Greetings YALSAblog readers and youth advocates,
I’m pleased to share this month’s activities, as plans become further developed from conception to execution. The big items on this past month’s docket for the YALSA Board include providing input for our association’s Strategic Plan RFP (request for proposal). More information will be forthcoming about this item and its subsequent timeline of activities once a consultant company has been selected and a contract confirmed.
Also, the Board offered decisions regarding changes that would better support the Odyssey Award committee members’ workload. This input has been returned to the working group who will provide the board with more details regarding these confirmed changes. The Board approved the continuance of the Social Media Marketing Taskforce with adjustments to their responsibilities and tasks. Finally, the board approved the working group’s recommendations in developing a manual for the Morris Award that was modeled after the Non-fiction Award manual. This item creates consistency in language and responsibilities that will better support future work of the award committee.
September Meetings (listed by date, oldest first)
- Participated and led recurring meetings for the monthly YALSA Board Chat, the quarterly Executive Committee meeting, the monthly YALSA President’s meeting (YALSA Pres-Elect, Past-Pres, Pres, ED), and weekly meetings with the YALSA Executive Director. These events contribute to supporting the work of the association.
- Participated in the President’s Implementation Taskforce meeting by answering questions and providing background information, which is a responsibility of being the board liaison.
- Attended a meeting with the YALSA Executive Director and ALA staff to understand the steps involved for creating an endowment.
- Met with YALSA member Gregory Lum, YALSA Executive Director and ALA staff to determine next steps for the Joann Sweetland Lum Memorial Grant. Next steps will be presented in the October 2020 report.
- Provided guidance to the Division and Membership Promotion chair and encouraged the opportunity that exists in sharing free YALSA resources and YALSA 101 information with library staff who work with teens and are likely non-members. Solutions will need to be developed in reaching this audience.
- Discussed the BCALA/IMLS Taxonomy of Black History Month Programming in Libraries project with Dr. Grace Jackson-Brown, a project coordinator and professor at Missouri State University Libraries, and agreed to participate as the YALSA representative. Further information about this project will be forthcoming in a separate communication.
- Attended the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area’s YALSA Meet-Up via Zoom and provided updates on YALSA activity.
- Participated in the Promoting Professional Success for Underrepresented Groups within YALSA Taskforce meeting by answering questions and providing background information, which is a responsibility of being the board liaison.
- Attended ALA President Julius C. Jefferson Jr.’s meeting with fellow ALA division presidents.
Thank you!
- Yolanda Hood and Tess Wilson for the development and release of the Spring YALS issue.
- Outstanding Books for the College Bound working group members who diligently continued efforts towards the re-development of a well-rounded and vetted list. More info will be forthcoming.
- The Board appreciates the work of all chairs who submitted a quarterly report in August. Timely submissions better support the work of volunteer groups.
Relevant Stats and Data
- Donation and Membership information continues to remain unavailable at this time.
Don’t Forget
- The second year of TeenTober celebrations are underway. Have you considered participating?
- The YALSA’s Young Adult Services Symposium’s virtual schedule has been posted. Check it out and join us if you are able. We hope to see you this year or next.
Respectfully submitted,
Amanda Barnhart
YALSA President 2020-2021