Professional Development Topic Center

Better advocate for teens at your library with YALSA's advocacy publication, Speaking Up for Library Services to Teens: A Guide to Advocacy (PDF).

See IFLA's Guidelines for Library Services For Young Adults (PDF).

YALSA has compiled resources for librarians about online social networking. Updated January 2008

YALSA now offers white papers: The Value of Young Adult Literature, the Importance of Teen Spaces in Public Libraries, the Benefits of Including Dedicated Young Adult Services Staff in the Public Library, and  the Importance of Young Adult Services in LIS Curricula.

YALSA has developed a list of recommended reading for teens and disaster.

YALSA recommends different ways to serve teen evacuees in libraries.

YALSA also provides guidelines on the following topics:

• Adolescent Development
• Booktalking
• Dealing with Tragedy and Terror
• ESL
• Healthy Relationships for Teens
• Intellectual Freedom
• Knowledge of Materials
• Leadership and Professionalism
• Management Support for Young Adult Services
• Multicultural Resources
• Programming for Young Adults
• School and Public Library Cooperation
• Teen Spirituality and Religion
• YA Spaces

Learn about YALSA's Serving the Underserved Trainers then find a trainer in your area by accessing the Serving the Underserved Trainers list.

Read Toward a Blueprint for Youth: Making Positive Youth Development a National Priority, a statement from the United States Department for Health and Human Services about methods for promoting youth development. This statement was endorsed by the YALSA Board in September 2001.

Read YALSA's Competencies Young Adults Deserve the Best (in a color pdf, or Spanish) and learn more about YALSA's New Direction for Library Service to Young Adults.

Check out the links to syllabi of young adult services and/or literature courses from around the country.

Here is a listing (for informational purposes only as courses may change) of different young adult focused courses throughout the country.