Call for Papers: Library Research Round Table

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Here’s another thing to get you geared up for ALA’s Annual Conference in Anaheim this June. The Library Research Round Table is looking for presentation proposals related to three areas of library research. Abstracts must be submitted by December 20, 2011, and notification of acceptance will be sent in late February, 2012. Accepted proposals will be presented at the ALA Annual from June 21-26. If you have recent or in-progress research relating to users, problem solving, or innovation, consider submitting.

LRRT defines their three categories as this: Read More →

Post-Conference Report

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I’m back from New Orleans and ALA Annual Conference, where, among many other things that happened, I was formally installed as the new president of YALSA for the upcoming year. I was delighted to meet so many of you: at the YALSA Happy Hour, at the Strategic Planning session, at the membership meeting, at the Odyssey Award and Printz Award ceremonies, on the exhibit floor, at the speed networking event, and many other places. I was once again reassured that YALSA has the best members of any division in ALA, and I know you will all help me as I focus on my theme for the year: Building the Future.

I will be making regular blog posts throughout the year (and don’t forget also to follow me on Twitter–@yalsapresident), but for now, I want to give some highlights from the four YALSA Board sessions that occurred at Annual.

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YALSA Membership Meeting and President’s Program Overview

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For those of you who couldn’t make it to NOLA for ALA’s Annual Conference (which, by the way, rocked!), here is a wrap-up of the Membership Meeting and President’s Program held Monday afternoon.

2010-2011 YALSA president Kim Patton hosted an inspiring program. Her first order of business was to ask members to speak briefly about recent success in YA librarianism. The speakers included: Read More →

YALSA Podcast Episode #99: 2011 ALA Annual Preview

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For episode #99 we’re talking New Orleans as we preview some of the upcoming YALSA-oriented events happening at the 2011 ALA Annual Conference. First we talk to Penny Johnson, who gives us the big rundown on The Nuts and Bolts of Serving Teens Pre-conference. Then Blog Manager MK Eagle interviews Matt Moffett about The Table Talk Mashup Program and things close out with Gretchen Kolderup giving us a nice overview of the Speed Networking for YA Librarians event.

2011 ALA Annual Preview

If’  you prefer, you may go to the’ YALSA Podcast Site, download the Mp3 file and listen to it on the Mp3 player of your choice. To avoid missing future episodes, add’ the feed to Itunes or any other rss feed tracker.

To find out more about these and other YALSA-related events happening at this year’s annual conference, take a look at the YALSA Conference Wiki.

 

 

Help Shape YALSA’s Future!

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Attending Annual?’  Whether you are a new member or a veteran of YALSA, you won’t want to miss an important opportunity to have your voice be’ heard.

Every member is’ encouraged to attend the Strategic Planning Session taking the place of the All Committee meeting, Saturday, June 25, 10:00-12:00 in room 352 of the convention center. (Light refreshments will be available at 10:00.)

All committees, interest and discussion groups, Board actions, initiatives, resources–really everything that makes up YALSA–must fit under the umbrella of the Strategic Plan.’  The current plan was established in 2008, and a new plan should be in place by Midwinter 2012.’  The Board is seeking your input in order to ensure that the new plan is relevant,’ meets your needs as a’ member, and addresses your priorities and concerns in the profession.

The March survey provided some’ information, but more is needed.’  Grab a friend or two and plan on attending this facilitated session.’  Here’s your chance to make a valuable contribution with a lasting impact.

My Favorite Craft Galleries in New Orleans

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Yes, it’s conference time once again and although I know we’ll all be very busy, there are times when we want and need to escape from the conference craziness and just roam the city for a little bit on our own. For those of you who’ve attended ALA in New Orleans before, you probably have your own favorite haunts; for me, because I love bringing home artsy souvenirs, these three galleries have always been wonderful to poke around in.

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Help facilitate the speed networking event at Annual!

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As we get closer to Annual (just 38 days left!), maybe some of you have started to look through the schedule to choose the sessions you want to attend. Did YALSA’s Speed Networking for Librarians catch your eye?

Are you the only teen services librarian at your library? Tired of being lonely and want a simple way to connect with your peers? Attend this informal event to meet colleagues from around the country and exchange practical ideas and information to help you bolster your teen services program.

This program is inspired by the speed dating model of getting to know someone: participants will be divided into smallish groups and seated two groups at a table. Every few minutes, groups will swap tables, giving you a chance to get to know a lot of fellow YALSA members in a more personal way in a short period of time. The event will be on Saturday, June 25th from 1:30 to 3:30pm.

