Get to Know the YALSA Board Members: 6 Questions with YALSA Board Immediate Past-President, Kelly Czarnecki

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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. 

Photo of Immediate Past President Kelly Czarnecki
Kelly Czarnecki, Immediate Past President of YALSA

Name: Kelly Czarnecki

Title & Library: Teen Loft Manager, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Role on the Board: Immediate Past President

Year on the Board: 3rd year

What does YALSA mean to me?

KC: A national resource for serving teens in libraries

What are your hopes for the future of teen services?

KC: That all teens will be welcome no matter what library they are at.

What is your favorite YALSA Committee or Committee that you would love to be on again?

KC: Teen Tech Week was fun!

What’s your ultimate comfort food?

KC: Chili served with spaghetti noodles.

What TV show or Movie do you watch on repeat? Or a book you love reading when you’re between new books?

KC: I don’t have time to watch or read on repeat!

What would you do or where would you go if you won the lotto?

KC: I would travel. Japan is in the queue. 

Want to run for YALSA Board?  We’re looking for candidates for the 2024 ALA Election. If you will be attending the 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 Immediate Past-President? 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.

Get to Know the YALSA Board Members: 6 Questions with YALSA Board’s Liaison to ALA, Ziba Perez

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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. 

Photo, selfie of YALSA's Liaison to ALA, Ziba Perez in her work cubicle at the Los Angeles Public Library.
Ziba Perez, YALSA Liaison to ALA

Name: Ziba Pérez

Title & Library: Young Adult Librarian, Los Angeles Public Library

Role on the Board: YALSA Liaison

Year on the Board: 1st year

What does YALSA mean to me?

ZP: To me YALSA means bringing great minds together from across the nation to brainstorm the best ways to serve our community of young adults.

What are your hopes for the future of teen services?

ZP: My hopes for the future of teen services are being able to attract more teens to the library by providing resources, collections, and programming that they want to see.

What is your favorite YALSA Committee or Committee that would love to be on again?

ZP: I love being a YALSA Liaison and representing YALSA at all of the ALA Committees I get to be a part of such as the ALA Conference Committee. That is why I’m taking on a second year as YALSA Liaison.

What’s your ultimate comfort food?

ZP: Persian Food in general but specifically Albaloo Polo.

What TV show or Movie do you watch on repeat?

ZP: The movie I watch on repeat is Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. 

What would you do or where would you go if you won the lotto?

ZP: If I won the lotto I would go to Japan for a month and travel to different neighborhoods each week!

Interested in becoming the YALSA Liaison to ALA?  YALSA Members can apply to become the Liaison to ALA in January each year.  The Liaison is appointed by the Executive Committee of the YALSA Board. If you will be attending the 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 Liaison to ALA? Find them in the YALSA Handbook here.   Applications will open in January 2024 with March 2024 deadline.  To apply for the Liaison position or to see who has served as the Liaison to ALA click here.

Volunteer for the Organization and Bylaws Committee!

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We are still in need of volunteers for YALSA’s Organization and Bylaws committee. We need four more members to fill the committee. Here’s some more information about the role of the Organization and Bylaws committee:

BYLAWS

To periodically review the YALSA Bylaws and, when necessary, to recommend revision and amendment to improve them for the effective management of the Division, for the achievement of its stated objectives, and to keep them in harmony with ALA Constitution and Bylaws. Consider suggestions for Bylaws changes (from Executive Director, Board, Officers and/or membership) and submit recommended changes to the YALSA Board for review.

We have not done a bylaws review recently and we do need to continually make sure they stand up with ALA’s Bylaws, especially when changes are made which did occur this spring.

COMMITTEES

To study and review committee functions, recommending changes in committee structure. To consider, at the request of the Board or of any committee, recommendations like committee dissolution, committee name changes, or changes in function statements and to make specific recommendations for action to the YALSA Board in these areas. Whenever the establishment of a new member group is recommended, the O&B Committee reviews the proposal with an eye towards YALSA’s overall organizational structure to prevent duplication and ensure alignment with YALSA’s mission and goals. To review annually at the Annual Conference the reports of YALSA chairs to the Board. To advise the Board when, in the O&B committee’s opinion, activities have grown too varied to be handled by one member group, or have decreased to a level that Board review of a group’s usefulness is needed; to assure the Board that all current activities are in line with the committee’s function statement, YALSA’s goals and mission.

YALSA needs to evaluate it’s current committee structure in light of the volunteer shortages we have been facing the last few years. Charges and functions of current committees also need to be reviewed as there have been a number of updated practices that have not been reflected in the committee charges on the YALSA website in recent years.

HANDBOOK

To regularly review and when necessary recommend and draft revision of content for the YALSA Handbook; and to make recommendations on other appropriate policy and process matters. Revise the content in the YALSA Handbook, especially after Board actions. Periodically review and analyze the Bylaws for consistency with divisional goals in relation to current activities, practices and procedures; to suggest to the Board and YALSA staff areas in conflict and areas in need of expansion or revision.

