The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) is a national organization of librarians, library workers, and advocates whose mission is to expand and strengthen library services for teens, aged 12-18. Through its member-driven advocacy, research, and professional development initiatives YALSA builds the capacity of libraries and librarians to engage, serve, and empower teens.
Activities
- Worked with the board to approve The Future of Libraries Services for and with Teens: A Call to Action, the project report which resulted from a rich year-long discussion on the topic.
- Led a board chat on the implications of the Future of Teens and Libraries report and potential next steps for YALSA and YALSA’s members.
- Led a quarterly conference call with the YALSA Board to discuss chair reports, a request for board action, and new standing board committees dedicated to the five goals in the strategic plan: Advocacy and Activism, Research and Documentation of Best Practice, Continuous Learning and Professional Development, Member Recruitment and Engagement, and Capacity Building and Organizational Development. Check out our agenda and documents for additional detail.
- Worked with the board to approve Carrie Kausch to fill the remainder of a vacated board position. Many thanks to Carrie, a former Board Fellow, for stepping in to lend useful perspective, valuable experience, and mad tweeting skills.
- Discussed a stellar slate of Board Fellow Applicants and worked with the board to approve a finalist for 2014-2015. Congratulations Nicola McDonald, we look forward to working with you!
- Participated in an interview with BuzzFeed.
- Held virtual discussion with the YALSA Executive Board regarding committee drafts.
- Supported Board Liaisons by reaching out to several committee chairs for additional support.
- Appointed members to fill vacancies on various committees and taskforces.
- Selected Chairs and appointed members to serve on the aforementioned board standing committees.
- With Executive Director Beth Yoke, created draft agendas for YALSA Board and Executive meetings at the 2014 Midwinter conference and solicited content from board members and chairs.
Updates
- There’s still time to purchase your Morris and Nonfiction Award presentation program tickets at the ALA MW site for $19. All honorees are expected to attend!
- Process committee appointments will be made by President-Elect Chris Shoemaker following the Midwinter meeting. Submit your volunteer application before February 1st!
- YALSA is the recipient of a grant from the Best Buy Children’s Foundation to support Teen Tech Week! If you’ll be attending the Midwinter conference, stop by the YALSA booth in the exhibit hall to win one of four $100 gift cards to support Teen Tech Week in your library.
- YALSA wants to collect stories to better communicate the amazing work that you do to support, educate, and entertain teens! Submit YOUR story or send YALSA a vine video or tweet with hashtag #yadvocacy.
- Due to enthusiastic member support on Giving Tuesday, YALSA is able to support stipends for three members to attend Library Legislative Day in May of 2014. Apply by February 1st to share your library’s teen impact story!
- YALSA’s Board holds open meetings during conferences. Stop by in Philadelphia to say hello, share feedback, or listen in. You can also check out the discussions via live tweets from @YALSA_Director and others.
Gratitude
- Thank you to the authors of and contributor to the Future of Library Services report for their incredible efforts and continued dedication: Maureen Hartmann, Linda Braun, Kafi Kumasi, Sandra Hughes-Hassell, and Beth Yoke.
- Thank you to the National Forum on the Future of Teens and Libraries Advisory Board for a well executed project: Stacy Aldrich,Mary Frances Burns, Erica Compton, Priscille Dando, Sandra Hughes Hassell, Kathy Ishizuka, Don Latham, Jack Martin, Karen O’Brien, Denine Torr, Larry Wilkner, and Courtney Young.
- Heaps of gratitude to Wendy Stephens for completing a year’s worth of hard work as YALSA Blog Manager and best of luck to her as she takes on other exciting roles.
- Many thanks to the YALSA Blog Advisory Board (mk Eagle, Andrea Sowers, Kelly Czarnecki, Jennifer Rummel, Samantha Helmick, and former member Angela Frederick) for their commendable labors and solid support. As the blog transitions, I look forward to working with each of them on next steps.
- Three cheers to the brave board members who have agreed to act as chairs of board standing committees over the next six months! Gail Tobin, Maureen Hartman, Candice Mack, Sarah Sogigian, and Jack Martin, I appreciate your willingness to take on a new challenge.
- Thanks to YALSA’s Award Juries for a flurry of activity this past month in selecting amazing members doing amazing things! I look forward to learning more about your grantees.
YALSA membership for November 2013 stood at 5,139 (down 1.5% from that month in 2012)
Donations for : $300
Questions? Comments? Contact me at shannon.peterson@gmail.com
