Hi everyone!
I will be keeping this report short and sweet since I am getting ready to take the 4.5 hour drive from the Chicago suburbs to St. Louis tomorrow for our 2023 YALSA Symposium! I cannot wait to see those of you attending the Symposium. I unfortunately have to cut my attendance short and will be leaving Saturday afternoon due to a death in my family. But I know the time that I will be there will be so great!
This year’s Symposium Planning & Marketing Task Force has done an incredible job of putting together a fantastic conference filled with so many learning and networking opportunities, as well as finding some awesome authors to attend as well! So much thanks goes out to the task force members: Amy Ojserkis (chair), Caroline Aversano, Heather Beverly, Asuncion Cora, Ginny Edwards, Meagan Looney, and Scot Smith.
A couple of other items to note:
Our Friends of YALSA Silent Auction is now accepting donations for the Silent Auction. If you have any unique teen services or YA Lit items that you would like to donate to the YALSA Silent Auction, please get in touch via our YALSA events email: yalsaevents@ala.org. Additionally, the Silent Auction will open November 24: You can start to bid on items on Friday, Nov. 24 at 12 pm Eastern. The Silent Auction will close on Friday, Dec. 1st at 9 pm Eastern. You can find more information by following this link about donations: https://yalsa.ala.org/blog/2023/10/16/yalsas-silent-auction/ Then watch YALSA’s eNews and social media for the auction link when bidding opens.
We announced our Teen’s Top Ten List!! You can watch the video announcement using this link or see the full list here:
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir. Razorbill
Five Survive by Holly Jackson. Electric Monkey
Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh. Feiwel & Friends
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys. Penguin
Icebreaker by Hannah Grace. Pig and Bear Publishing
Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes. Balzer + Bray
Gallant by VE Schwab. Greenwillow Books
Nothing More to Tell by Karen McManus. Delacorte Press
The Rumor Game by Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra. Disney
Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin Dwyer. HarperTeen
I am happy and sad to announce that YALSA Membership Manager, Letitia Smith, retired November 1. She is still going to be around during our transition as we onboard a new Executive Director for advice and historical information sharing. I know so many of you have had the pleasure to work with Letitia. I can say that I have valued every minute of working with her and she was a bright spot for me during all my years volunteering for YALSA. I could go on and on about Letitia, but I know she would hate that, haha!
Finally, look for an announcement by ALA the week of November 13 for the new Executive Director of YALSA! I cannot wait until you all meet our new staff leader!
Completed Activities
- Much of the work this month has been working on replacing volunteers and board members, as well as work for anticipated YALSA staffing changes. I am happy to report that as of this report, we are now working with a full board of directors. We have filled our vacant positions and resolved any ongoing participation issues.
- Another major part of my time this month has been working with staff and volunteers in preparation for the YALSA Symposium.
Ongoing Activities
- President-Elect Yvette Garcia and I have connected with the GNCRT and will be exploring possible collaboration opportunities in November.
- The YALSA Board is currently in the midst of a discussion about YALSA’s participation in the LibLearnX conference. We are still trying to find our place in the conference and how we can make it work with the Symposium happening only a couple of months before. I have also reached out to other Division Presidents for their input as well and how their Divisions are working to have a presence at LibLearnX. We likely won’t have anything to put in place for the 2024 LibLearnX conference but starting discussions now will put us in a good place for 2025.
- Also, in progress is a discussion about ALA Annual and the different YALSA activities that we want to make sure are in place in addition to our fabulous member educational sessions. This discussion includes evaluating awards ceremonies and how we can move to celebrate all of our Book Awards, as well as making sure we schedule a membership meeting, President’s program, and YALSA Social.
Respectfully submitted by Colleen Seisser, YALSA President