Siergiej wins student stipend for YALSA’s 2016 YA Services Symposium

For Immediate Release
Fri, 07/22/2016

Contact:

Nichole O'Connor

Program Officer

Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)

noconnor@ala.org

CHICAGO – Maryjo Siergiej, a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has won the 2016 Young Adult Services Symposium student stipend from the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). The stipend will provide Siergiej with up to $1,000 to offset travel expenses to attend the 2016 symposium, which will be held Nov. 4–6, in Pittsburg, PA.

 “Working with young adults requires creating an environment where they feel safe,” Siergiej wrote in her application. “When I was a teen, library programs helped broaden my world view; I hope to similarly inspire teens.”

Christine Jenkins, an Associate Professor Emerita at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, at University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, recommended Siergiej for the stipend. She highlighted Siergiej’s ‘genuine passion for library work with young adults.’ 

The Young Adult Literature Symposium will be held Nov. 4-6, in Pittsburgh, PA. The 2016 theme is “Empowering Teens to Increase your Library’s Impact.” To read program descriptions, find out how to reserve a hotel room, and see the full list of registration rates, visit http://www.ala.org/yalsa/yasymposium. Join the conversation online with the hashtag #yalsa16.

The mission of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) is to support library staff in alleviating the challenges teens face, and in putting all teens ‒ especially those with the greatest needs ‒ on the path to successful and fulfilling lives. For more information about YALSA or to access national guidelines and other resources go to www.ala.org/yalsa, or contact the YALSA office by phone, (800) 545-2433, ext. 4390; or e-mail: yalsa@ala.org.