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ALA & YALSA Resources for Member Groups

Find out how to get involved with YALSA and ALA via member groups! You'll find information for those serving or interested in serving on advisory boards, committees, discussion groups, juries, interest groups and task forces.

Tools to Facilitate the Work of your Group

• Create an email discussion list. An email list is a good way to communicate with your members in order to get information out about projects and plans. Contact Letitia Smith, YALSA’s Program Coordinator for Membership, at lsmith@ala.org or 1.800.545.2433 x4390.
• Create a space on the password protected YALSA wiki for your group to use as a work space. A Wiki space is useful when your group needs to collaborate on a project. For example, if you need to create a resource list or PR for a program, a wiki page is a good tool to use. Fill out the form (Word Doc) to request space: and email it to yalsa.wikis@gmail.com
• Use the workspace and networking opportunities on ALA Connect, a new online resource from ALA. ALA Connect is useful if you would like to keep a calendar of tasks (accessible to all members) that your group needs to accomplish, if you want to have real-time text chats to talk about your work, if you want to share documents, or if you would like to have threaded discussion on a topic. Simply log in using your ALA login and password. 
• If your group needs to meet via conference call, please contact the YALSA Office at yalsa@ala.org or 1.800.545.2433 x4390 to request that one be set up for you.
• Schedule a face-to-face meeting of your group at an ALA Annual Conference or Midwinter Meeting. Contact Nichole Gilbert, YALSA’s Program Officer, at 1.800. 545 2433 x4387 or ngilbert@ala.org.

Selected Resources for Reaching YALSA and Beyond

• Send a brief report to YAttitudes about your group or have an event listed in the calendar. Contact Erin Howerton, the editor, at erindowney@gmail.com.
• Host podcasts on the blog that feature a discussion about something relating to your group’s area of focus. Contact Heidi Dolamore, the blog manager, at heidi.dolamore@gmail.com.
• Create a space on YALSA’s public wiki for participants to share information and ideas. Fill out the form (Word Doc) to request space and email it to: yalsa.wikis@gmail.com
• Participate on YALSA's Facebook fan page (see a list of other YALSA e-resources)
• Chairs and conveners who want to be active YALSA bloggers can contact Heidi Dolamore, the blog manager, at heidi.dolamore@gmail.com.
• For more resources or ideas for disseminating information about your group, contact Stephanie Kuenn, YALSA’s communications specialist, at 1.800.545.2433 x2128 or skuenn@ala.org.

Publishing

(Does not apply to Discussion Groups)

• Post information and handouts from your Annual program on http://presentations.ala.org.
• Write & publish articles in Young Adult Library Services. Contact Sarah Flowers, editor, at yalseditor@gmail.com
• Write a brief article for YAttitudes. Contact Erin Howerton, the editor, at erindowney@gmail.com.
• For book-length publishing ideas contact YALSA’s Publications Committee Chair.

Program Planning

(Does not apply to Discussion Groups)

• Host programs at ALA’s Annual Conference. Calls for proposals are due each year on the Monday of ALA’s Midwinter Meeting. Use the online form.   
• Host programs or present papers at YALSA’s biennial Young Adult Literature Symposium. Calls for papers and proposals are online at the symposium site. The next symposium will be held in Albuquerque, NM from Nov. 5-7, 2010.