Ruberg wins stipend to attend YALSA’s 2014 symposium

CHICAGO — Rebecca Ruberg, a teen librarian at the Burlington Public Library in Burlington, Iowa, won the 2014 Young Adult Literature Symposium worker stipend from the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). The stipend provides Ruberg with up to $1,000 to attend the 2014 symposium, to be held Nov. 14–16, at the Hyatt Regency Austin in Austin, Texas.

“I believe that teens deserve a safe place to hang out, well planned programs, and someone who cares enough to ask about their day.”  Ruberg wrote in her application.  “I believe schools and public libraries should not be in competition, but work toward promoting each other.”

Ruberg’s supervisor talked about how she regularly mentors and tutors teens in her spare time. “Her passion for teen services and advocacy has extended out into the community and has allowed the library to better serve teens.”

The Young Adult Literature Symposium will be held Nov. 14–16, at the Hyatt Regency Austin in Austin, Texas. The 2014 theme is “Keeping it Real: Finding the True Teen Experience in YA Literature.” To read program descriptions, download the preliminary program, find out how to reserve a hotel room and see the full list of registration rates, visit www.ala.org/yalitsymposium.  Join the conversation online with the hashtag #yalit14.

For more than 50 years, YALSA has worked to build the capacity of libraries and librarians to engage, serve and empower teens.  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.