If you have ever been frustrated by outdated information on the YALSA webpages, then this is where the updates have to be made. We have not been able to keep up with the updates that are needed to YALSA processes and procedures found in our handbook, and so we need this committee to help us start that work this year.

The Organization and Bylaws committee is vital to our organization and it’s effectiveness to our members and unfortunately the committee was unable to convene last year due to volunteer shortages. This committee averages about 5-10 hours of work max per month, perhaps a little more if there is a big project that comes up. This committee is all about evaluation and documentation. If that is something you love (and I know there are those of you out there because I am one of you!), then the O&B committee is the volunteer opportunity for you!

If you are interested in volunteering, you can access our YALSA Volunteer form with this link: https://www.ala.org/CFApps/volunteer/form.cfm 

As you fill out the nomination form, please refer to my post from last fall: How to Fill Out YALSA’s Volunteer Form.  Please email me (President-elect, Colleen Seisser) with your interest as that will expedite the review of your application and ensure I have eyes on it. You must be a current YALSA member and you must not already have three ALA volunteer commitments.

Respectfully submitted by Colleen Seisser, YALSA President-Elect

Get to Know the YALSA Board Members: 6 Questions with YALSA Board Director at Large, Stacey Shapiro

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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. 

Photo of Director at Large Stacey Shapiro, a selfie
Stacey Shapiro, Director-At-Large

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

  1. What does YALSA mean to me? 

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.

Volunteer for the Financial Advancement Committee!

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We are still in need of volunteers for YALSA’s Financial Advancement committee. We need five more members to fill the committee. Here’s some more information about the role of the Financial Advancement Committee:

The Financial Advancement Committee provides oversight and continued enhancement of the Friends of YALSA program, including promotion, fundraising and donor recognition. The committee works with the Board and staff year-round to create and implement virtual fundraising campaigns and fundraising efforts at conferences, aimed at both members and others, to support member scholarships and stipends YALSA gives out annually. Periodically, the committee reviews YALSA’s Fundraising Toolkit and make updates, as needed. The term is one year, July 1-June 30, with an option for a second year reappointment.

The committee averages about 5-10 hours max a month of work, maybe more in times when there is high fundraising activity. This year’s Financial Advancement committee accomplished a lot! They ran a successful virtual auction, led a Giving Tuesday campaign, and worked with YALSA Staff and the YALSA Board to bring YALSA branded items to the ALA Store, and TeenTober branded items to the ALA Store. If fundraising is your jam, then the Financial Advancement committee is for you!

If you are interested in volunteering, you can access our YALSA Volunteer form with this link: https://www.ala.org/CFApps/volunteer/form.cfm 

As you fill out the nomination form, please refer to my post from last fall: How to Fill Out YALSA’s Volunteer Form.  Please email me (President-elect, Colleen Seisser) with your interest as that will expedite the review of your application and ensure I have eyes on it. You must be a current YALSA member and you must not already have three ALA volunteer commitments.

Respectfully submitted by Colleen Seisser, YALSA President-Elect

Get to Know the YALSA Board Members: 6 Questions with YALSA Board Director at Large, Melanie Wachsmann

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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. 

Photo of Director at Large Melanie Wachmann, a selfie taken in the car.
Melanie Wachsmann, Director-at-Large

Name: Melanie Wachsmann

Title & Library: Library Director, Lone Star College-CyFair

Role on the Board: Director at Large

Year on the Board: 1st year, 2nd year, 3rd year: (MW: Not really sure how to answer this one since I have been filling in for people who drop off)*

What does YALSA mean to me?

MW: YALSA feels like home. As a brand new librarian, YALSA was the group that welcomed me and gave me the opportunity to get involved in meaningful ways. It allowed me to meet people from all over the country and to advocate and provide services to my teens. I love that I still get to work with people I met almost 20 years ago. 

What are your hopes for the future of teen services?

MW: My hope is that all teens find what they need, whether it’s a place of acceptance, support, or a place to simply be a teen. Teens truly are the future, and I hope the work that we, the members of YALSA, do will inform and advocate for this amazing group of young people. 

What is your favorite YALSA Committee or Committee that you would love to be on again?

MW: Amazing Audiobooks will always have my heart. I hope to one day be able to serve on the Odyssey Award committee. 

What’s your ultimate comfort food?

MW: Turkey, brie, and apple sandwich

What TV show or Movie do you watch on repeat? Or a book that you love reading when you’re in between new books?

MW: Schitt’s Creek for TV and Dirty Dancing for the movie.  Depending on my mood: Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt, Denton Little’s Death Date by Lance Rubin, or For Everyone by Jason Reynolds

What would you do or where would you go if you won the lotto?

MW:  I would like to spend my time being a professional volunteer at an animal shelter and take a cruise around 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 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.

*Note: Melanie began this term as the Chair of O&B, but stepped up to fill a vacancy when a Director-At-Large had to resign.

Volunteer for the YALSA Hub Blog Advisory Board!

