YALSA to host Get Involved with YALSA webinar on March 31

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

NEWS  
For Immediate Release   
March 4, 2010

CHICAGO — Registration is now open for the first webinar offered by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Linda W. Braun, YALSA president, will lead a discussion on participating in YALSA — from publishing with YALSA to starting interest groups or joining YALSA’s monthly online chat — in this free, hour-long webinar. The webinar will take place March 31 at 2 p.m. Eastern.

“Participants will learn about YALSA committees, discussion and interest groups, writing for YALSA and more,” Braun said. “They will find out how, through connecting with leaders in the field via YALSA work, it's possible to more successfully advocate for teens and make strong connections with teens within a library's community.”

YALSA will offer this first webinar for free but registration is required. To register, contact Eve Gaus, YALSA’s program officer for continuing education, at egaus@ala.org or 1 (800) 545-2433, ext. 5293. Registration is limited to 100 participants.

After this free initial session, YALSA webinars will cost $39 for YALSA members and $50 for nonmembers. Group rates will also be available (contact Gaus for more information.) Webinars will last 60 minutes, including a question-and-answer session for participants. YALSA chose to launch the webinar series to offer teen librarians and school librarians an easy, inexpensive way to continue their professional development.

“The hour-long webinars give teen librarians the opportunity to learn about a subject from an expert, interact with their peers, and improve their work skills while sitting at a work or home computer,” said Braun. “Sometimes it's difficult to find the time to take part in a multi-week or several hour class outside of the library facility. Webinars are a perfect way to learn content in an interactive environment without leaving your library or home.”

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.