Home   The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)  About YALSA Youth Participation

About YALSA

Youth Participation Committee Description

Date of Establishment: Midwinter, 1987

Date of Completion: Continuing

Membership: 7, including Chair

Qualifications: YALSA members who must be able to attend both the Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference of ALA.

Term of Office: Two years

Function: To establish guidelines and/or procedures to involve young adults in the decision-making process which directly effects their access to information and library service at local, state and national levels; to provide continuing education and public professional awareness of youth participation.

History: Began as an ad hoc committee called, "Youth Participation in Library Decision-Making Committee" in 1981. The function at that time was, "To establish guidelines and/or procedures to expedite the inclusion of young adults as voting members on NCLIS, and on state and local boards and/or other advisory groups to libraries." It became a standing committee, Midwinter, 1987; the membership and charge were changed at this time.