Committee on Literacy planning meeting

by

The ALA Committee on Literacy invites members to a discussion and planning meeting on Saturday, July 11 at 1:30 pm at McCormick Place West in W-176c to share ideas about an exciting new project to support online information and learning opportunities for adults and teens with low reading skills.

The objective of this meeting is to explore the possibility of a national project to support cooperative collection development of online information portals for adults and teens with low literacy skills. Project participants would share responsibility for and access to a web library that will respond to the common information needs of teens and adults with low reading skills. Read More →

The YALSA Update: E-chats, Usability Testing at Annual and More!

by

YALSA’s Next Online Chat! Join YALSA on July 1 for our second online chat! President Sarah Debraski will lead a chat on summer reading programs in ALA Connect, starting at 8 p.m. on July 1. Details in this blog post. Can’t make it? Check the YALSA blog on July 2 to see a transcript.

YALSA Needs Usability Testers at ALA Annual Coming to ALA Annual Conference? Help YALSA and ALA improve website usability by signing up to be one of our usability testers! YALSA needs four usability testers to participate in a session on Sunday, July 12, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. in McCormick Place West W-472. Participants will receive a $50 gift card for the ALA Store. Interested? Contact Stevie Kuenn at skuenn@ala.org by Wednesday, July 1.

After the jump, read more about YALSA’s Ultimate Teen Bookshelf, the United We Serve Initiative, Quick and Popular Reads for Teens, and symposium deadlines!

Read More →

Counting the Days

by

It’s just a week until advanced registration for ALA Annual closes and if you haven’t registered yet there is no better time than now. YALSA has a great list of events you’ll want to think about registering for including:

  • Genre Galaxy is YALSA’s preconference program on Friday, July 10. Registrants for the preconference will get to hear great authors talk about genre literature. Authors on the schedule include Holly Black, Cecil Castellucci, and David Lubar.
  • What TO Wear is YALSA’s first-ever happy hour and fashion show. It’s the perfect way to start the conference. Join Project Runway season 4 contestant Steven Rosengard and YALSA friends for a couple of hours of fashion, conversation, and mingling. Several YALSA members have agreed to walk the runway where Steven Rosengard Read More →

Connect with Small Publishers at ALA Annual

by

YALSA recognizes that often small press or independent publishers are not able to afford to exhibit during ALA’s Annual Conference. This year, YALSA will be holding a program that will feature small press and diverse publishers that normally do not exhibit at ALA’s Annual Conference. The goal of this program is to provide information to YALSA members about how to purchase books for their libraries from small press, diverse, or independent publishers. YALSA is looking for publishers that have a focus on materials for underrepresented groups in mainstream ya lit.

The program, Strengthen Your YA Collection with Small Press/Diverse Publishers, will be held Sunday, July 12, 2009, from 3:30-5:30pm at McCormick Place West, W-196b. Come to this open house featuring publishers that focus on publishing for diverse YA populations, but that normally do not exhibit at the ALA conference. Tables will be set up around the room where publishers will feature YA titles and representatives will be available to chat about their latest titles.

Publishers interested in participating should contact YALSA Program Officer, Nichole Gilbert at ngilbert@ala.org.

The YALSA Update: Wrestlers, Editors, New Classes, Oh My!

by

Congrats to our WrestleMania Reading Challenge Winners! The WrestleMania Reading Challenge took place last weekend at Houston Public Library! Stephanie Diaz (grades 7-8) and Christian Cervantes (grades 9-12) won ringside tickets for WrestleMania 25. Learn more about the event, and the other finalists, at the WrestleMania Reading Challenge webpage.’ 

Reminder! Applications to edit Young Adult Library Services are due today to skuenn@ala.org. Please see the requirements for this member position.

E-course Registraton Open! YALSA’s affordable online courses are back! Register today for our summer session of classes, including a brand-new class, Beyond Booklists: Serving Today’s Diverse Teens (taught by Jennifer Velasquez) or the very popular Pain in the Brain: Adolescent Development and Library Behavior (taught by Beth Gallaway). Classes are four-weeks and pricing starts at $135 for YALSA members and students.

Operation TBD 2 YALSA ‘ will again team with readergirlz and Guys Lit Wire to distribute 8,000 books (donated by 18 publishers) to pediatric hospitals across the U.S. Learn how you can get involved on the YALSA Wiki or by visiting the readergirlz TBD page. Help us celebrate Support Teen Literature Day by participating in this special event.

