HomeScholastic to give away books to new YALSA members

Contact: Nichole Gilbert

Program Officer

312-280-4387

ngilbert@ala.org

For Immediate Release

June 20, 2006

Scholastic to give away books to new YALSA members

CHICAGO - The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest growing division of the American Library Association (ALA), and Scholastic, Inc. are looking for new regular members who want to 'Get Active! @ your library' by joining YALSA and celebrating Teen Read Week^TM.   Scholastic, Inc. will donate two new books to librarians who join YALSA between now and September 15.

"We're happy to reward librarians who step up to the plate and participate in Teen Read Week^TM, and who also put their money where their mouth is by becoming paid-up members of YALSA at the same time," said John Mason, Scholastic's Library and Educational Marketing Director.  "It's our way of thanking them for everything they do to motivate teens to read and keep them reading - and for joining the YA division of their professional association (the ALA) which is such a strong national advocate for reading and literacy."

"Some of the greatest rewards of being a YALSA member are the intangible ones," said YALSA President Pam Spencer Holley.  "Participating in YALSA committees, task forces, and interest or discussion groups; gaining valuable leadership experience; and exposure to a variety of specialty fields within our profession, to name just a few."

In addition to the intangible benefits, members of YALSA will have access to a Member's Only Web Site with lists of annotated recommended books and films, access to a quarterly newsletter, YAttitudes, as well as print versions of speeches by the authors who have won the Michael L. Printz Award and the Margaret A. Edwards Award.   A free subscription to YALSA's quarterly journal Young Adult Library Services is also included with membership, and members receive discounts for ALA products and conferences.  Another benefit of membership is eligibility to over $35,000 in grants and awards that YALSA administers each year.

To join YALSA, call Member & Customer Service at: 1-800-545-2433, ext. 5. Payment for YALSA membership will be prorated if you are currently an ALA member.  YALSA membership will have the same expiration date as basic ALA membership.  If joining YALSA within 4 months of the expiration of your basic ALA membership, it is best to renew the basic membership in order to receive a full 12-month membership in YALSA.

Teen Read Week's nonprofit supporting organizations include:   American Association of School Administrators, American Booksellers Association, Cable in the Classroom, KIDSNET, Kids Care, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Council of Teachers of English, SmartGirl.org, National Education Association, National School Board Association, PBS, Speak Up Press, International Reading Association, TeenInk and The N/Noggin.

Scholastic, Inc. is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books.  A global children's publishing and media company serving the needs of parents, teachers, and children, Scholastic provides proprietary book and software distribution through school book clubs, school book fairs and to classrooms and libraries, as well as through the retail trade. Their web site is http://www.scholastic.com.

Harcourt Trade Publishers; Orca Book Publishers; Scholastic, Inc.; and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing are Friends of Teen Read Week^TM.

Now in its ninth year, Teen Read Week^TM is a national literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association.   The theme for Teen Read Week^TM 2006, "Get Active! @ your library®," encourages teens to read for the fun of it and use the resources at their libraries to help them lead active lives and find books on sports, fitness, volunteerism, activism, college preparation career direction, and more.

For nearly fifty years YALSA has been the world leader in selecting, evaluating and recommending books, videos and audiobooks for teens.  For more information about YALSA and recommended reading, viewing and listening for teens go to www.ala.org/yalsa or contact the YALSA office by phone, 800-545-2433, ext. 4390; or e-mail: yalsa@ala.org.

To learn more about Teen Read Week, please visit the Web at www.ala.org/teenread.