Here’s where you come in: we need volunteers to help facilitate conversations at each table. You’ll be provided with a list of questions and discussion topics ahead of time, so your basic responsibility will just be to keep the conversation going. This is a great chance to dip your toe into volunteering at Annual if you haven’t done that yet and to expand your professional network. It’s also an opportunity for more seasoned YALSA members to help out at an event where new members and students will be present, which will help them feel welcome within our organization.

If you’re interested in being a facilitator, please email me. And if being a facilitator doesn’t sound like you, at least consider participating in the speed networking event!

The Nuts & Bolts of Serving Teens: Technology in Libraries

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Gagdets, and gizmos, and apps! Oh, my! ‘ Keeping up with technology trends and incorporating new tools into library programming and promotion can be daunting—but it doesn’t have to be.

Join us at the 2011 YALSA Preconference:’ The Nuts & Bolts of Serving Teens, where Jesse Vieau will share his experiences using technology in teen programming and library promotion.’  Jesse is the Teen Services Librarian at the Madison (WI) Public Library.’  Formerly a Teen Services Librarian in the Loft @ ImaginOn, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, Jesse’s work with teens includes collaborating with teen interns using Google Docs, facilitating digital projects in teen detention centers, and hosting a digital petting zoo in which teens mentor senior citizens as they explore new technology.

At’ The Nuts & Bolts of Serving Teens, Jesse will deliver ideas for practical, inexpensive ways you can use technology as you work with teens.’  You will discover new tools, gadgets, hardware, and software that are easy to use and appealing to teens.’  Jesse will also share his tips for using technology to manage your heavy workload and to promote library services to teens.’  You will leave the event with a list of user-friendly tools, and will be ready to implement new programs or services at your library.

The preconference will also include presentations on core competencies for teen librarians, collection management, teen behavior, and developing relationships between your library and teens, and is scheduled for 12:30-4:30 PM on June 24 in New Orleans.

To add’ The Nuts & Bolts of Serving Teens to your 2011 ALA Annual Conference Registration, visit’ http://www.alaannual.org/ or call’ 1-800-974-3084. Registration for 2011 ALA Annual Conference is not necessary to participate in the preconference. Tickets for the event cost $129 and include light refreshments.

 

The Nuts & Bolts of Serving Teens: Practical Tips for the Library Generalist or New YA Librarian

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Teens are a key audience for libraries, but their unique needs can make designing services and programs for this audience a challenge. At this session, presenters will crack open their tool box and share simple strategies for providing basic but effective programs and services for teens. Expect to leave with new ideas and a practical plan for improving teen services at your library.

Arrive early to network with fellow librarians to discuss your thoughts on exemplary teen services and get to work on an interactive display featuring your successes in teen services.

The preconference will begin when Angela Fredrick (Nashville Public Library) breaks ground with an icebreaker and introduces the day’s expert presenters. Get inspired by Angelina Manfredi (Los Alamos County Libraries) and her presentation on mutually beneficial relationships that can develop between teens and librarians. Then, Mari Hardacre (Allen County (IN) Public Library) will discuss the YALSA’s core competencies for teen librarians, including tips on managing teen behavior in libraries. Hardacre will also share practical collection management ideas. Erin Helmrich (Ann Arbor District Library), author of Create, Relate, and Pop @ the Library: Services and Programs for Teens & Tweens, will delve into easy but effective teen program plans that you can take home to your library. Finally, Jesse Vieau (Madison Public Library) will demonstrate the technology tools you can use to manage your time effectively, and will present his favorite tools and gadgets to share with teens.

Fill your toolbox with tips from our presenters, and then get ready to get to work at your library during small group discussions led by Penny Johnson (Baraboo (WI) Public Library). With support from a group, develop an action plan with steps you can take to pour a strong foundation for teen services at your library. Armed with the blueprints you created during the preconference, the framework for exemplary teen collections and programming will be up in no time at your library.

To add The Nuts & Bolts of Serving Teens to your 2011 ALA Annual Conference Registration, visit http://www.alaannual.org/ or call 1-800-974-3084. Registration for 2011 ALA Annual Conference is not necessary to participate in the preconference. Tickets for the event cost $129 and include light refreshments.

Posted on behalf of Rebecca Malinowski.

Conference Meetup for Librarians Serving Incarcerated Youth

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An interesting discussion has popped up on yalsa-lockdown, a listserve set up to discuss issues unique to librarians working with incarcerated youth. A few weeks ago librarians started discussing getting together at ALA and now a meetup is being planned for the Saturday evening of the ALA conference in New Orleans.’  This meetup is a great idea.

‘ There have been some inspiring presentations on working with incarcerated youth at past ALA conferences. At every ALA that I am able to attend, I always look forward to attending presentations on serving this unique population.’  While incarcerated, teens, with the encouragement of staff and outreach librarians, often pick up books for recreational reading – sometimes for the first time their life. Read More →