Register for YALSA’s pre-Midwinter events Registration is now open for YALSA’s pre-Midwinter events! Sign up for the Midwinter Institute, “Libraries 3.0: Teen Edition” (featuring Cory Doctorow and others) and Midwinter Social Event, ”Games, Gadgets & Gurus.” Register for both and save! Register through Midwinter registration or, if you only want to attend these two events, by downloading this form (PDF; skip section I) and following the directions at the YALSA wiki. Want to add these events to an existing registration? You can add events two ways: (1) By phone: Call ALA Registration at 1-800-974-3084 and ask to add a workshop to your existing registration.; (2) Online: Add an event to your existing registration by clicking on this link. Use your log in and password to access your existing Midwinter registration and add events in the “Your Events” section (screen 6). Then simply check out and pay for the events you’ve added. You can see all of YALSA’s plans for Midwinter at the YALSA Midwinter Wiki, http://bit.ly/yalsamw2010.

Apply for $40K in awards & grants from YALSA YALSA members can apply for more than $40,000 in grants and awards! This year, we will award up the YALSA/Baker & Taylor Conference Grants, theYALSA/BWI Collection Development Grants, the YALSA/Greenwood Publishing Group Service to Young Adults Award, the MAE Award for Best Literature Program for Teens, the Frances Henne/YALSA/VOYA Research Grant, and the Great Books Giveaway. Applications for all YALSA member awards are due by Dec. 1. Details on all the awards and grants are available online at www.ala.org/yalsa/awards&grants.

After the jump, apply to manage YALSA’s new blog,  apply for YA Lit Symposium Stipend, and register for Teen Tech Week!

YALSA’s Lit Blog Manager Search Extended! Interested in editing YALSA’s new blog, focused exclusively on teen literature? We’re extending the application period until Nov. 30! Find out what we’re looking for and how to apply here.

Apply for a YA Lit Symposium travel stipend! Join YALSA in 2010 for the Young Adult Literature Symposium, Nov. 5-7, 2010, in Albuquerque, N.M, with a theme  of “Beyond Good Intentions: Teens, Literature and Diversity.” We’re also giving away two stipends to offset travel costs, one for someone whose worked directly with teens in a library setting for ten years or less and one for a student in an ALA-accredited MLS program (you must be enrolled in an MLS program at the start of the symposium); stipend applications are due by Jan. 4, 2010. Details on both are available at www.ala.org/yalitsymposium.

Teen Tech Week registration open! Register now for Teen Tech Week 2010! This year’s theme is Learn Create Share @ your library. Registration gives you access to this year’s theme logo. Teen Tech Week will be March 7-13. Visit the Teen Tech Week website for activity ideas, planning and publicity resources, and more!

That’s it for this week’s update! To stay up to date on the latest from the YALSA Office, sign up to follow YALSA on Twitter or become a fan of YALSA on Facebook!

Congratulations! YALSA named its two 2010 Emerging Leaders! Anna Koval, teacher-librarian at Casa Grande High School in Petaluma, California, and Amy Barr, youth services librarian and assistant director at Kilgore Memorial Library in York, Nebraska. Both will attend the 2010 Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference. The Emerging Leaders are funded through the Friends of YALSA.

E-Chat Next Week! Mark your calendars! YALSA’s monthly online chats return next week in ALA Connect. On Nov. 4, we’ll be discussing inexpensive programming and ways to stretch your programming dollars with Jenine Lillian, editor of the new YALSA book, Cool Teen Programs for under $100. To join us, visit YALSA’s area in ALA Connect. YALSA members should use their login for the ALA website. If you’ve lost your password, you can recover it through the ALA website. Once logged in, head to the YALSA area (it’s http://connect.ala.org/yalsa or you can navigate there within Connect by choosing “YALSA” from under “My ALA Groups”) and then click “Chats.”

Lit Blog Applications and CE Proposals Due 10/30! Interested in editing YALSA’s new blog, focused exclusively on teen literature? Read the announcement to see the qualifications and find out how to apply. The deadline to propose new continuing education (online courses and face-to-face institutes) is tomorrow as well; see our announcement for topic ideas and the proposal form. Applications for the new blog manager and the CE proposals are both due to Beth Yoke at byoke@ala.org tomorrow.

