Contact:Stephanie Kuenn
YALSA Communications Specialist
(312) 280-2128
skuenn@ala.org

 

NEWS
For Immediate Release
June 17, 2008

YALSA publishes fifth edition of “Excellence in Library Services to Young Adults”

CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), announced the publication of “Excellence in Library Services to Young Adults, 5th Edition,” edited by Amy Alessio for YALSA with a foreword by Mary K. Chelton, editor of the book’s first three editions. The book is published by YALSA with support from the Margaret A. Edwards Trust.

“Excellence in Library Services to Young Adults” compiles the winners of YALSA’s recognition project of the same name, announced last summer. The five winners were selected by YALSA as the best programs in libraries for young adults, along with 20 “best of the rest.”

Each program summary provides ideas for replicating and adapting the winning programs in school and public libraries. Organized for easy browsing, each chapter encourages readers to think about the range of possible programs and illustrates the growing trend of including teens in every aspect of the program.

This new edition also includes helpful appendixes, including criteria for judging the program; YALSA’s Competencies for Librarians Serving Youth; YALSA’s White Papers; biographical details on Margaret A. Edwards, whose trust has helped fund each edition of Excellence in Library Services to Young Adults; and a list of resources and publications offered by YALSA for those who work with young adults in a library setting.

The Excellence in Library Service to Young Adults Project was started by ALA Past President Hardy Franklin in 1993. All five rounds of the project have been funded by the Margaret A. Edwards Trust. Edwards was a well-known and innovative young adult services librarian at Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Md., for more than 30 years.

“Excellence in Library Services to Young Adults, 5th Edition,” edited by Amy Alessio for YALSA with a foreword by Mary K. Chelton (ISBN-13: 978-0-8389-8457-4) costs $30 ($27 for ALA members). It can be purchased through the ALA Store at www.alastore.ala.org or by calling 1 (866) SHOP-ALA.

Amy J. Alessio is the teen coordinator at the Schaumburg Township District Library in Illinois and an active YALSA member. She finishes her term as YALSA’s fiscal officer this month and also previously edited YAttitudes, YALSA’s e-mail newsletter. She also teaches online courses and licensed institutes for YALSA on teen services.

For more than 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.