This week YALSA Board members are discussing their experience serving on the Board. This post is one in that series.
This podcast is the final post in YALSA’s Life on the YALSA Board series. In this audio you’ll hear YALSA Director Sara Ryan, Fiscal Officer Mary Hastler, Secretary Francisca Goldsmith, and Immediate Past President Sarah Debraski discuss what it’s like to serve on the YALSA Board, the work that they do, the time that it takes, and why it’s a worthwhile experience.
This week YALSA Board members are writing about their experience serving on the Board. This post is one in that series.
The Fiscal Officer is elected for a three year term. A three year term is just right as I wrap up the second year of my three year term as Fiscal Officer. The first year provides an opportunity to experience and become familiar with the responsibilities of the position, the second and third years are all about implementation. The Fiscal Officer is a member of the Executive Board as well as a voting member on the YALSA Board. Read More →
This week YALSA Board members are discussing their experience serving on the Board. This post is one in that series.
The position of Secretary was added to the YALSA Board, by membership vote,’ only four years ago.’ Until my term began, in 2008, the role of keeping our volunteer association’s formal record fell to YALSA staff.’ The addition of this position to the Board places that responsibility with membership; in addition, the position of Secretary adds another voice—and set of energies—to the Board’s Executive Committee.
I ran for the position of Secretary for several reasons:’ I had been on the YALSA Board when the idea of creating the position was under discussion and then development and I was a promoter of the concept.’ In addition, I have served in a few other elected offices, in other professional organizations, at the time when that position was first initiated, so I had a good sense of the kind of ground-breaking and flexibility the initial office-holder needed to bring to the effort of “launching†how the position might work to the advancement of the Board and membership as a whole. Read More →
This week YALSA Board members are writing about their experience serving on the Board.’ This post is one in that series.
The unique thing about running for YALSA President is that, if elected, you will fill three distinct roles in three years. All of the things that Sara Ryan mentioned in her perspective as a Board member hold true, plus there are additional responsibilities.
As President-Elect you will spend the year working hard on making committee and task force appointments.’ This is no small task, but it is a great way to get to know many YALSA members.’ You will also be serving on the Executive Committee and have those meetings (including an in-person meeting in the fall), in addition to regular YALSA Board meetings.’ There is a lot of observing and learning during this year, as well as developing a working relationship with the President and Executive Director.
What skills do you need to be President-Elect? An attention to detail, a willingness to learn, and a good system for organizing your work. Read More →
This week YALSA Board members are writing about their experience serving on the Board. This post is one in that series.
First off: the work of the Board takes place all year round, not just when the Board meets in person at the Midwinter meeting and Annual conference.
Tip: Talk with your supervisor and your loved ones before you decide to run. Make sure they understand and support the commitment that will be involved. Read More →
Have you ever thought about running for a YALSA Board position? Have you ever wondered what being on the YALSA Board is really like? If you answered “yes” to either of those questions, then the posts coming this week on this blog titled Life on the YALSA Board are perfect for you. Each day this week a different YALSA Board member will post about her experiences as a YALSA Board member. The schedule is: Read More →
When you sign up for Second Life, it is said that your avatar is born. Today, Michele Gorman teleported to the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library open house that happened to be going on at the time and her avatar was ‘born’ today.
While YALSA is indeed the fastest growing division of ALA, we could be the fastest growing division of Second Life avatars!
I’ve started a link on the LibSuccess: A Best Practices wiki here for YALSA members to list their avatar name and whatever other information they would like to include.
Today when I was on Second Life, a teen came to the information desk and said, ‘wow, what is that’? I found out that he was into drafting/architecture. Second Life will help teens with building skills. Also, teens that are attracted to MySpace because they can manipulate and customize their environments, might be attracted to Second Life as well.
The 3D environment is an interface that will be a skill we will need to know how to navigate in. If you purchase clothes online for example, knowing how to size your avatar to figure out if they will look good in a certain outfit can translate to you and whether you want to purchase it or not.
Posted by Kelly Czarnecki
Ever wanted to get to know the YALSA Board of Directors more? Here’s your chance! We’ll be posting fun mini-interviews with each board member all month long so you can get to know them a little better.
Name & Library: Susannah Goldstein Upper Division Librarian, Horace Mann School
Role on the Board: Director-at Large
Year on the Board: 3rd year
What does YALSA mean to me?
SG: YALSA has been a lifeline for me in my career. I’ve always relied on the expertly curated booklists for my collection development, and the webinars on demand are so great because you can watch them whenever you want!
What are your hopes for the future of teen services?
SG: I think that the past three years have taught us two major things: one is that we have no idea what any kind of future will bring, and the other is that teen-serving library staffers are amazingly creative and find ways to reach teens where they are (which we already knew, but we got to see it in a really incredible way). I have no idea what the future of teen services is, but I am loving the present– youth librarians on TikTok, creative programming that brings teens into the library physically or virtually, and thoughtful discussions about literature. My real hope, however, is that teen collections will be protected by communities and legislation because we know that the most important value for all teen-serving librarians is to collect and promote inclusive literature for all teens.
What is your favorite YALSA Committee or Committee that would love to be on again?
SG: I had the most fun on Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers– it was my first selection committee, we had fabulous members, and we got to read such a wide and varied range of literature. We read more genres and formats in one year than I ever have since.