After the jump, find out how you can sign up for special events at ALA’s Midwinter Meeting, apply for $40K in grants and awards, promote the Teens’ Top Ten at your library, or receive a stipend to attend the 2010 Young Adult Literature Symposium.

Register for YALSA’s pre-Midwinter events Registration is now open for YALSA’s pre-Midwinter events! Sign up for the Midwinter Institute, “Libraries 3.0: Teen Edition” (featuring Cory Doctorow and others) and Midwinter Social Event, ”Games, Gadgets & Gurus.” Register for both and save! Register through Midwinter registration or, if you only want to attend these two events, by downloading this form (PDF; skip section I) and following the directions at the YALSA wiki. Want to add these events to an existing registration? You can add events two ways: (1) By phone: Call ALA Registration at 1-800-974-3084 and ask to add a workshop to your existing registration.; (2) Online: Add an event to your existing registration by clicking on this link. Use your log in and password to access your existing Midwinter registration and add events in the “Your Events” section (screen 6). Then simply check out and pay for the events you’ve added. You can see all of YALSA’s plans for Midwinter at the YALSA Midwinter Wiki, http://bit.ly/yalsamw2010.

Apply for $40K in awards & grants from YALSA YALSA members can apply for more than $40,000 in grants and awards! This year, we will award up the YALSA/Baker & Taylor Conference Grants, theYALSA/BWI Collection Development Grants, the YALSA/Greenwood Publishing Group Service to Young Adults Award, the MAE Award for Best Literature Program for Teens, the Frances Henne/YALSA/VOYA Research Grant, and the Great Books Giveaway. Applications for all YALSA member awards are due by Dec. 1. Details on all the awards and grants are available online at www.ala.org/yalsa/awards&grants.

Promote the Teens’ Top Ten with bookmarks! By now, you’ve read that teens cast more than 11,000 votes for the 2009 Teens’ Top Ten and seen that John Green’s Paper Towns topped the list. YALSA created bookmarks (PDF) to promote this year’s ten winning titles; you can customize and distribute them at your library.

Apply for a YA Lit Symposium travel stipend! Join YALSA in 2010 for the Young Adult Literature Symposium, Nov. 5-7, 2010, in Albuquerque, N.M, with a theme  of “Beyond Good Intentions: Teens, Literature and Diversity.” We’re also giving away two stipends to offset travel costs, one for someone whose worked directly with teens in a library setting for ten years or less and one for a student in an ALA-accredited MLS program (you must be enrolled in an MLS program at the start of the symposium); stipend applications are due by Jan. 4, 2010. Details on both are available at www.ala.org/yalitsymposium.

That’s it for this week’s update! To stay up to date on the latest from the YALSA Office, sign up to follow YALSA on Twitter or become a fan of YALSA on Facebook!

Online Course Registration! You have just one week left to register for YALSA’s fall session of online courses! YALSA’s online courses include AIMing at Tweens: Advising, Involving, and Motivating, taught by Teri Lesesne; Graphic Novels and Teen Readers: The Basics and Beyond, taught by Francisca Goldsmith; and Reaching Teens with Gaming, taught by Beth Gallaway. Courses start at $135 for YALSA members. Courses begin Oct. 5. Details and registration can be found at www.ala.org/yalsa/onlinecourses.

Symposium Proposals Due Next Week! Want to present at YALSA’s 2010 Young Adult Literature Symposium? Proposals for a preconference, 90-minute program sessions, and paper presentations must be turned into YALSA by Oct. 1. Application forms can be found online at www.ala.org/yalitsymposium. Contact Nichole Gilbert at ngilbert@ala.org with any questions.

Last Chance for Bundled Registration! Planning to attend both Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference in 2010? Be sure to sign up for ALA’s bundled registration, which ends Sept. 30. Bundled registration saves members 20% over advanced registration fees for each individual event. Starting Oct. 1, you can add registration for YALSA’s Midwinter Institute, “Libraries 3.0: Teen Edition” and YALSA’s Midwinter Social Event, “Games, Gadgets & Gurus.”

