Welcome to the return of the weekly YALSA Update, in which you’ll find the latest news from the YALSA Office.

Coming to Anaheim? YALSA will keep you busy! For a complete schedule and full descriptions, visit the YALSA Annual Wiki; a complete schedule of YALSA’s programs with times and room numbers is available as a PDF.

See YALSA in the Exhibits! Stop by the exhibits booth in the ALA Pavilion (#1839-#1940) and pick up your YALSA ribbons, your free 25-pack of Books with Bite pamphlets, and a YALSA Passport to Teen Read Weekâ„¢. Then, take your passport to TRW Corporate Sponsor Mirrorstone Books (#2660) and the Promotional Partners listed in the packet and ask for a stamp. Bring your completed passport to the booth, and you’ll be entered in a drawing for one of two Flip Video cameras or a second prize of a Teen Read Week Products Pack from ALA Graphics, a TRW Promotional Partner. Everyone who completes a passport will receive a FREE Teen Read Week Manual.

Come Learn About Us! In Anaheim Friday? Start your conference with YALSA 101 from 4-5 p.m. in Anaheim Convention Center Room 203B, an overview of the division, including how to get involved and get the most out of your membership, then head to the Happy Hour for informal mingling. We’ll be at Mortons, 1895 S. Harbor Blvd., from 5-7. Stroll on out to the back patio and enjoy specially priced appetizers from 5:00 to 6:30. Can’t make it on Friday? Got to YALSA 101 in the Booth (#1839-1940) in the exhibits hall, Sunday from noon to 12:30 p.m.

We’ve Got Books for Sale! Pick up both of our brand new publications, The Official YALSA Awards Guidebook, edited by Tina Frolund (Neal-Schuman, 2008) and Excellence in Library Services to Young Adults, Fifth Edition, edited by Amy Alessio with a foreword by Mary K. Chelton. The Official YALSA Awards Guidebook will be on sale at the Neal-Schuman Booth (#700), along with last year’s Get Connected by RoseMary Honnold. Excellence in Library Services to Young Adults, Fifth Edition, and YALSA’s other publications will be at the ALA Store in Anaheim. (Winners featured in Excellence will also be showcased in a program on Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Marriott Anaheim, Salon A-D.)

If You Like Our Books, You’ll Love Our Authors: Come meet YALSA’s authors and learn more about publishing with YALSA at the Meet & Greet in the Booth (#1839-1940) on Sunday from 12:30-1 p.m. See the complete list of YALSA authors and editors who will appear!

Awards, Awards, Awards! Of course, we’ll be celebrating our award winners: the Booklist Books for Youth forum on Friday highlights the first group of Odyssey Award winners; Orson Scott Card, winner of the Edwards for Ender’s Game and Ender’s Shadow, will speak on writing at the Edwards Luncheon on Saturday; Alex Award winners Jeff Lemire, Lisa Lutz, and Thomas Maltman will speak Saturday afternoon; honorees from past Best Books for Young Adults lists will rub elbows at the YA Author Coffee Klatch on Sunday morning; and on Monday, the Printz ceremony and cocktail reception honors The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean and honor book authors Judith Clarke, Stephanie Hemphill, A. M. Jenkins, and Elizabeth Knox (thanks to World Wrestling Entertainment for sponsoring the Printz reception!). For times and room numbers, visit the YALSA Wiki!

Committee Work? Sounds Fun! YALSA’s process committees, juries, and task forces meet during All Committee on Saturday morning. Interested in a committee, jury, or task force? Stop by and learn more from 10:30-noon, with breakfast at 10, courtesy Mirrorstone Books!).’  Chairs meet at the Leadership Development Breakfast (and anyone interested in being a chair, please join us!) from 8:30-10, with a continental breakfast courtesy Rosen Publishing from 8-8:30! We’ll be in the Marriott Anaheim Marquis Center.

Explore the Third Space. Come to our 2008 President’s Program & Membership Meeting, Between Home & School: The Teen Third Space, and learn about how to use information on the “third space” to create welcoming teen environments. We’ll also honor our grant winners during the membership meeting portion of the program. 1:30-3:30 p.m., Monday, Marriott Anaheim Salon E.

Learn and Have Fun at Our Programs! We’ve got the best programs, bar none. From gaming to youth advocacy, pop culture to reference services, you’ll be able to learn helpful information to help you better serve the teens in your community and school system. See what we’ve got planned at the Wiki!

Keep Up Online. We’ll be blogging, podcasting, and Twittering from Annual! You’ll also be able to access handouts from presentations on the Conference Materials Wiki.’  Whether you’re in Anaheim and looking for more information or following YALSA activities from home, our online resources will keep you connected to YALSA at the 2008 ALA Annual Conference.

Keep up on YALSA news by subscribing to the YALSA News RSS Feed or subscribing to YALSA’s Twitter. Questions? Contact Stephanie Kuenn, skuenn@ala.org or 1-800-545-2433, ext. 2128.

About Stephanie Kuenn

Stephanie Kuenn is the communications specialist for YALSA, where she is responsible for YALSA's web content, publications, and media relations. She is currently pursuing an M.A. in library and information studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and holds an M.S. from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and a B.A. in history and journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She enjoys baking, watching sports, and reading. Her favorite book is "All the King's Men" by Robert Penn Warren.

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