What’s your ultimate comfort food?
SG: Fresh bread with butter! There is truly nothing more comforting.
What TV show or Movie do you watch on repeat? Or a book that you love reading when you’re in between new books?
SG: I watch way too much TV to actually pick one show, but a book I read when I’m in a reading slump or just feeling sad is Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchey. I borrowed it from my grandmother when I was a teenager, and I still have her copy many years after her death. It’s well-worn and smells like a good book, and I love diving back into the world of Jack, Benny, Nan, and the rest of their circle. I’ve probably read it once every year or two for the past 20 years.
What would you do or where would you go if you won the lotto?
SG: As a New York City resident (who has often commuted for hours a day), my first automatic response is the environmentally irresponsible one– I’d want a driver to take me everywhere! Barring that, I’ve always dreamed of going to Japan!
Want to run for YALSA Board? We’re looking for candidates for the 2024 ALA Election. If you will be at ALA Annual Conference in Chicago this summer, join us at YALSA 301 to learn more about YALSA Governance. Want to find out what the duties and responsibilities of the Director at Large are for the YALSA Board? Find them in the YALSA Handbook here. If you’ve been thinking about it, why not fill out the nomination form today? Just click here.
Ever wanted to get to know the YALSA Board of Directors more? Here’s your chance! We’ll be posting fun mini-interviews with each board member all month long so you can get to know them a little better.
Name: Stacey Shapiro
Title & Library: YA/Programming Librarian, Cranford Public Library
Role on the Board: Director-at-Large
Year on the Board: 1st year in this position
SS: YALSA means access to a network of other young adult librarians who I can collaborate with and brainstorm with, all people who are dedicated to serving teens.
2. What are your hopes for the future of teen services?
SS: I hope that libraries all over the country realize how important it is to have a dedicated teen librarian and that welcoming them at this age means they’ll be library patrons for life.
3. What is your favorite YALSA Committee or Committee that you would love to be on again?
SS: It’s impossible, but I loved my Printz Committee, both the work, no matter how tiring, and the friends I made.
4. What’s your ultimate comfort food?
SS: Probably pizza!
5. What TV show or Movie do you watch on repeat? Or a book that you love reading when you’re in between new books?
SS: Well last year I reread the Locked Tomb series twice before Nona the Ninth came out. I keep hoping a character death won’t happen the second time….
6, What would you do or where would you go if you won the lotto?
SS: I would take at least a month off work (being realistic here!) and travel to the other side of the world: Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea. I want to do Hobbiton especially.
Want to run for YALSA Board? We’re looking for candidates for the 2024 ALA Election. If you will be at ALA Annual Conference in Chicago this summer, join us at YALSA 301 to learn more about YALSA Governance. Want to find out what the duties and responsibilities of the Director at Large are for the YALSA Board? Find them in the YALSA Handbook here. If you’ve been thinking about it, why not fill out the nomination form today? Just click here.
Ever wanted to get to know the YALSA Board of Directors more? Here’s your chance! All month long, we’ll be posting fun mini-interviews with each board member so you can get to know them a little better.
Name: Colleen Seisser
Title & Library: Assistant Director, Westmont Public Library
Role on the Board: President-Elect
Year on the Board: 1st year
1. What does YALSA mean to me?
CS: I was a teen librarian for almost ten years and YALSA was a resource rich organization I could turn to when I needed help with things like collection development, programming, and reviewing standards and best practices for teen services in libraries. Now it is an organization that I want to give back to because it had such a huge impact during those years. I also really have found that volunteering for YALSA has allowed me close friendships that span the US, and I am so thankful for those.
2. What are your hopes for the future of teen services?
CS: I hope that the future of teen services continues to see library staff and services turn towards equity, diversity, and inclusion. We continue to embrace values that protect teens’ freedom to read and equitable access to information. I hope that today’s teen services in libraries can be just one of the pillars in a teen’s life that empowers the teens of today to become the leaders of future generations that embrace the values of equity.
3. What is your favorite YALSA Committee or Committee that you would love to be on again?
CS: I really loved being a blogger for the Hub Blog. I was a blogger before we had moved the Selected Lists to the Hub Blog and when I was blogging, I decided my goal or focus was going to be on creating mini-genre guide posts. They were so much fun to create and really helped me polish my reader’s advisory skills and forced me to keep reading outside my comfort zone. I know our new Hub Manager, Rachel Milburn, wants to start incorporating more posts on the Hub in addition to the Selected lists posts, and I am so looking forward to what she and her Hub Advisory Board will be able to accomplish this year (you can volunteer now for the Hub Advisory Board too–we still have spaces to fill, click here to apply via our Volunteer form)
4. What’s your ultimate comfort food?
CS: Garlic-stuffed olives
5. What TV show or Movie do you watch on repeat? Or a book that you love reading when you’re in between new books?
CS: Parks and Recreation
6. What would you do or where would you go if you won the lotto?
CS: Move somewhere in the woods by a lake and then travel the world
Want to run for YALSA Board? We’re looking for candidates for the 2024 ALA Election. If you will be at ALA Annual Conference in Chicago this summer, join us at YALSA 301 to learn more about YALSA Governance. Want to find out the duties and responsibilities of the YALSA President-Elect? Find them in the YALSA Handbook here. If you’ve been thinking about running, why not fill out the nomination form today? Just click here.