Edit YALSA’s Research Journal! Applications to edit YALSA’s upcoming quarterly online research journal are due by Sept. 30. Take a look at the duties and qualifications; applications must be sent to me at skuenn@ala.org by Sept. 30.

That’s it for this week’s update! To stay up to date on the latest from the YALSA Office, sign up to follow YALSA on Twitter or become a fan of YALSA on Facebook!

Teen Read Week Registration Winding Down Teen Read Week registration ends next week! If you haven’t already, sign up today and take a stand for the importance of teen reading. After you register, check out the Teen Read Week website for activity ideas and publicity tools (including PSAs featuring Nancy Cartwright) to get attention for your celebration. TRW registration ends Sept. 18.

Make Sure Your Teens Voice Their Choice Teens’ Top Ten voting is in the final stretch, too! Teens can vote online at www.ala.org/teenstopten for their favorite books from the last year through Sept. 18. Then, tune in during Teen Read Week for a webcast announcing the winners, featuring Superstars and Divas from World Wrestling Entertainment.

Tech Poster Proposals Now Open YALSA will sponsor a poster session at ALA Annual Conference 2010 on Teen Tech Week! Show off your work in DC this summer. Proposals accepted through Oct. 16. Read our Tech Poster Session page for details.

After the jump, learn more about YALSA’s latest book, how to get your program or poster into the 2010 YA Lit Symposium, and how you can win an online course from YALSA!

YALSA’s YA Lit Symposium Needs You Think about joining YALSA in 2010 for the Young Adult Literature Symposium, Nov. 5-7, 2010, in Albuquerque, N.M, with a theme  of “Beyond Good Intentions: Teens, Literature and Diversity.” Proposals for programs, papers, and the preconference will be accepted at the symposium website through Oct. 1. We’re also giving away two stipends to offset travel costs, one for someone whose worked directly with teens in a library setting for ten years or less and one for a student in an ALA-accredited MLS program (you must be enrolled in an MLS program at the start of the symposium); stipend applications are due by Jan. 4, 2010. Details on both are available at www.ala.org/yalitsymposium.

Preorder Cool Teen Programs for under $100 YALSA’s newest book, Cool Teen Programs for under $100, edited by Jenine Lillian for YALSA (YALSA, 2009), is now available for preorders! Books will ship in late September. This essential guide offers creative, fun programming ideas at prices that won’t break your budget (plus it has helpful chapters on budgeting and marketing for teen librarians).

Talk to Us YALSA is currently surveying members on topics for future professional development offerings – tell us what you’d like to see addressed in our online courses, monthly chats, face-to-face institutes, and more. The survey will take less than ten minutes and you’ll be entered to win a free online course from YALSA, just for completing it.

That’s it for this week’s update! To stay up to date on the latest from the YALSA Office, sign up to follow YALSA on Twitter or become a fan of YALSA on Facebook!

YALSA’s Online Courses Cooler temperatures, falling leaves … why not complete the picture by signing up for one of YALSA’s Online Courses this fall? YALSA is offering three courses  (including two brand-new ones!): AIMing at Tweens: Advising, Involving, Motivating (taught by Teri Lesesne); Graphic Novels and Teen Readers: The Basics and Beyond (taught by Francisca Goldsmith) and Reaching Teens with Gaming (taught by Beth Gallaway). Read descriptions and register at YALSA’s Online Courses page.

Bundled Registration Open If you’re planning to attend both ALA conferences this year (Midwinter Meeting in Boston, Jan. 15-19 and Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., June 24-29) , take advantage of bundled registration and save 20% off of advanced registration for each conference separately. You’ll be able to register for hotels now, too. Starting Oct. 1, you can add registration for YALSA’s Midwinter Institute, “Libraries 3.0: Teen Edition” and YALSA’s Midwinter Social Event, “Games, Gadgets & Gurus.”

After the jump, learn how you can propose a program or paper for the 2010 YA Lit Symposium, see how you can preorder YALSA’s newest book, tell YALSA your opinion on future continuing education topics, and find out deadlines for the Teens’ Top Ten and Teen Read Week.

