YALSA and Blink partner for Teen Read Week™ 2014

For Immediate Release
Tue, 09/16/2014

Contact:

Anna Lam

Communications Specialist

Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)

alam@ala.org

CHICAGO – The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) and Blink, a young adult imprint, have partnered for Teen Read Week 2014.

This is the second year in a row that Blink has helped to sponsor Teen Read Week and lent its support to libraries all across the nation in their efforts to strengthen and promote literacy amongst teens. 

“By once again partnering to help promote Teen Read Week, Blink will work with YALSA to help teens discover the world of imagination, expression, ideas and knowledge that await them at their local libraries,” said Annette Bourland, senior vice president and group publisher at Blink.  “This is an exciting opportunity to inspire teens to read.”

Through its novels, Blink aims to bring “imaginative and exciting storytelling” that is both inspiring and heartening to its readers.

“Blink is just as passionate about literacy as YALSA,” said YALSA President Christopher Shoemaker. “We both believe that today’s teens need opportunities to develop both traditional and digital literacy skills. Libraries offer teens both the materials and the expertise of the staff to help them extend their learning beyond the classroom, and Blink understands that.  We’re happy to partner with Blink for another year.”

With this partnership, YALSA can continue to strengthen its efforts in supporting and promoting teen literacy by providing libraries with the resources they need to host successful literacy programs like those offered during Teen Read Week and beyond.  

Teen Read Week™ is a national adolescent literacy initiative created by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). It began in 1998 and is held annually during the third week of October. Its purpose is to encourage teens to be regular readers and library users. This year, Teen Read Week takes place Oct.12-18 with the theme of Turn Dreams into Reality @ your library.  Join the conversation online with the hashtag #TRW14.

Blink publishes authentic and immersive content that engages and inspires young adult readers, from cutting-edge plotlines to fantasy to romance to contemporary classics. For more information, please visit BlinkYABooks.com

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.