Join YALSA in Boston–or Your Living Room

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Those of you who aren’t with us in Boston or find yourself double (or triple!) booked can participate in several YALSA events via live coverage at the YALSA blog. Once again we’ll be using CoverItLive, with some exciting changes: live streaming video and social networking logins.

When you join the live blog session by clicking in the viewer window (see last year’s BBYA live blog to see the interface) you’ll have the option to log in using your Facebook, Twitter or MySpace login. Your comments will then appear with your avatar from that account. You’ll also be able to view our streaming video from the session thanks to integration with Qik.

The schedule of YALSA live blogs:

Best Books for Young Adults Teen Session: Sunday, January 17 1:30-3:30 PM

Youth Media Awards: Monday, January 18 7:30-9:00 AM

Morris and Nonfiction Awards: Monday, January 18 8:00-10:00 PM

The Future of Best Books for Young Adults

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Once again the YALSA Board has a proposal about BBYA before it, and once again controversy seems to have erupted. Discussion–sometimes heated–on various blogs and Twitter streams has left many librarians wondering if we’re in for a repeat performance of the overcrowded, emotional Board meeting in Chicago last July.

Before anyone goes hunting for extra folding chairs, however, YALSA would like to clarify some information about the proposal.

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YALSA 201 program at ALA Midwinter in Boston

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The Division & Membership Promotion Committee will host YALSA 201 at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Boston on Friday, January 15th from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in Boston Convention Center Room 160A.

This program is designed for YALSA members who are interested in leadership positions such as committee chair or board member.’  Guest speakers will discuss these roles in YALSA, and there will be a Q&A session.

The YALSA Happy Hour will begin right after this program at 5:00 p.m. in the Boston Convention Center Grand Ballroom Foyer.

Confirmed speakers for YALSA 201:

  • Candice Mack – Chair, Division & Membership Promotion Committee
  • Angie Manfredi – Road Trip Coordinator
  • Francisca Goldsmith – Course Instructor
  • (virtual) Lesley Farmer – YALSA Member/IFLA Representative
  • Sarah Flowers – Editor, YALS
  • Pam Spencer Holley – YALSA author
  • mk Eagle – Blog Manager
  • Dora Ho – Convenor, Anime Discussion Group
  • Angela Carstensen – Award/Selection Chair
  • Kelly Czarnecki – Chair, Teen Tech Week Committee
  • Ritchie Momon/Pam Spencer Holley – Task Force on Committees Chair
  • Nick Buron – Board Member
  • John Sexton – Chair, Nominating Committee 2011
  • Audra Caplan – ALA Councillor/YALSA member

YALSA Networking Dinner

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Those of you looking to network with fellow YALSA members can meet for dinner at Grottos www.grottosrestaurant.com Saturday January 16th @ 7:00. Reservations have been made for a large YALSA group. This is an opportunity for those people not invited to publisher dinners to still have an excellent meal. Sign up at Friday’s Happy Hour and meet other people who may be joining for dinner before that night.

The YALSA Update: Midwinter & More

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Midwinter starts next week! Even if you’re not attending, there’s plenty for you to know as YALSA and ALA head to Boston.

Morris/Nonfiction Book Trailer Contest: Teens at your library could win a box of books and a $100 gift certificate to a major bookseller; you could win $200 in books from YALSA! Encourage teens at your library to create book trailers featuring the finalists from the 2010 Morris Award or Nonfiction Award and upload them to YouTube by Jan. 17, tagged either “yalsamorris” or “yalsanf.” Read the official rules (PDF)’  to learn more.

Keep up with what’s going on YALSA will be blogging, podcasting, and Twittering from Midwinter. We’ll have liveblogs of a few events, including the BBYA Teen Session, the Youth Media Awards, and the Morris/Nonfiction presentation.’  We’ll also be covering important board decisions, like those about YALSA’s selected lists and virtual participation. Follow along on the blog or YALSA’s Twitter page. Coming to Midwinter? Join the conversation by tagging your blog posts, tweets, and Flickr photos with #yalsa and #alamw10 #mw2010 .

Watch the Youth Media Awards in the comfort of your library or home ALA will provide a free live webcast of its Youth Media Awards on Jan. 18, starting at 7:45 a.m. The number of available connections for the Webcast is limited and the broadcast is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Online visitors can view the live Webcast the morning of the announcements by going to http://alawebcast.unikron.com.

If you’re going to Boston, see what we have planned after the jump, including the Libraries 3.0: Teen Edition institute, the Games, Gadgets, and Gurus social event, the Youth Media Awards announcement, and the Morris/Nonfiction Award Reception.