YALSA’s YA Lit Symposium Needs You Think about joining YALSA in 2010 for the Young Adult Literature Symposium, Nov. 5-7, 2010, in Albuquerque, N.M, with a theme  of “Beyond Good Intentions: Teens, Literature and Diversity.” Proposals for programs, papers, and the preconference will be accepted at the symposium website through Oct. 1. We’re also giving away two stipends to offset travel costs, one for someone whose worked directly with teens in a library setting for ten years or less and one for a student in an ALA-accredited MLS program (you must be enrolled in an MLS program at the start of the symposium); stipend applications are due by Jan. 4, 2010. Details on both are available at www.ala.org/yalitsymposium.

Preorder Cool Teen Programs for under $100 YALSA’s newest book, Cool Teen Programs for under $100, edited by Jenine Lillian for YALSA (YALSA, 2009), is now available for preorders! Books will ship in late September. This essential guide offers creative, fun programming ideas at prices that won’t break your budget (plus it has helpful chapters on budgeting and marketing for teen librarians).

Talk to Us YALSA is currently surveying members on topics for future professional development offerings – tell us what you’d like to see addressed in our online courses, monthly chats, face-to-face institutes, and more. The survey will take less than ten minutes and you’ll be entered to win a free online course from YALSA, just for completing it.

Two Weeks That’s how long you have until two big YALSA deadlines: registration for Teen Read Week ends Sept. 18, as does voting for the Teens’ Top Ten. Make sure you’ve registered for Teen Read Week and then encourage your teens to vote for this year’s Teens’ Top Ten. We’ll be announcing the winners during Teen Read Week in a video featuring WWE Superstars and Divas (and maybe a couple authors, too).

That’s it for this week’s update! To stay up to date on the latest from the YALSA Office, sign up to follow YALSA on Twitter or become a fan of YALSA on Facebook!

Teens’ Top Ten Voting Begins Monday! The Teens’ Top Ten opens for voting on Monday! Teens can vote for their favorite books from the past year at the Teens’ Top Ten website through Sept. 18. We’re giving teens four weeks to vote this year, to make sure that every teen’s vote counts. Winners will be announced in a webcast featuring World Wrestling Entertainment Superstars and Divas (plus a few special guests!) during Teen Read Week, Oct. 18-24.

Canada: The New Frontier for the WrestleMania Reading Challenge For the first time, YALSA and World Wrestling Entertainment will open registration for the WrestleMania Reading Challenge to Canadian residents, excluding Quebec. Registration at this time is open only to residents of Canada (excluding Quebec). Canadian librarians can sign up using an online form through Aug. 31.

Go Back to School with YALSA Relive your school days and sign up for YALSA’s top-notch professional development! We’re offering three classes for the fall session (including two brand-new courses). Join us for AIMing at Tweens: Advising, Involving, Motivating (taught by Teri Lesesne); Graphic Novels and Teen Readers: The Basics and Beyond (taught by Francisca Goldsmith) and Reaching Teens with Gaming (taught by Beth Gallaway). Read descriptions and register at YALSA’s Online Courses page. Registration ends Oct. 2.

After the jump, find out about how to propose a session or win a travel stipend for the YA Lit Symposium in 2010, encourage your patrons to nominate you for the 2009 I Love My Librarian Award, sign up for Teen Read Week, and more.

YALSA’s YA Lit Symposium Needs You Think about joining YALSA in 2010 for the Young Adult Literature Symposium, Nov. 5-7, 2010, in Albuquerque, N.M, with a theme  of “Beyond Good Intentions: Teens, Literature and Diversity.” Proposals for programs, papers, and the preconference will be accepted at the symposium website through Oct. 1. We’re also giving away two stipends to offset travel costs, one for someone whose worked directly with teens in a library setting for ten years or less and one for a student in an ALA-accredited MLS program (you must be enrolled in an MLS program at the start of the symposium); stipend applications are due by Jan. 4, 2010. Details on both are available at www.ala.org/yalitsymposium.

Congrats to Cristina Mitra! Cristina Mitra is YALSA’s 2009-2010 Spectrum scholar. Mitra will use the funds to earn an MLS at the  San Jose State University School of Library and Information Science. YALSA was able to sponsor a Spectrum scholar this year through donations to the Friends of YALSA.

