Publish with YALSA!
YALSA's publications offer librarians and library workers a wealth of tips and resources to help make your day-to-day job easier! All titles published by YALSA are available in the ALA online store, or by contacting ALA Order Fulfillment by phone at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 7.
ALA members receive an additional 10% off.
Publication Sale! Check out a list of our discounted titles!
Self Published Titles
NEW! Teen Summer Learning Programs: From Start to Finish
YALSA, October 2018
In recent years, more and more libraries have shifted their focus from traditional summer reading programs to summer learning programs in order to help youth develop the twenty-first-century skills needed to succeed in their life and careers. Whether you’ve just started transitioning from summer reading to summer learning, or have already completed it, this guide will help you think through the nuts and bolts of designing, implementing, and improving your summer learning program to ensure success. From planning & budgeting to community engagement and program examples, you won’t end up short on ideas for your teen summer learning program.
160 pages. ISBN: 978-0-8389-8999-9. $40. On sale now! Available also as an e-book and print/e-book bundle.
Putting Teens First in Library Services: A Road Map
YALSA, July 2017
Implementing innovative teen services in libraries requires that library staff learn and adapt with their communities. Using core concepts outlined in YALSA’s The Future of Library Services for and with Teens: A Call to Action report as a spring-board, this publication takes a deep dive into the theory and practice behind meaningful, cutting-edge teen programs and services with contributions from diverse leaders in the field including front-line practitioners, managers, and researchers. From novice to expert, readers will explore the knowledge and information that they need in order to design a relevant and sustainable strategy, which will improve the lives of the teens that they serve. Learn more via this free 20 minute video hosted by the editors.
190 pages. ISBN: 978-0-8389-8961-6. $40. On sale now!
YALSA's Top Reads: STEM and Making
Digital only (ePDF, ePub, Kindle/MobiPocket)
YALSA, March 2017
YALSA's Top Reads digital publication features a collection of YALSA's best articles and resources on two of the hottest topics in the library field – STEM and Making. Whether you're just dipping your toes into STEM and Making or are a seasoned pro, this publication provides a wealth of practical expertise guaranteed to help you develop, elevate, and evaluate STEM and making programming in your library.
157 pages. $29. On sale now!
YALSA's Top Reads: Community Engagement and Collaboration
Digital only (ePDF, ePub, Kindle/MobiPocket)
YALSA, March 2017
YALSA’s Top Reads digital publication features a collection of YALSA's best articles and resources on two critical topics in the library field – Community Engagement and Collaboration. Whether you’re just getting started in community engagement or simply need new ideas, strategies, or resources, this publication has all that and more!
112 pages. $29. On sale now!
YALSA's Top Reads Bundle
Bundle and save! Get both top reads digital publications for only $49!
Digital only (ePDF, ePub, Kindle/MobiPocket)
YALSA's Top Reads: STEM and Making
YALSA's Top Reads: Community Engagement and Collaboration On sale now!
Teen Services 101: A Practical Guide for Busy Library Staff
YALSA, January 2015
Need to amp up teen services, but you’re short on time or not sure where to start? Teen Services 101: A Practical Guide for Busy Library Staff provides useful information that will help staff put together a basic teen services program with minimal time and hassle. The author, Megan Fink, provides practical tips and instructions on how to build core teen services into the overall library program. Whether you’re a new teen services librarian, or staff in a one person library, this how-to guide on teen services can help you effectively serve teen patrons.
229 pages. ISBN-13: 978-0-8389-8803-9. $40. On sale now!
Practical Programming: The Best of YA-YAAC 
YALSA, August 2013
Young adult enthusiasts around the world coalesce at YALSA’s discussion list, YA-YAAC to chat about cool craft ideas, share teen programming successes, and solicit suggestions for challenges like uptight managers, teen-phobic environments, and programming brain freeze!
Practical Programming: The Best of YA-YAAC will provide librarians and library workers with a wealth of tried and true programming ideas for teens. Monique Delatte Starkey culled the best ideas and compiled them into this easy to read resource.
2013. 160 pages. ISBN-13: 978-0-8389-8670-7. $40 $20 (50% off). This title is available at a discounted rate for bulk purchase. Contact YALSA Projects at yalsaprojects@ala.org for details.
