Debraski elected YALSA vice president

CHICAGO - Sarah Cornish Debraski has been elected vice president/president-elect of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest-growing division of the American Library Association (ALA). She will assume office following the 2007 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Washington.

“I’m very grateful to everyone in YALSA for supporting me,” Debraski said. “I’m incredibly excited and proud. I’m looking forward to the unique challenges of serving in this capacity and to getting to know so many more people in the organization.”

Debraski has worked for YALSA for several years, including chairing the Program Clearinghouse Committee and serving as a representative to ALA’s Conference Planning Coordinating Team. In 2004, she was elected to the Board of Directors for a three-year term. She is involved in the New Jersey Library Association and has published extensively on romance novels and booktalking, two of her favorite topics.

Debraski hopes to encourage participation in YALSA as the organization continues to grow quickly, finding innovative ways to allow YALSA members to participate and be active within the association.

“So many people have great skills, experience, and knowledge to share, but not everyone is able to travel twice a year to conference,” said Debraski. “With growth comes change and challenges. We’ve already expanded opportunities with the creation of interest and discussion groups, and I think we need to continue thinking of opportunities such as that.”

Debraski began her career as a children’s librarian at the Tecumseh branch of the Allen County Library System in Indiana, with her interest in teen services deepening after she accepted a position at the Vineyard Haven Public Library in Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. Later, she returned to her hometown of Warren, N.J., to be a young adult librarian at its branch of the Somerset County Library System, becoming head of its youth services department after five years of service. She left Warren Library in 2005, following the birth of her son, Clark. She now lives in Neshanic Station, N.J., with her husband and son. Debraski earned her MLS from the University of Pittsburgh.

For 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videos, and audio books for teens. For more information about YALSA or for lists of recommended reading, viewing and listening, go to www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists, or contact the YALSA office by phone, 800-545-2433, ext. 4390; or e-mail: yalsa@ala.org.

Debraski elected YALSA vice president