YALSA's Professional Development Center

YALSA's Professional Development Center offers tools to help librarians in their work with teens. Please use the resources listed on this site to find practical tools for your day-to-day work, as well as tools for developing your career.

Opportunities for Learning

Conferences and Events

YALSA at the 2010 Midwinter Meeting
YALSA at 2010 Annual Conference
YALSA at State and Regional Conferences
2010 Young Adult Literature Symposium
Previous YALSA Events

Questions about conferences and events should be directed to Nichole Gilbert at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4387.

Continuing Education

YALSA Face-to-Face Institutes
YALSA Online Courses

Questions about continuing education with YALSA should be directed to Beth Yoke at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4391.

Teen Services Resources

Guidelines

YALSA's Young Adults Deserve the Best: Competencies for Librarians Serving Youth in English (PDF) and Spanish (PDF)
Reference Guidelines for Library Services to Teens, Ages 12-18 (PDF) , developed by RUSA and YALSA
IFLA's Guidelines for Library Services to Young Adults (PDF)

White Papers and Publications

The Value of Young Adult Literature by Michael Cart
White paper approved by the YALSA Board of Directors, January 2008

The Need for Teen Spaces in Public Libraries by Kimberly Bolan
White paper approved by the YALSA Board of Directors, January 2008

The Benefits of Including Dedicated Young Adult Librarians on Staff in the Public Library by YALSA with Audra Caplan
White paper approved by the YALSA Board of Directors, January 2009

The Importance of Young Adult Services in LIS Curricula by Don Latham
White paper approved by the YALSA Board of Directors, January 2009

YALSA's Books

Young Adult Library Services (quarterly journal)