"Including programs from parkour to “zombies versus humans,” this practical, refreshing guide offers librarians a variety of fun, free (or almost free) activities to what many have labeled one of the most difficult programming groups: teens. Some of the material may not be new to teen librarians who have followed the YA-YAAC listserv, but for newcomers, this guide offers a multitude of easy go-to activities. Each program is accompanied by a description, program type, estimated costs, supply list, duration, marketing tips, and feedback. The addition of sample templates for permissions, photographic releases, and teen volunteer forms is a welcome starting point. Overall this volume is a successful compilation of the best practices, programs, and tips for reaching the teen audience." -
"Practical Programming: The Best of YA-YAAC covers different kinds of programs librarians can consider to attract young adults, and come from the YA-YAAC online tools sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association. Librarians and staff will find this a basic introduction to the best new programming ideas of recent years, providing keys to staging events and conducting games, creating youth services, and coordinating youth opportunities. From activities to recipes for refreshments, this holds many different approaches and programs librarians can use to attract teen interest." Midwest Book Review, Library Bookwatch, November 2013
Teen Read Week and Teen Tech Week: Tips and Resources for YALSA's Initiatives
Edited by Megan Fink for YALSA
YALSA, January 2011
Teen Read Week and Teen Tech Week: Tips and Resources for YALSA’s Initiatives brings together the best articles on reading and technology from YALSA's award-winning journal, Young Adult Library Services. Editor Megan Fink, middle school librarian and advisor at the Charlotte Country Day School and a former Teen Read Week chair, selected articles to form a manual that will offer guidance to librarians planning their annual events, with advice on best practices, collection development, outreach and marketing, program ideas and more.In addition, YA authors Walter Dean Myers and Cynthia Leitich Smith and Best Teen Read Week contest winners Elizabeth Kahn and Jennifer Velásquez contributed original content about the importance of these initiatives and how they support teens’ information needs, along with an introduction by YALSA past president Judy Nelson.
2011. 144 pages. ISBN: 978-0-8389-8559-5. $35 $17.50 (50% off). This title is available at a discounted rate for bulk purchase. Contact YALSA Projects at yalsaprojects@ala.org for details.
Excellence in Library Services to Young Adults, 5th edition
Edited by Amy Alessio for YALSA
YALSA, 2008
Excellence in Library Services to Young Adults , 5th edition, highlights twenty-five of the best programs across the country, providing ideas for replicating and adapting them in school and public libraries. Organized for easy browsing, each chapter encourages you to think about the range of possible programs and illustrates the growing trend of including teens in very aspect of the program—from planning to outcomes! Order your copy today! Limited time offer: Buy a copy of Excellence in Library Services to Young Adults, 5th edition, and receive a free copy of Excellence in Library Services to Young Adults, 4th edition, edited by Renee Vaillancourt McGrath!
2008. 160p. ISBN 978-0-8389-8457-4. $24 $12.50 (50% off) This title is available at a discounted rate for bulk purchase. Contact YALSA Projects at yalsaprojects@ala.org for details.
ALA Editions
Intellectual Freedom for Teens: A Practical Guide for Young Adult & School Librarians
ALA Editions, August 2014
Year after year a majority of the titles on ALA’s Banned Books list, which compiles titles threatened with censorship, are either YA books or adult books that are frequently read by teens. It’s important for YA librarians to understand the types of challenges occurring in libraries around the nation and to be ready to deal with such challenges when they occur. The Young Adult Library Services (YALSA) has tailored this book specifically for these situations, providing much-needed guidance on the highly charged topic of intellectual freedom for teens.
144 pages. ISBN-13: 978-0-8389-1200-3. $48.
Evaluating Teen Services and Programs
Sarah Flowers
Neal-Schuman, 2012
2011-2012 YALSA President Sarah Flowers, who led development of the YALSA competencies and public library evaluation tool, provides basic information to help teen/youth services librarians, library directors, library school students studying teen services, and middle/high school librarians examine all aspects of their teen programs and services to determine where improvement is needed. Find out what you need to develop goals and objectives for evaluation, and learn how to collect the data that will give you a realistic picture of your library’s strengths and weaknesses. 125 pages, 6x9. ISBN: 9781555707934. $49.95.