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The Hub

We are still in need of volunteers for YALSA’s Hub Blog Advisory Board. We need three more members to fill the committee. Here’s some more information about the role of the Hub Advisory Board:

The Hub Advisory Board participates in the development and maintenance of the Hub and follows the guidelines for the site as set out by the YALSA Board of Directors. The Advisory Board also serves in an advisory capacity to the Member Manager, who also acts as Chair, of the site and assists with the collection of content for the site, generates ideas for content, works on getting teen and library staff input and feedback, facilitates marketing and PR as needed, and writes for the site as needed.

The size of the committee is seven virtual members including the Hub Blog Member Manager, who is the chair. The term is one year July 1-June 30 with an option for a second year reappointment.

This committee will likely average about 5-10 hours max of work per month. Additionally, we just hired our new YALSA Hub Blog Member Manager, Rachel Milburn. Click here to visit the Hub Blog post to learn more about Rachel! I know Rachel is looking for an advisory board that will bring new ideas for content for the Hub Blog and she herself is a former Hub Blog Advisory Board member. This opportunity will be a great one to work with Rachel in creating new and exciting content centered on all things YA/Teen literature!

If you are interested in volunteering, you can access our YALSA Volunteer form with this link: https://www.ala.org/CFApps/volunteer/form.cfm 

As you fill out the nomination form, please refer to my post from last fall: How to Fill Out YALSA’s Volunteer Form.  Please email me (President-elect, Colleen Seisser) with your interest as that will expedite the review of your application and ensure I have eyes on it. You must be a current YALSA member and you must not already have three ALA volunteer commitments.

Respectfully submitted by Colleen Seisser, YALSA President-Elect

Get to Know the YALSA Board Members: 6 Questions with YALSA President-Elect, Colleen Seisser

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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. 

Photo of YALSA President Elect Colleen Seisser hugging a tree with a hug me sign posted on the trunk.
Colleen Seisser, President-Elect 2022-2023

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.

Calling all former YALSA Board members!

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We currently have no volunteers for the 2023-24 Board Development Committee. 

Members with governance experience are highly encouraged to apply for this committee! We need those members who have served in YALSA Board positions (ex-officio positions are included) specifically to volunteer as this committee oversees the Board’s effectiveness and helps put together and promote our YALSA slate each year.

Here’s more specific information about the committee’s work:

To develop in conjunction with the board activities and materials for: board orientation, on-going board training, and annual board member self-assessments, board assessments, and board roles and responsibilities. To pay attention to board composition and needs and assess board effectiveness. To identify and cultivate members for leadership positions, and to annually develop a slate of candidates for board positions. When building the slate, seek out the most qualified individuals and provide for broad representation, as outlined in YALSA’s Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. To educate members about governance and service on the YALSA Board, including conducting necessary outreach via an array of avenues to ensure diverse representation. To assist members in preparing for the election such as through a candidates’ forum or candidate interviews. To review the process after each election and make recommendations for the next cycle. To serve on this committee, we are looking for members who have governance experience. At least one member will have served on a recent Board Development Committee, and no more than two may be current members of the Board. The immediate past president will serve as chair during their term: July 1 through June 30.

If you are interested in volunteering, you can access our YALSA Volunteer form with this link: https://www.ala.org/CFApps/volunteer/form.cfm 

As you fill out the nomination form, please refer to my post from last fall: How to Fill Out YALSA’s Volunteer Form.  Please email me (President-elect, Colleen Seisser) with your interest as that will expedite the review of your application and ensure I have eyes on it. You must be a current YALSA member and you must not already have three ALA volunteer commitments.

Respectfully submitted by Colleen Seisser, YALSA President-Elect

Get to Know the YALSA Board Members: 6 Questions with Fiscal Officer, Kate Denier

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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. 

Photo of YALSA Fiscal Officer, Kate Denier
Kate Denier, YALSA Fiscal Officer

Name: Kate Denier

Title & Library: Senior Branch Manager, Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library- North Central Branch

Role on the Board: Fiscal Officer

Year on the Board: 3rd year as Fiscal Officer

What does YALSA mean to me?

KD: I have been an active YALSA member for several years now. I’ve been on many different types of committees and have been chair of committees and a taskforce. I’m really thankful to be on the Board now. Not only has YALSA helped build my leadership skills, being on Board allows me to give back to an organization that has done a lot for me and the teens I have served. I think I have used just about every resource YALSA has to offer and I try and encourage others to do the same. YALSA has directly impacted my ability to serve teens at my organization and my ability to lead.

What are your hopes for the future of teen services?

KD: My hope is that ALL teens have a space to go to in their local library (wherever that library may be) where they can be safe, be themselves, be heard and get the resources and information they need without judgment. I hope teen services staff are given the support they need to provide the highest level of service to teens. I also hope that people who work with teens continue to advocate for teen services, both locally and nationally.

What is your favorite YALSA Committee or Committee that would love to be on again?

KD: Morris Award Committee. It was really fun and rewarding.

What’s your ultimate comfort food?

KD: Apple Cider Slushies- because if they are available, it means it’s fall!

What TV show or Movie do you watch on repeat? Or a book that you love reading when you’re in between new books?

KD: Schitt’s Creek!

What would you do or where would you go if you won the lotto? 

KD: I would buy a beach house on Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

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 Fiscal Officer? 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.