Summer is so much fun. First my teen events at the Schaumburg Township District Library are getting into gear with my “Teenagers’ Guide to the Galaxy” Stellar Summer Reading Program plus 2-3 activities per week.
Now I’m packing for conference, too. This means finishing the YALSA 50th Anniversary Quilt. Ticket orders have been coming into the YALSA office, but there will still be a chance to buy them at the conference, too, either at the booth, or from me or other Financial Committee members. As with many of my quilts, I am becoming attached to this one. If you see it at conference, no doubt I will be nearby. I’m even buying tickets to try and win it myself!
Nick Buron and I are getting ready for our YALSA Preconference “Beginners Guide to Teens” for Friday, June 22. We are covering readers advisory, reference, teen development, teen situations, merchandising and much more! I packed a number of prizes for attendees plus the YALSA office sent lots of goodies. This should be a fun program jam packed with information. Nick and I found out that we will also be doing this program at PLA 2008 in Minneapolis also. I’m so happy to go to a place where I won’t have an accent! So if you can’t make our preconference this time, perhaps you can join us there.
Nick is also speaking at the YALSA Research Committee program as one of the YALSA/VOYA/Henne Grant Recipients on Sunday from 1:30 – 3:30. He is going to talk about the project he and I worked on a couple years ago gauging the increase in circulation of teen materials and program participation (among other factors) vs. the investment of trained staff time. It was so interesting to work on that project. We really wanted findings to help other young adult staff advocate with their administration. While he is speaking there, I will be representing YALSA as Fiscal Officer at ALA Budget Audit and Review Committee meetings.
I’m wrapping up my last issue of YAttitudes, before Erin Howerton takes the helm. We will both be soliciting articles at Conference. Plus we’ll be talking about what makes a great article or topic at the “You Must Write It: 50 Tips for Publishing with YALSA” panel on Monday morning at conference. It’s worth getting up at 8 that morning! Do you have a great idea for an article? Write me at aalessio@stdl.org or Erin at erindowney@gmail.com.
I look forward to seeing many of you next week.
Amy Alessio
Teen Coordinator, Schaumburg Twp. Dist. Library, IL
YALSA Fiscal Officer: Are You a Friend?