After the jump, see where YALSA is this week on the 2009 YALSA Road Trip, find out how you can help YALSA with the Great Ideas contest, details on YALSA’s Annual preconferences and meet the winners from the 2009 YALSA membership drive.

Read More →

The YALSA Update: YALSA at ALA Annual, Support Teen Lit Day and more!

by

Explore the Universe of Teen Reading! YALSA’s offering a fantastic full-day preconference before ALA Annual Conference. Come to Genre Galaxy: Explore the Universe of Teen Reading and meet popular YA authors, including Holly Black, Cecil Castelucci, David Lubar, and Dom Testa! Discover new ways to reach teens with books, including literacy activities, program ideas and collection development. Tickets start at $195 for YALSA members and include lunch.’  Interested? Register online (you don’t have to register for ALA Annual to attend this preconference).

Advance Your Career with YALSA! In uncertain economic times, it’s important to think about your professional goals and make sure you’re in a good position to meet them. Join YALSA for the half-day preconference Moving Up the YA Career Ladder, where we’ll discuss career options for young adult librarians, tips for transitioning into management or other careers, writing effective resumes and CVs, and finding your management style. Tickets cost $129 and include refreshments. Interested? Register online (you don’t have to register for ALA Annual to attend this preconference).

After the jump, details on other special YALSA events at ALA Annual Conference, Operation TBD and Support Teen Lit Day, the WrestleMania Reading Challenge winners, the ALA/YALSA Election, and the Great Ideas contest.

Read More →

The YALSA Update: Member Drive, ALA/YALSA Elections & More

by

Happy Teen Tech Week! We hope you’re having a great Teen Tech Week at your library! Tell us what you’re doing over at the YALSA Teen Tech Week Wiki.

Member Drive Ends March 23 Recruit a new member to YALSA and you could both win a Flip Video camera! Ask your colleagues and friends to join YALSA, list you as the person who referred them on this special membership application form, and you’ll both be entered in a drawing to win a Flip Video Ultra. Applications must be received by March 23. Details are available at www.ala.org/drive2009.

After the jump, details on the YALSA/ALA Election, YALSA’s preconferences, YALSA’s advocacy tools, the Great Ideas contest and more!

Read More →

YALSA Needs YOU! At ALA Annual.

by

Heading to Chi-town this summer? Whether you’re a brand new or seasoned YALSA member, we need your help manning our action-packed booth in the exhibit hall!

This is a great opportunity to network with colleagues, learn more about your organization, and engage wandering attendees about the wonders and’ glories of ALA’s fastest growing division. Almost all of the time slots below are still available, so email the Division and Membership Committe’ at yalsa_promo@ala.org‘ now to reserve your preferred time.

*Sat. July 11, 5:30pm – 7:30pm

*Sun. July 12, 9:00am – 5:00pm

*Mon. July 13, 9:00am – 5:00pm

*Tues. July 14, 9:00am – 2:00pm

The YALSA Update: Teen Tech Week PSAs & More!

by

Teen Tech Week PSAs Teen Tech Week is less than two weeks away! Drum up interest @ your library by playing one of our six new public service announcements featuring SpongeBob SquarePants’ Tom Kenny! All are available in mp3 format and are perfect for playing during school announcements, over your library’s loudspeakers or for giving to your local radio station. Our thanks to Galaxy Press, a 2009 Teen Tech Week Promotional Partner, for providing us with the PSAs.

Tell Us What You’re Doing! We know you have amazing things planned for Teen Tech Week.’  Let us know! Add your events to the 2009 Teen Tech Week wiki. You can also see what the 2009 Teen Tech Week Mini Grant winners have planned for their winning celebrations.

After the jump: Annual Early Bird deadline, the ongoing Member Drive (you could win a Flip Video camera!), and the Great Ideas contest!

Read More →

Worlds Collide…In a Good Way

by

You may have heard that our YALSA committee, Partnerships Advocating for Teens (or PAT), is putting on a session at ALA Annual in Chicago.’  In case you haven’t heard about it, here’s a brief summary:

“It Takes Two: Creating Partnerships with School and Public Libraries” will feature speakers who have considerable knowledge and expertise on school and public library collaboration. Read More →