We’d like to thank the Hub’s current member manager, Sara Beth Coffman for the tremendous work and dedication she’s put into The Hub the past year.

You may have seen previous posts for this position. We’re still seeking! If you want to try it out short term such as 3 months and see if this is a good fit for you-we encourage you to still apply!

The most common feedback I’ve received from inquiries-and understandably so-is how much time is expected to be devoted per week. If selected, that will be up to you, the manager. You will also have a team you are working with.  A rough estimate from past managers is to plan for 4-8 hours a week. This will ebb and flow throughout the term as well. You will be in great hands with Board Liaison Traci Glass, who has written for the Hub before and can help guide you each step of the way.

The other most common response I receive is the qualifications feel somewhat daunting and folks may feel they are not eligible. While it is true that there is a bit different process to this position than some other volunteer positions in terms of qualifications-don’t let that hold you back from applying even if you don’t think you meet everything 100% perfectly!

If there are any questions or concerns, please contact Kelly Czarnecki, YALSA President (2021-2022); kellyczarnecki1@gmail.com. If you’re ready to apply please send a resume and cover letter to YALSA Member manager; Letitia Smith at lsmith@ala.org as soon as possible.

For qualifications and responsibilities, please review a previous post. Thank you for your interest!

 

 

 

Happy Veterans’ Day and Native American Heritage Month!

I’ve just returned from YALSA’s inaugural YA Services Symposium and Fall Executive Committee Meeting and I am so pumped and inspired by the incredible work that all of our members are doing!

I’m looking forward to expanding on my experiences at both events in some other blog posts, but in the meantime, here is what I’ve been working on since September 2015:

Accomplishments

  • Called for YALSA Board to vote on location for YALSA’s 2017 YA Services Symposium
    • The 2017 YA Services Symposium will be held in Louisville, KY
  • Called for YALSA Board to vote on Rachel McDonald’s Board Member-at-Large vacancy
    • Due to the time frame of her term, the Board voted to leave the position vacant until the upcoming ALA/YALSA elections in Spring 2016
  • Completed and submitted welcome for 2015 YA Services Symposium program
  • Completed and submitted President’s column for Winter 2016 issue of YALS
  • Worked with YALSA Executive Board Members Linda Braun, Sarah Hill and Todd Krueger to facilitate October 2015 Board Development Chat
  • Discussed and debriefed with YALSA Standing Board Committees regarding YALSA Quarterly Chair reports during October 2015 Board Development Chat
  • Submitted and posted September 2015 President’s Report
  • Worked with YALSA President-Elect Sarah Hill to determine YALSA Board Development Chat topic for November 2015
  • Completed planning, agenda and documents for YALSA’s 2015 Fall Executive Committee Meeting
  • Discussed Libraries Transforming Communities campaign with ALA President Sari Feldman, who will be interviewed for the YALSAblog
  • Found coordinator for Summer Learning pre-conference at ALA Midwinter

Works in Progress

Important YALSA Dates & Reminders

Relevant Stats & Data

Last, but certainly not least –

THANK YOU

  • Amanda F. Barnhart, Caroline E. Aversano, Kristyn Dorfman, Aimee Haslam, Samantha Millsap, Gretchen Smither, and Melissa Patrice West for all for their hard work on this year’s Teen Read Week Committee
  • YALSA Board Members, especially the members of YALSA’s Executive Committee, for great discussion and support of our members, committees and association
  • All of our members for all that you do to support teens and teen library services in your communities, every day!

Until next time!

Respectfully submitted,

Candice Mack, YALSA President

Happy End of Summer and Back-to-School!

I’m so excited to be sharing my first YALSA President’s Report!

It’s been a whirlwind since ALA Annual, and here’s what I’ve been working on since then:

Done & Done!

  • Appointments to Edwards, Printz & Nonfiction Committees
  • Assigning Board liaisons to Strategic, Selection & Award Committees
  • Assign Board Members to Standing Board Committees
  • Column for Fall 2015 issue of YALS
  • Virtual training for New YALSA Board members
  • YALSA blog post on Presidential Initiative: 3-2-1 Impact! Inclusive & Impactful Teen Services
  • Worked with YALSA Board to appoint Renee McGrath to fill Krista McKenzie’s vacancy on the YALSA Board
  • Had first call with the Whole Mind Group, who YALSA is working with on Strategic Planning
  • With Chris Shoemaker, hosted first monthly chat with the YALSA Board, where we discussed YALSA’s Standing Board Committees
  • Interviewed candidates for Member Managers for the Hub blog and Teen Programming HQ; appointed Molly Wetta as new Hub Member Manager and Jessi Snow as new Teen Programming HQ Member Manager

Works in Progress

  • Filling Strategic Committee vacancies
  • Filling Rachel McDonald’s Board vacancy
  • Appointing YALSA representatives to ALA groups
  • Strategic Planning
  • Preparing for YALSA’s YA Services Symposium & Fall Executive Committee meetings
  • Seeking content experts for Teen Programming HQ
  • Seeking out partnerships with ALA ethnic caucuses, ALA LGBT Round Table, ASCLA, Wattpad, National Writing Project, Connected Learning Alliance, DeviantArt and more

