YALSA is now hosting online chats every month in our space in ALA Connect! It’s an easy, inexpensive way to be more engaged in YALSA and talk with other librarians about topics that matter in teen services. Chats take place the first Wednesday of each month from 8-9 p.m. Eastern and each one has a specific theme. Our next chat will be on Sept. 2, with Carla Land, chair of the Teen Read Week committee, moderating a discussion on Teen Read Week.
In our last membership survey, members indicated overwhelmingly that they sought more opportunities for virtual participation. The monthly online chats are one way that we are providing our members with what they want from us.
After the jump, find out topics for future chats – we’ve chosen themes through January – and how to log in and participate. Have a suggestion? Leave it in the comments.
Our scheduled chats are:
Oct. 7: Advocacy in Teen Services, moderated by Beth Gallaway, chair of YALSA’s Advocacy Task Force
Nov. 4: Inexpensive Teen Programming, moderated by Jenine Lillian, editor of the forthcoming Cool Teen Programs for under $100
Dec. 2: Teens and Technology
Jan. 6: Getting Involved with YALSA
How do you participate? At 8 p.m. Eastern on the day of the chat, log into ALA Connect at http://connect.ala.org. 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 Groupsâ€) and then click “Chats.â€
If you can’t make it, visit the YALSA blog the next day, as we post all chat transcripts.
As a PST person it has been extremely difficult for me to attend these chats because they are at the end of my weekly program. Can Yalsa make an effort to hold them on different days/times in the future so those of us with programs can still attend without having to cancel a program.
This is a great idea to provide more opportunities to connect and build community. Thanks!