I Love My Librarian Nominations Now Open Nominations are now open for the 2009 Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award. The award invites library users to recognize the accomplishments of librarians in public, school, college, community college and university libraries for their efforts to improve the lives of people in their community. Nominations will run through October 9 and are being accepted online at www.ilovelibraries.org/ilovemylibrarian. You can also find information on the 2008 winners and download publicity tools at the I Love My Librarian website.

Teen Read Week Registration: Don’t Forget Teen Read Week is coming up fast! Make sure you’re registered so you can download the 2009 theme logo, Read Beyond Reality @ your library. After you’ve registered, check out the Teen Read Week website for ideas and download publicity tools to get the word out at your school or in your community. Then, post what you’re doing this year on the Teen Read Week wiki.

Bundled Registration Opens Soon Bundled registration for ALA’s 2010 Midwinter Meeting (Boston, Jan. 15-19) and Annual Conference (Washington, D.C., June 24-29) opens on Sept. 1. Bundled registration costs $300 for YALSA members (and even less for students), a $60 savings. Learn more at the Midwinter Registration webpage.

That’s it for this week’s update! To stay up to date on the latest from the YALSA Office, sign up to follow YALSA on Twitter or become a fan of YALSA on Facebook!

YALSA’s YA Lit Symposium Needs You Think about joining YALSA in 2010 for the Young Adult Literature Symposium, Nov. 5-7, 2010, in Albuquerque, N.M, with a theme  of “Beyond Good Intentions: Teens, Literature and Diversity.” Proposals for programs, papers, and the preconference will be accepted at the symposium website through Oct. 1. We’re also giving away two stipends to offset travel costs, one for someone whose worked directly with teens in a library setting for ten years or less and one for a student in an ALA-accredited MLS program (you must be enrolled in an MLS program at the start of the symposium); stipend applications are due by Jan. 4, 2010. Details on both are available at www.ala.org/yalitsymposium.

Be an Emerging Leader! YALSA will sponsor two Emerging Leaders for 2010. The Emerging Leaders program enables newer librarians from across the country to participate in problem-solving work groups; network with peers; gain an inside look into ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. It puts them on the fast track to ALA and professional leadership. Applications are due Aug. 7. Learn more at the Emerging Leaders wiki.

After the jump, details on our online courses and member grants!

Online course registration open! Register today for one of YALSA’s fall online courses. This fall, we’re offering three courses (including two brand-new classes!): AIMing at Tweens: Advising, Involving, Motivating (taught by Teri Lesesne); Graphic Novels and Teen Readers: The Basics and Beyond (taught by Francisca Goldsmith) and Reaching Teens with Gaming (taught by Beth Gallaway). Read descriptions and register at YALSA’s Online Courses page.

Apply for Member Grants & Awards from YALSA Did you know that each year, YALSA gives out more than $35,000 in grants and awards to its members? It’s true! Start planning your application now. Begin by visiting YALSA’s Member Grants and Awards webpage. Our grants include the Baker & Taylor/YALSA Conference Grant, which provides two members with up to $1,000 to attend Annual Conference for the first time; the BWI/YALSA Collection Development Grant, which offers two members who work in a public library funds for collection development for teens; the YALSA/Greenwood Publishing Group Service to Young Adults Achievement Award, which offers a $2,000 grant for a member who has performed extraordinary service to teens throughout his or her career; the MAE Award for Best Reading Program for Teens, which rewards an outstanding reading program; the Henne/YALSA/VOYA Research Grant, which offers seed money for small-scale research projects; and the Great Books Giveaway, in which one or more needy libraries receive a year’s worth of review materials. Applications are due to the YALSA Office by December 1.

That’s it for this week’s update! To stay up to date on the latest from the YALSA Office, sign up to follow YALSA on Twitter or become a fan of YALSA on Facebook!

Update to the Update: ALA has extended the deadline for Emerging Leader applications to Aug. 7.

WrestleMania Reading Challenge Registration Ends Tomorrow July 31 – yes, Friday – is your last chance to register for the 2009-2010 WrestleMania Reading Challenge. Why should you register? A teen or tween at your library could win a trip to WrestleMania XXVI in Phoenix and you could win $2,000 for your library! But don’t just take it from us; listen to perspectives from a winning librarian or read the reaction of teen winners on this blog.

