Registration open for YALSA’s 2018 YA Services Symposium

For Immediate Release
Thu, 04/19/2018

Contact:

Nichole O’Connor

Program Officier

Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)

noconnor@ala.org

CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has opened registration for its 2018 YA Services Symposium, which takes place November 2-4 in Salt Lake City, UT with the theme: Zeroing In: Focusing on Teen Needs. View the preliminary schedule of programs. All are welcome to register.

Early bird rates offer $50 in savings and run through September 15. Early bird rates are as follows:

  • $199 YALSA Personal Member
  • $199 Utah Library Association Members
  • $199 Utah Educational Library Media Association Members
  • $264 ALA Personal Member (Join YALSA ($61) & then register ($199) for only $260)
  • $59 Students (enrolled full-time in a library program)
  • $329 Others
  • $59 Students (enrolled full-time in a library program)

ALA only members and others who are not yet YALSA members can save money and get the added benefits of YALSA membership by simply joining YALSA before registering. Costs for joining YALSA, plus the YALSA registration rate is often less than or equal to the non-member and ALA member registration rates. YALSA/ALA membership starts as low as $63 per year and includes free access to a weekly eNews, a quarterly journal, monthly webinars, and more. Join now online or by phone 1.800.545.4293. Be sure to ask what discounted rate you may be eligible for. All rates/levels of personal membership are considered a full membership and receive the same benefits.

Registration includes:

  • Opening session and reception on Friday evening
  • Programs running concurrently on Saturday from 8am– 5pm, and 8am – 1pm on Sunday
  • Refreshment breaks mid-morning on Saturday and Sunday and an afternoon break on Saturday
  • Book Buzz on Saturday morning with publishers to learn about their latest titles
  • Galley Grab – grab five galleys of upcoming titles
  • Book Blitz on Saturday evening with light refreshments, up to five free books, and the chance to meet dozens of authors
  • Closing session on Sunday afternoon
  • Access to a free webinar
  • A certificate of participation with your contact hours (a sign-up sheet will be on site) 
  • Symposium bag
  • Badge holder

In addition to the programming included with registration, attendees have the option to add various ticketed events such as Friday pre-conferences, a Saturday Author Luncheon, and extracurricular activities. Learn more about the list of programs and events here

The symposium will take place at the Sheraton Salt Lake City Hotel with the special rate of $129 for a single/double room. Attendees are encouraged to book by October 12, 2018 to take advantage of not only the special rate, but also to ensure room availability. After October 12, hotel room reservations will not be available.

YALSA members attending the symposium can apply for a chance to receive a travel stipend of up to $1,000 to offset travel costs to the symposium. Two stipends are available: one for library workers and one for students. Apply by June 1.

The Symposium will gather together over 500 school and public library staff, educators, researchers, afterschool providers, authors and other teen advocates to explore the ways libraries can zero in on and better address teen needs. Learn more about the symposium at www.ala.org/yalsa/yasymposium and follow the conversation on social media with #yalsa18.

The mission of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) is to support library staff in alleviating the challenges teens face, and in putting all teens ‒ especially those with the greatest needs ‒ on the path to successful and fulfilling lives. For more information about YALSA or to access national guidelines and other resources go to www.ala.org/yalsa, or contact the YALSA office by phone, 800-545-2433, ext. 4390; or e-mail: yalsa@ala.org.