Two new activities that you don’t want to miss are now scheduled as a part of the YALSA Teen Services Symposium.
Symposium Solutions Desk
Come visit the Symposium Solutions Desk and get feedback and solutions for your burning questions and challenges. We’ll have YALSA members available and ready to talk with you about everything from programs to advocacy and developing outcomes to curating collections. Our advisors are:
- Kate McNair, Teen Coordinating Library Johnson County Library, KS
- Carrie Sanders, Youth Services Coordinator, Maryland Division of Library Development
- Emily Williams, Young Adult Services Coordinator, Oklahoma City Metropolitan Library System, OK
- April Witteveen, Community Librarian, Deschutes Public Library System, OR
The solutions desk will be open during all scheduled breaks:
- Saturday:8-8:30am; 10-10:30am; 12-12:30pm; 3-3:30pm
- Sunday 8-8:30am and 10-10:30am
Pitch an Idea, Win $1500
YALSA, with funding from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, would like to give you the chance to win $1500 to implement your Symposium generated idea in your library! Here’s what you need to know:
- Your idea needs to have been sparked by something heard or learned at the symposium, make sure your pitch tells the judges what that spark was.
- All entries must involve the Symposium theme in some way and be closely aligned with YALSA’s programming guidelines, organizational plan and Futures Report.
- Pitches must specifically connect to a specific need in the contestant’s community
- Demonstrate savvy use of funds — demonstrate that the funds will help lead to a specific outcome.
- Individuals or teams can enter.
- Only one submission per person/team.
- Funds may be used for: programming support, materials/equipment, stipends for speakers/presenters.
- Funds may not be used for: staff wages or refreshments.
If you have a great idea, come to the registration area during the Symposium and you can sign up for a time slot to pitch your idea to our team of judges. All time slots are scheduled for Sunday morning. Judges will give you feedback and score your pitch. The top 5 finalists will receive $1500 each and share their pitch to all attendees at the Closing session on Sunday afternoon.
Our judges are:
- Sarah Amazing, Teen Services Librarian, Warren-Trumball County Public Library, OH
- Sandra Hughes-Hassell, UNC School of Information and Library Science and YALSA President-Elect
- Crystle Martin, postdoctoral research fellow for the Connected Learning Research Network at the Digital Media and Learning Hub at University of California, Irvine, and YALSA Secretary
In addition, everyone who attends the closing session will be entered into a drawing for $100 cash. Winners for both of these contests must be present to win!