Outstanding Books for the College Bound: Titles and Programs for a New Generation
Edited by Angela Carstensen
ALA Editions, 2011
This completely revamped guide lists more than 400 books deemed outstanding for the college bound by YALSA. This indispensable resource includes annotated lists and a variety of indexes for easy searching. The title is available in print or as an e-book. 2011. 176 pages. ISBN-13: 978-0-8389-8570-0. $50. Visit www.alastore.ala.org to purchase.
Annotated Booklists for Every Teen Reader: The Best from the Experts at YALSA-BK
Julie Bartel and Pam Spencer Holley for YALSA
Neal-Schuman, October 2010
Annotated Booklists for Every Teen Reader organizes and annotates 75 lists of titles as requested on YALSA-BK, YALSA's popular online book discussion list. Each book is fully annotated and generously cross-referenced, creating a rich resource that offers a wealth of ideas for any school or public librarian who works with collection development, readers’ advisory, reference or programming for young adults. " Order today!
2010. 250 pages. ISBN: 9781555706586. $65
Young Adults Deserve the Best: YALSA's Competencies in Action
Sarah Flowers for YALSA
ALA Editions, September 2010
Young Adults Deserve the Best: YALSA's Competencies in Action expands on YALSA's competencies for serving teens in libraries. Along with anecdotes and success stories from the field, Young Adults Deserve the Best offers guidelines to create evaluation instruments, determine staffing needs, and develop job descriptions, as well as tools to help librarians turn theory into practice. A great resource for library administrators, library school instructors, YA services managers, as well as day-to-day librarians. Order today!
2010. 125 pages. ISBN: 978-0-8389-3587-3. $45.
Risky Business: Taking and Managing Risks in Library Services for Teens
Linda Braun, Hillias J. Martin, Connie Urquhart for YALSA
ALA Editions, 2010
Risky Business helps YA librarians contemplate the every day risks they take: Do we add that edgy urban novel to our teen collection? Should we initiate social networking? What about abandoning Dewey for a bookstore arrangement? Change is risky business, but librarians must be prepared to initiate change to best serve teens. YA service innovators Linda W. Braun, Hillias J. Martin, and Connie Urquhart explain how to be smart about taking risks without shying away from them. Order your copy today!
2010. 160 pages. ISBN: 978-0-8389-3596-5. $55.
Multicultural Programming for Tweens and Teens
Edited by Linda B. Alexander and Nahyun Kwon for YALSA
ALA Editions, 2010
Multicultural Programs for Tweens and Teens is a one-stop resource that encourages children and young adults to explore different cultures using programs developed by students at the University of South Florida School of Information. Following the practical programs laid out here, young adult librarians in public libraries, school librarians, and adult and young adult services staff can easily explore many diverse cultures. Order your copy today!
2010. 240 pages. ISBN: 978-0-8389-3582-8. $50.
Quick and Popular Reads for Teens
Edited by Pam Spencer Holley for YALSA
ALA Editions, 2009
Quick and Popular Reads for Teens collects two of YALSA's most popular booklists. For more than ten years, YALSA's Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults and Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers lists have been important collection development tools, with the former choosing paperback books around themes and the latter recommending books for young adults who do not like to read. This new volume collects and annotates each book that's appeared on both lists, along with chapters on programming and display ideas, discussion of each lists' history and selection criteria, and themed booklists. Order your copy today!
2009. 228 pages. ISBN 978-0-8389-3577-4. $45.
Best Books for Young Adults, 3rd Edition
Edited by Holly Koelling
ALA Editions, 2007
Best Books for Young Adults is back and better than ever! The new third edition continues to be the most comprehensive and effective reference for great reading for young adults, including 40 years of best YA books. The new edition, including a foreword by Betty Carter, offers annotated lists of the best YA books going back to 1966, indexed by author and title, as well as a look at current trends, background on the committee's history, and themed reproducible lists for use by librarians, school library media specialists, parents, teachers, and teens. Order your copy today!
2007. 376p. ISBN 978-0-8389-3569-9 ISBN-10: 0-8389-3569-9. $42.
Bare Bones Young Adult Services
By Renee J. Vaillancourt for YALSA
ALA Editions, 2000
Bare Bones Young Adult Services: Tips for Public Library Generalists is a hands-on guide to the philosophy and practice of young adult services. Since many libraries are without a young adult specialist, this quick-start second edition is most useful, providing practical ideas for all staff members on how to best serve teens in their community. Order your copy today!
2000. 142p. ISBN 0-8389-3497-8. $30.