Be a YALSA Emerging Leader YALSA will sponsor two Emerging Leaders for 2010. The Emerging Leaders program enables newer librarians from across the country to participate in problem-solving work groups; network with peers; gain an inside look into ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. It puts them on the fast track to ALA and professional leadership. Applications are due Aug. 7. Learn more at the Emerging Leaders wiki.

After the jump, learn more about YALSA’s next round of online courses, find out how you can present at the 2010 YA Lit Symposium, and discover YALSA’s Grants & Awards – we’re giving away more than $35,000 in 2010.

Online course registration open! Register today for one of YALSA’s fall online courses. This fall, we’re offering three courses (including two brand-new classes!): AIMing at Tweens: Advising, Involving, Motivating (taught by Teri Lesesne); Graphic Novels and Teen Readers: The Basics and Beyond (taught by Francisca Goldsmith) and Reaching Teens with Gaming (taught by Beth Gallaway). Read descriptions and register at YALSA’s Online Courses page.

Propose a symposium program or apply for a symposium stipend YALSA is currently accepting proposals for full or half-day preconferences at the symposium, programs at the symposium, or paper presentations at the symposium. Applications, as well as guidelines, can all be downloaded at the symposium website. Proposals are due to the YALSA office by Oct. 1, 2009 and applicants will be notified of status by Jan. 15, 2010. In addition, YALSA will again provide two stipends to members to attend the symposium: one for a student who will be enrolled in an ALA-accredited MLIS program as of Nov. 5, 2010 and one for a library worker who has worked directly with teens for 1-10 years. Each will receive up to $1,000 to attend the symposium. Applications are available at thesymposium website and are due to the YALSA office by Jan. 4, 2010.  The 2010 Young Adult Literature Symposium will take place Nov. 5-7, 2010, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is funded in part by the William C. Morris Foundation.

Apply for Member Grants & Awards from YALSA Did you know that each year, YALSA gives out more than $35,000 in grants and awards to its members? It’s true! Start planning your application now. Begin by visiting YALSA’s Member Grants and Awards webpage. Our grants include the Baker & Taylor/YALSA Conference Grant, which provides two members with up to $1,000 to attend Annual Conference for the first time; the BWI/YALSA Collection Development Grant, which offers two members who work in a public library funds for collection development for teens; the YALSA/Greenwood Publishing Group Service to Young Adults Achievement Award, which offers a $2,000 grant for a member who has performed extraordinary service to teens throughout his or her career; the MAE Award for Best Reading Program for Teens, which rewards an outstanding reading program; the Henne/YALSA/VOYA Research Grant, which offers seed money for small-scale research projects; and the Great Books Giveaway, in which one or more needy libraries receive a year’s worth of review materials. Applications are due to the YALSA Office by December 1.

That’s it for this week’s update! To stay up to date on the latest from the YALSA Office, sign up to follow YALSA on Twitter or become a fan of YALSA on Facebook!

Be an Emerging Leader! YALSA will again sponsor two Emerging Leaders as part of ALA’s annual program. The Emerging Leaders program enables newer librarians from across the country to participate in problem-solving work groups; network with peers; gain an inside look into ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. It puts them on the fast track to ALA and professional leadership. Applications are due July 31. Learn more at the Emerging Leaders wiki.

Talk to Us About Risks YALSA will launch a monthly e-chat program on August 5, beginning with a chat in YALSA’s ALA Connect space on taking smart risks with teen services. President Linda Braun and members of her task force will host the chat. Join us in YALSA’s space in ALA Connect on August 5 at 8 p.m. Eastern. Mark your calendars for the September 2 e-chat on Teen Read Week.

WrestleMania Registration Ends Next Friday YALSA and WWE’s WrestleMania Reading Challenge gives teens and tweens at your library the chance to win prizes, including a trip to WrestleMania XXVI in Phoenix next March — and your library could win $2,000! But you have to sign up to be eligible and WrestleMania registration ends July 31. Sign up for the WrestleMania Reading Challenge when you register for Teen Read Week.

After the jump, find out more about YALSA’s fall online courses and how you can be part of the 2010 Young Adult Literature Symposium.

