A task force is an action-oriented membership group whose charge is to address specific goals, complete a specific task, or to consider a particular issue. There may be a designated time frame defined by the nature of the task or set forth in the function statement. Functions of a task force may include the following:
A task force is used to address critical, urgent, or ongoing situations which require a strong, visible organizational effort and/or activist response. Any parent body may establish a task force, determine its duration, monitor its progress, and terminate its function. (ALA Policy Manual, Article 6.9)
Advocacy Task Force
To help plan and carry out a third year of YALSA's advocacy campaign, which will be implemented throughout 2010. Taskforce activities must focus on those mentioned in YALSA's Strategic Plan, including:
Develop and disseminate materials for members and library workers to use to articulate return on investment (ROI)
Work with YALSA staff to develop and execute a plan to communicate to library schools the need for updated and expanded course offerings on young adult services.
Work with YALSA staff to develop and execute a plan to communicate to State and Regional Library organizations the need for expanded teen library services within individual libraries and library systems.
Initiate and develop relationships with appropriate organizations to reach library decision makers in an effort to raise awareness of YALSA and its mission. Taskforce size: TBD.
Committee Appointments Taskforce
To provide support and advice to the President-Elect in regards to committee/jury/taskforce appointments. Activities may include: recruiting members to fill out volunteer forms and providing advice in order to ensure diverse representation on member groups. Taskforce composition: 1 year term starting in July. Member group size: up to six members, virtual membership is encouraged, as is representation from diverse backgrounds. Chaired by the President-Elect.
Diversity Task Force
To help plan and carry out the second phase of YALSA's diversity campaign which was launched in 2008, including: promoting the Spectrum Scholarship, and creating programming, readers' advisory and collection development resources to assist library workers in serving diverse teen populations, including but not limited to: working with YALSA Editors and the Blog Manager to write and publish information; creating and maintaining a section of the YALSA wiki; compiling and disseminating lists of recommended reading, listening &/or viewing; and planning and coordinating a program for BCALA for their 2010 conference, Aug. 4-9 in Birmingham, AL. The taskforce will provide a final report to the Board of their activities and recommendations for the Midwinter 2011 Board meeting and regular updates via pre and post conference reports. Taskforce size: 5-7 members.
Greenwood Publishing Group Service to Young Adults Achievement Award Task Force
To work with the YALSA's Communications Specialist to promote the award and to solicit applicants, then to use established criteria to select one winner for YALSA’s Greenwood Publishing Group’s Service to Young Adults Achievement Award. The winner must be selected between December 2009 and the close of the 2010 Midwinter Meeting. The work of the jury will officially end when a final report is submitted to the Board by February 28, 2010
2010 Midwinter Institute
Plan the content for and help implement an Institute called “Libraries 3.0,” which will focus on meeting the needs of teens in the near future and address such topics as access, technology, diversity, etc. for Friday Jan. 15th at the 2010 Midwinter Meeting in Boston. Responsibilities include:
2010 Midwinter Meeting Social Event
Plan the content for and help implement an evening event where librarians can mingle and learn about some aspect of librarianship (for example: booktalking, emerging technologies or teen spaces) in an informal, fun environment for Saturday Jan. 16 from 8-10 p.m. at the 2010 Midwinter Meeting in Boston. Responsibilities include:
Presidential Advisory Task Force
To provide support, guidance and advice to the incoming YALSA President during his/her first two years (President-Elect and Presidential) of service, when requested. Activities may include working with the President-Elect to review YALSA's goals, initiatives, and strategic plan to develop an appropriate Presidential theme, goal(s) and/or initiative(s). As requested, provide support and oversight of the implementation of any Presidential initiatives. Committee composition: 2 year term starting in July. Committee size: Up to 6 members. Virtual membership is encouraged, as is representation from different areas of young adult librarianship.
YA Literature Symposium Task Force
To plan and implement YALSA’s Young Adult Literature Symposium, consider the idea of the symposium as a venue for presenting scholarly papers on topics relating to young adult literature (papers could then be gathered and published by YALSA), explore the option of including vendors as a means of generating revenue, and work with the YALSA office as necessary. This event should feature, but not be limited to, authors who have recently won YALSA awards, be at least one full day long, be funded in part by monies from the Morris endowment, be a biennial event held separately from the ALA Annual Conference or Midwinter Meeting. Size: 5 to 7 members.