers who have pushed me to be the best librarian I can be. They have given me countless opportunities to try something new, to (sometimes) fail, and to learn. I can’t imagine what my life would look like without their support (actually I would probably be working in bookstore somewhere spending half my income on merchandise with my employee discount, which is where I was before I found the library).

Think about all the people that have supported you along the way, to help you become the best librarian you can be. Now is the time to pay it forward. Today is #GivingTuesday, and Friends of YALSA is asking for your help to support future librarians. We are raising $6,500 to support a Spectrum Scholar between now and December 31st.

I am giving to Friends of YALSA because of how much others have given to me. Donate today and help Friends of YALSA support our profession. Take a picture of yourself with why you are giving, tag it #GivingTuesday and post it on our Facebook or tweet us! Happy #GivingTuesday!

-Kate McNair, Financial Advancement Committee Chair

Being a Friend of YALSA means being a friend to your fellow librarians. Since 2005, the Friends of YALSA have funded over $55,000 in grants, stipends and scholarships. Most recently, the Friends of YALSA awarded stipends to Megan England from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Meg Anastasi from the Sprinfield City Library in Massachusetts to attend the YA Literature Symposium in St. Louis November 2-4, 2012. By donating to the Friends of YALSA you are helping to give your colleagues the experiences, the training, and the support they need to serve teens.

In August, we are raising $2,000 to support our fellow librarians and YALSA members. So far this month we have raised $600 for Friends of YALSA, $50 for Books for Teens and $25 for the leadership endowment. That means we have just $1,325 to go! If we reach our goal by the end of the month, we have a generous donor who will contribute another $1,000. Help your fellow librarians and donate today!

Kate McNair, Financial Advancement Committee Chair

Sherman Alexie recently appeared on The Colbert Report to talk about his new book War Dances and winning the National Book Award and somehow they got onto the topic of digital content.

Alexie commented that he does not want his books available digitally, citing the pirating problems the music industry encountered when they went digital and the fear that your reading habits could be spied on by others.  Alexie lamented the loss of artistic ownership and personal connection in the digital world.  He talked of a better time when he would visit a town on book tour and spend all day on radio shows, tv shows, in bookstores and libraries connecting personally and physically with his readers.  Now he catches the afternoon matinee while he waits for his one scheduled event.

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Just years ago the Library 2.0 concept rocketed to fame, with libraries across the country adopting user-center practices, policies and content. Library 2.0 encourages libraries to constantly update their services and content to best serve their users. The need to keep services, convenient and user-centered is especially important in teen services where our users are constantly changing themselves. This asks teen librarians to constantly rethink their collection and services, not an easy task.

If you are ready to leap ahead with the next incarnation of library services to teens join us for Libraries 3.0: Teen Edition Institute in Boston. Registration for the institute opens today, October 1st. Participants will hear a speech from teen author and technology blogger Cory Doctorow (via Skype), as well as a thought provoking keynote speech by acting California State Librarian and futurist, Stacey Aldrich. Join in the discussion with librarians Laura Pearle, Wendy Stephens, and Buffy Hamilton as they present “Flip This Library” and rethink your library’s space and services for teens. (more…)