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A Clique Or A Welcoming Group?

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As YALSA President, one of the things I sometimes hear from new YALSA members, and those attending Midwinter Meeting or Annual Conference for the first time, is that YALSA is very cliquey. I can see how that can be the perception as at meetings and events, people who know each other and haven’t seen each other in months, get excited about having the chance to talk face-to-face and huddle around each other excitedly, often talking non-stop. To some, walking into that environment, it can seem like first day at a new high school on the first day of school after summer vacation. Vacation is just over and everyone is running up to each other, hugging, and gabbing away, excited about being together again after time apart. Read More →

Sit In On YALSA Board Meetings @ Midwinter

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In less than a week I’ll be in Boston, sort of hard for me to believe, but it’s true. I’m going a bit early in order to attend the ALISE Conference. At ALISE I’ll attend some sessions and meetings as well as host a YALSA Happy Hour for Conference attendees and staff the YALSA booth for a few hours during the week. (If you will be at ALISE be sure to stop by.)

Right after ALISE is Midwinter and there are quite a few things that I’m gearing up for at the Meeting. One of the activities that is very much on my mind are the meetings of the YALSA Board. As mentioned in my December President’s Report, anyone is welcome to attend YALSA’s Board meetings. (The full agenda and documentation is now available on the YALSA Members Only Web Site.)

If you are going to be in Boston, think about spending some time with the Board. These Board meetings are a very good way to learn about the work of the organization, find out what it’s like to serve as a Board member, and get updates on YALSA projects and activities. Even if a new YALSA member you might want to stop in at a Board meeting in order to find out what the Association is doing for you, and find out how YALSA governance works. Read More →

YALSA Podcast #80: Looking Forward to Midwinter Institute

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In this podcast, Kelly Czarnecki interviews Jamie Watson to talk about the Midwinter Institute. Jamie offers some insight on the development of the day’s programming and thoughts for librarians who fear they don’t have access to adequate technology to participate.

Libraries 3.0: Teen Edition will be held January 15th from 9:00 to 4:30. For more information and instructions for registering, visit the YALSA wiki.

Listen

You can also download this podcast, and others, at YALSA’s Podcasts site.

YALSA President’s Report: December 2009

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The mission of the Young Adult Library Services Association is to advocate, promote and strengthen service to young adults as part of the continuum of total library service, and to support those who provide service to this population.

Mission Moment
How Recent YALSA Activities Support the Association’s Mission and Strategic Plan

In December YALSA hired the first editor of the Association’s research journal. Jessica Moyer was selected by the search committee. The research journal is slated to launch in the fourth-quarter of 2010 and is both directly tied to YALSA’s mission and the Association’s strategic plan. As a demonstration of supporting YALSA’s mission, hiring Jessica is a key step in publishing a journal that will help members understand teens and how to serve them effectively. The YALSA strategic plan includes a goal area for research which states, “YALSA is a recognized source for access to targeted research benefiting members and the library community.” Hiring a journal editor is an important action in reaching this strategic goal.

Accomplishments

In early December I facilitated two conversations for Committee Chairs on planning and getting ready for Midwinter Meeting in Boston. Information covered in the conversations included submission of pre-conference committee reports, building an agenda for committee meetings, what to expect at all-committee and leadership development meetings, and events (outside of committee meetings) to attend at Midwinter. Read More →

YALSA 201 at the ALA Midwinter Meeting

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To follow up their YALSA 101 program at ALA Annual, the Division & Membership Promotion Committee will host YALSA 201 at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Boston.

This program is designed for YALSA members who are interested in leadership positions such as committee chair or board member.’  Guest speakers will discuss these roles in YALSA, and there will be a Q&A session.

The program will be held Friday, January 15, 2010 from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in the Boston Convention Center Room 160A. This is before Midwinter officially begins, so full registration is not required to attend this event.

The YALSA Happy Hour will begin right after this program at 5:00 p.m. in the Boston Convention Center Grand Ballroom Foyer.

Confirmed speakers for YALSA 201:

  • Nick Buron – Board Member
  • John Sexton – Chair, Nominating Committee 2011
  • Sarah Flowers – Editor, YALS
  • Pam Spencer Holley – YALSA author
  • mk Eagle – Blog Manager
  • Francisca Goldsmith – Course Instructor
  • Angela Carstensen – Award/Selection Chair
  • Dora Ho – Interest Group Convenor
  • Angie Manfredi – Road Trip Coordinator