How to Participate in YALSA - an Information Sheet for New, Continuing, and Potential Members
About YALSA:
The goal of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) is to advocate, promote, and strengthen service to young adults as part of the continuum of total library services in all types of libraries--school, public and institutionalBand to support those who provide service to this population.
To learn more about YALSA, current programs, committees, or officers, check the ALA Handbook of Organization and read Young Adult Library Services (YALS), the YALSA journal. To learn more about YALSA committees, see the list of YALSA committees.
As a personal member of YALSA, you will receive YALS as well as American Libraries. You will also have access to the YALSA Members Only Web Site, which includes YAttitudes, the YALSA quarterly on-line newsletter.
To receive information, assistance or advice on any aspect of library service to young adults, contact the YALSA Executive Director, Program Officer, or the Administrative Assistant at ALA Headquarters (1-800-545-2433 x4390) or via e-mail yalsa@ala.org, YALSA Officers, or the Chairperson of the YALSA Committee whose work relates to your area of interest.
Subscribe to & participate in one of YALSA’s electronic discussion lists
Join in on the conversation! YALSA has a variety of discussion lists that you can subscribe to. The discussion lists are a great way to network, share ideas, and keep current on what is happening in young adult library services. Learn more about YALSA’s discussion lists!
Vote in the ALA/YALSA Elections
YALSA needs your voice to be heard! Voting takes place each spring; learn more on procedures from the ALA Election page. You can also run for YALSA Office. Learn more from the YALSA Nominating Committee.
Come to an ALA conference
ALA holds two conferences a year: the Annual Conference is held each June, and the Midwinter Meeting is held each January. The Annual Conference is focused on offering professional development to those in the field of librarianship through workshops, guest speakers, and more. The Midwinter Meeting has a different focus. The purpose of the Midwinter Meeting is to further the work of ALA and its divisions, committees, and offices. Instead of workshops and speakers, committees meet to further their goals. Most of these meetings are open. If you are interested in joining a particular YALSA committee, or would just like to learn more about them, you can attend the Midwinter Meeting and the YALSA committee meetings.
Apply for a grant or award
YALSA offers over $33,000 in grants and awards each year. Most applications are due December 1st. Learn more about YALSA's Grants!
Host a YALSA institute
Let YALSA come to you! YALSA has four licensed institutes: Get Graphic @ Your Library, Power Up With Print, Teens & Technology, and A Beginner's Guide to Teens & Libraries. You provide the place and the audience, and for a fee YALSA will provide an expert presenter and appropriate hand-outs for participants.
Nominate books for YALSA awards & booklists
We want to hear from you! You can nominate a title for any of YALSA’s awards and booklists. Nomination forms are available at www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists. Click on the award/list for which you’d like to nominate a book, and the next page will provide a link to the appropriate form.
Have your Teen Advisory Group (TAG) read and vote on books for the Teens’ Top Ten
Get your teens involved in YALSA! Have them read the books nominated for the Teens’ Top Ten and cast their vote. You can also apply to have your TAG serve on the nominating committee. For more information, go to www.ala.org/teenstopten.
Register to be an official participant of Teen Read Week™
Those who officially register to participate in Teen Read Week, which is held annually on the third week of October, get perks like free books. To learn more go to www.ala.org/teenread
Be a Friend of YALSA
Support young adult librarianship! Be an official Friend of YALSA with your donation. Learn more about the Friends of YALSA.
Participate in Teen Tech Week™
Register to participate in Teen Tech Week and learn how to celebrate this event on the new Teen Tech Week Web site at www.ala.org/teentechweek. Teen Tech Week is celebrated the second week in March.
Be a presenter at an ALA conference
Do you have a presentation or workshop relating to library services to youth that would be appropriate to deliver at an ALA conference? Submit your idea to Nichole Gilbert, YALSA Program Officer at ngilbert@ala.org . To read more about being a presenter, access the Proposal for Programs & Pre-conferences Form
Write an article for YALS or YAttitudes
Have you recently completed a successful or innovative program or event for teens at your library? Have you conducted research relating to teens and libraries or literacy? Then write an article for Young Adfult Library Services (YALS) or YAttitudes. Check out the Guidelines for submitting articles for YALS.
Publish your book with YALSA
Do you have a great idea for a book relating to some aspect of library services to teens? Then let YALSA publish your book! Look at the proposal form and the complete YALSA publications manual. If you have suggestions for a book or article but do not want to write it yourself, tell us about it here.
Be a YALSA advocate
Talk with your colleagues about the benefits of being a member of YALSA. Use the Recruitment Kit and/or a sample recruiting script.
Start an Interest or Discussion Group
Is there a particular topic relating to young adult librarianship that you’re passionate about? If so, consider starting a discussion group or interest group. A discussion group is an informal body that meets at ALA’s Midwinter Meeting and/or Annual Conference to explore a particular topic. Between conferences the discussion can continue virtually via an online discussion list. An interest group meets at conferences and communicates online but also can sponsor programs and publish related works. Discussion and interest groups must be approved by YALSA’s Board of Directors. Fifteen member signatures are required in order to start up these groups. Each group chooses its own chairperson. Learn more here or contact the YALSA Office at yalsa@ala.org or 1 (800) 545-2433 x4391.
Take an online course
YALSA offers online courses three times a year using Moodle. All of YALSA's courses are the equivalent of a one day face-to-face workshop. A certificate of completion is issued for each course taken. Check the course schedule.
Join the conversation at YALSA's blog
Visit the YALSA Blog to read news and views on a variety of topics relating to the association and to the profession.
Serve on a committee
If you would like to serve on a YALSA Committee, familiarize yourself with the work of the committees. Check the information below as well as the ALA Handbook of Organization for a description of each committee's function. Complete a Committee Volunteer Form. Introduce yourself to the YALSA Officers and Committee Chairs at the Midwinter and Annual Conferences, and let them know of your interest. The YALSA President and Vice-President/President-Elect make all committee appointments. Appointments for selection committees (e.g., Alex Committee, Best Books for Young Adults, Popular Paperbacks, Quick Picks, Selected DVDs and Videos for Young Adults) and the Nominating Committee are made in the Fall; appointments for the remaining committees are made in the Spring.
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