I’ve been avidly following the 30 Days of Innovation series, and throughout the discussion I’ve been thinking about how keeping YALSA as an organization on the cutting edge is a continual process. I was reminded of the conversations the Board of Directors had when developing the Strategic Plan. With limited time, staff, and funds, the Board recognizes the challenge of developing innovation, and in response, created the Capacity Building goal in the plan. The key question is how can YALSA increase capacity so as to devote energy to innovation and the development of ideas that support members and the mission?
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One of YALSA’s greatest strengths is the talent and expertise of its members, and here’s a chance for YOU to be a spark that helps YALSA complete its goals. YALSA’s Strategic Planning Committee is pleased to announce the 2012 Great Ideas Contest in conjunction with the new Strategic Plan.

The contest is now open to all YALSA members with applications due no later than March 16, 2011. The winner will receive $250 and will be announced the week of April 23, 2011. The winning idea will address at least one of the Strategic Plan goals:

• Advocacy & Activism
• Research & Documentation of Best Practice
• Continuous Learning & Professional Development
• Member Recruitment & Engagement
• Capacity Building & Organizational Development

During the month of February, look for a blog post by a member of the Strategic Planning Committee highlighting each goal, and see http://www.ala.org/yalsa/awardsandgrants/greatideas for the contest application and guidelines.  We’re looking forward to hearing about your latest inspiration!

The process for developing YALSA’s new strategic plan is approaching the finish line, and now is the time to make sure your priorities as a member are reflected.  Until September 30, the draft is posted on the YALSA website along with an online comment form.  The Strategic Planning Committee and YALSA Board are eager to hear your take.  As you look it over, focus on the content and ask yourself:  Are the goal areas and objectives clear and  understandable?  Do they reflect YALSA’s mission? Is there anything missing?  Of course keep in mind that the action plan is yet to be developed and will go into more detail with very specific activities that fit under each goal area and objective.

The strategic plan is an overview of where YALSA is heading in the next few years.  Don’t forget to take this opportunity to share your opinion!

YALSA’s new strategic plan is on its way to taking shape after two very important sessions that took place during Annual Conference.  On Friday, facilitator Alan Brickman led a YALSA Board workshop during which he guided conversations around the current mission statement asking how it should be updated. Then the group examined the current strategic plan, evaluating how YALSA has progressed towards accomplishing each goal in the time since the plan was developed. Board members prioritized the objectives and determined the lessons learned based on a pre-conference conversation about the member survey results and the perception of what goals and objectives should be YALSA’s focus for the next three to five years. (more…)

Attending Annual?  Whether you are a new member or a veteran of YALSA, you won’t want to miss an important opportunity to have your voice be heard.

Every member is encouraged to attend the Strategic Planning Session taking the place of the All Committee meeting, Saturday, June 25, 10:00-12:00 in room 352 of the convention center. (Light refreshments will be available at 10:00.)

All committees, interest and discussion groups, Board actions, initiatives, resources–really everything that makes up YALSA–must fit under the umbrella of the Strategic Plan.  The current plan was established in 2008, and a new plan should be in place by Midwinter 2012.  The Board is seeking your input in order to ensure that the new plan is relevant, meets your needs as a member, and addresses your priorities and concerns in the profession.

The March survey provided some information, but more is needed.  Grab a friend or two and plan on attending this facilitated session.  Here’s your chance to make a valuable contribution with a lasting impact.

Thank you to everyone who completed the Strategic Plan survey in March.  The complete results can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/6frdks5.

During Annual Conference, a special Strategic Planning Session will be held Saturday, June 25 from 10:00-12:00 in the convention center, room 352. All members are encouraged to attend and participate by discussing the issues and trends in the field important to them.

Because the plan drives all YALSA activities and initiatives for the next 3-5 years, it’s vital that members share their opinions on what direction the new plan should take.   You won’t want to miss this opportunity to be involved in the future of YALSA! (Check the wiki for more details about this and other YALSA events at Annual.)

NOW IS THE TIME!

 Whether you are currently a member of YALSA, a past member, or just hovering on the edges of membership, you have one more day to participate in this brief (but important!) survey. The deadline is tomorrow, March 31.

 YALSA will be developing a new Strategic Plan. This is a dynamic plan that is fueled by input from the greater YALSA community. For example, since the implementation of the 2008 Strategic Plan, YALSA has responded to the need to increase member participation by creating more opportunities for virtual participation. There is now a YALSA Mentoring program that pairs new teen librarians with experienced librarian mentors, and YALSA provides many opportunities to get involved, share ideas and network with other professionals.

So what will it be next? What can YALSA do to help you better serve the teens in your library? Take15 minutes now to complete the survey and contribute to the future of YALSA.

See the words “Strategic Plan” and your first reaction might be to let your eyes glaze over, but truthfully, YALSA couldn’t be the dynamic association it is without this driving document. The current Strategic Plan was established in 2008 and it’s time to embark on the revision process.

The first step is to gather input from members and those interested in teens and libraries. Take a few minutes to participate in the survey and share your vision of the future of YALSA. (We want to hear from nonmembers too.) Your priorities, interests, and concerns must be reflected in the new plan, to be in place by Midwinter 2012.  Why is this so important?  Because every activity, initiative, resource, and service that YALSA develops is determined by the goals and objectives of the Plan.  Look at just a few things that the current goals of Advocacy and Marketing have generated in the past year: 

• The successful “Give $10 in 10″ campaign that supported costs related to advocacy including sending winning YALSA applicants to Library Advocacy Day (It’s not too late to become a Friend of YALSA.)
• An update for the Competencies for Libraries Serving Youth document
• The Best of the Best brand for literary recognition along with free promotional materials to use in your library
• The fresh new literature blog The Hub

 Doing your part in determining the direction YALSA takes over the next few years is crucial. The survey period ends March 31, but why not take a few moments now and let your voice be heard? http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/yalsasp11

January 7 is fast approaching and YALSA’s Not-So-Silent Auction will get your Midwinter experience off to an exciting start. Taking place on Friday from 8 – 10 pm in Convention Center room 7, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to bid on one-of-a-kind items such as a signed copy of science fiction author Cory Doctorow’s latest collection of stories, With a Little Help.  What’s so unique about this book is that it is only one of 250 that are being printed in hardcover.  Each copy has an embossed number on the spine and is hand bound at Wyvern Bindery in London.  In addition, the end papers are actually “original paper ephemera donated by various writer friends.” Read blogger Hal Stern’s reverential description of opening his copy—and wonder about the surprise in yours. (more…)

Friday night, January 7, 2011 at the Midwinter meeting in San Diego, YALSA’s Not So Silent Auction is the place to be. Along with great gift baskets and other goodies, a variety of Skype visits will be up for bid.

David Patneaude has published ten books, his most recent being Epitaph Road, a post-apocalyptic thriller published this past March. David, who has been making “real” visits to schools for years, is donating a virtual school visit via Skype.  He’s willing to consider almost any topic or format for the visit, so it will be up to the winning bidder (and David) to work out the specifics of the event prior to the date it happens.  You’ll choose, but here are some possibilities:  discussion and/or questions and answers about a specific title, his writing process, his writing life, research, future projects, or a less focused dialogue covering a range of subjects.

Tennessee school and public librarians should take note.  David’s 2007 novel, A Piece of the Sky, is part of the 2010-2011 Tennessee Volunteer State Reading List.  What a wonderful experience for students to interact with the author of a featured book during the year.

For more details on what’s up for bid at the auction, see the YALSA wiki at: tinyurl.com/26eccw3