Media & Outreach

Stats & Data

  • Friends of YALSA raised $1,155 in June 2015
  • Friends of YALSA raised $436 in July 2015
  • Membership: 5,113 (down -0.3% over this time last year)

Important Deadlines

  • Oct. 1 – Deadline to submit a volunteer form to be on YALSA’s upcoming award, selection and strategic committees! More information here

Last, but certainly not least –

THANK YOU

  • All of our members for all that you do to support teens and teen library services in your communities, every day!
  • Chris Shoemaker, YALSA’s immediate Past President, for passing the torch and mentoring current President-Elect Sarah Hill
  • YALSA’s ALA Annual 2015 Local Arrangements Committee, for a terrific job coordinating travel tips & info and local YALSA events in San Francisco
  • YALSA Board, for your hard work, leadership and enthusiasm – I know it’s going to be a great year!
  • YALSA Staff, especially Beth Yoke, Letitia Smith & Nichole O’Connor, for your assistance and support with association logistics

Until next time!

Respectfully submitted,

Candice Mack, YALSA President

 

Pizza Rolls not Gender Roles

Last week to celebrate Woman’s History Month several Youtube personalities created videos  highlighting some of the issues with America’s gender norms.

One of the vloggers, Kristina Horner, created a video about how YA literature has become gendered. From different covers to how we label genre’s there are many ways subtle clues are sent to potential readers about what books they are meant to read.

Read More →

Andrea or Drea (either is fine!) Sowers, Joliet Public Library (IL) – Teen Services Librarian

Where you’ll find me…. Online: Twitter: YALibrarianDrea Blog: www.bookblather.net

When I’m not working, I… playing geeky board games, reading, writing, knitting, taking pictures, or just catching up on shows/snuggling with the puppy & kitty.

My favorite things to do online include… play games & chat

Last awesome YA book you’ve read… Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

What you want to bring to the YALSA blog? Information that can help our members’ job easier/better. Read More →

voya photo

Jennifer Rummel, YA Librarian, Otis Library (Norwich, CT)

Where you’ll find me…. I’m on Pinterest,’ my Blog, and’ Twitter

When I’m not working, I… read a ton of books, across genres and ages, play with my puppy. I’m a die hard Celtics fan. I like to bake and do crafty things. I relax at night by watching TV – my top three favorite shows: Castle, Elementary, and Big Bang Theory

My favorite things to do online include… right now I’m addicted to Candy Crush. I love browsing Pinterest for things to bake or crafts to create. I love reading twitter and blogs to catch up on the latest book news.

Last awesome YA book you’ve read… Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas – It drew me in and refused to let me go. I devoured the book and I’m still thinking about it days later.

What you want to bring to the YALSA blog? My passion for reading and sharing ideas for great services to teens. Read More →

mk Eagle Holliston High School (Holliston, MA) Librarian

Where you’ll find me…. Cooking or eating something delicious

When I’m not working, I… am probably asleep. I may or may not have a hard time saying no.

My favorite things to do online include… playing Diablo III, reading feminist blogs and keeping up with television fan communities.

Last awesome YA book you’ve read… The Sleepwalkers, by Gabriel J. Gates.

What you want to bring to the YALSA blog? I’m always trying to bring something just a little off-kilter to the blog.

Read More →

Kelly

Kelly Czarnecki, Teen Services Librarian, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Where you’ll find me…. at the YMCA

When I’m not working, I… train for triathlons

My favorite things to do online include…catch up on my favorite tv shows (that are too embarrassing to mention!)

Last awesome YA book you’ve read… Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff

What you want to bring to the YALSA blog? Food for thought that transcend my own experiences and help open ideas for others. Read More →

ALA has many other great divisional blogs with lots of content applicable to librarians serving teens. Here’s a round-up of some recent highlights:

A program to serve tweens, from ALSC

On school-public library cooperation, from ALSC

LLAMA reports on YALSA’s Summit on Services to Teens

RUSA’s book and media award-winners

The Dewey-versus-genre shelving conversation from Midwinter is captured on the AASL Blog

The Hub offers some suggestions for National Eating Disorders Week

 

It was great to see everyone who was able to attend Midwinter and to tweet and chat with those of you who joined our live blogs. Thanks for bearing with us for some blog outages and video kerfuffles. We’ll have video up to accompany the live blog replays from both the BFYA teen feedback session and the YMA announcements just as soon as we’re able. As many of you know, the crush of attendees and interested viewers around the world can wreak havoc with conference wireless and our websites, so we really do appreciate your patience.

On a more personal note, this marks my last ALA conference as the member manager of YALSABlog. I’m thrilled to be passing the baton to the highly capable Wendy Stephens, and I have no doubt that under her direction this blog will continue to thrive and reach new heights. Thank you, dear readers and YALSA bloggers, for creating such a dynamic community of writers and readers.