Online course registration open! Register today for one of YALSA’s fall online courses. This fall, we’re offering three courses (including two brand-new classes!): AIMing at Tweens: Advising, Involving, Motivating (taught by Teri Lesesne); Graphic Novels and Teen Readers: The Basics and Beyond (taught by Francisca Goldsmith) and Reaching Teens with Gaming (taught by Beth Gallaway). Read descriptions and register at YALSA’s Online Courses page.

Propose a symposium program or apply for a symposium stipend YALSA is currently accepting proposals for full or half-day preconferences at the symposium, programs at the symposium, or paper presentations at the symposium. Applications, as well as guidelines, can all be downloaded at the symposium website. Proposals are due to the YALSA office by Oct. 1, 2009 and applicants will be notified of status by Jan. 15, 2010. In addition, YALSA will again provide two stipends to members to attend the symposium: one for a student who will be enrolled in an ALA-accredited MLIS program as of Nov. 5, 2010 and one for a library worker who has worked directly with teens for 1-10 years. Each will receive up to $1,000 to attend the symposium. Applications are available at thesymposium website and are due to the YALSA office by Jan. 4, 2010.  The 2010 Young Adult Literature Symposium will take place Nov. 5-7, 2010, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is funded in part by the William C. Morris Foundation.

That’s it for this week’s update! To stay up to date on the latest from the YALSA Office, sign up to follow YALSA on Twitter or become a fan of YALSA on Facebook!

YALSA is back from Annual Conference, re-energized and ready to serve. See more about what happened at Annual in Linda Braun’s post-conference wrap-up post.

Annual handouts online! You can download materials from ALA Annual Conference (including YALSA’s events and programs) from the ALA Presentations Wiki at http://presentations.ala.org.

YALSA’s monthly e-chats are back! YALSA will host an online chat on the first Wednesday of each month at 8 p.m. Eastern, starting August 5. For our next-echat, on August 5, President Linda Braun and members of her presidential advisory task force will lead the discussion on taking smart risks for teen services, as part of her presidential theme, Risky Business. Join us in YALSA’s space in ALA Connect on August 5 at 8 p.m. Eastern!

Online course registration open! Register today for one of YALSA’s fall online courses. This fall, we’re offering three courses (including two brand-new classes!): AIMing at Tweens: Advising, Involving, Motivating (taught by Teri Lesesne); Graphic Novels and Teen Readers: The Basics and Beyond (taught by Francisca Goldsmith) and Reaching Teens with Gaming (taught by Beth Gallaway). Read descriptions and register at YALSA’s Online Courses page.

After the jump, learn more about the symposium, Young Adult Library Services’ new award, and how you can help YALSA engage in Risky Business this year.

Taking a risk? Tell us! Linda Braun’s presidential theme is Risky Business. She’s looking for stories about risks you’ve taken to provide teen services to highlight on the YALSA Blog or use in the book she’ll write with Jack Martin and Connie Urquhart. Tell us your risky business by emailing yalsarisk@gmail.com.

YALS wins second APEX Award! For the second year in a row, Young Adult Library Services, YALSA’s journal, has been honored with an Award of Excellence from the APEX Awards. Congratulations to former editor RoseMary Honnold and the entire YALS team for their hard work.

Propose a symposium program or apply for a symposium stipend YALSA is currently accepting proposals for full or half-day preconferences at the symposium, programs at the symposium, or paper presentations at the symposium. Applications, as well as guidelines, can all be downloaded at the symposium website. Proposals are due to the YALSA office by Oct. 1, 2009 and applicants will be notified of status by Jan. 15, 2010. In addition, YALSA will again provide two stipends to members to attend the symposium: one for a student who will be enrolled in an ALA-accredited MLIS program as of Nov. 5, 2010 and one for a library worker who has worked directly with teens for 1-10 years. Each will receive up to $1,000 to attend the symposium. Applications are available at the symposium website and are due to the YALSA office by Jan. 4, 2010.  The 2010 Young Adult Literature Symposium will take place Nov. 5-7, 2010, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is funded in part by the William C. Morris Foundation.

That’s it for this week’s update! To stay up to date on the latest from the YALSA Office, sign up to follow YALSA on Twitter or become a fan of YALSA on Facebook!