Become a Friend of YALSA

Meet the 2012 Friends of YALSA.

Our Mission

Friends of YALSA was created to ensure excellence in the Association's traditional programs and services to library workers serving teens and to support growth in new directions as our profession meets the exciting challenges of the 21st century.

Funds for the Friends of YALSA support one of five areas. Each year, YALSA's financial advancement committee and Board of Directors choose an area to concentrate funds on. Funds donated to Friends of YALSA in 2011 will be used to support teen literacy and young adult literature.

  • Advocacy:educating members, library workers, the general public and policy makers about the importance of providing excellent library services to teens, and the critical role that library workers and libraries play in helping teens develop key literacy skills and a lifelong appreciation of reading.
  • Continuous Learning: creating opportunities for all members and library workers to grow through grants, providing scholarships to those in need and offering distance learning and institutes.
  • Planning for the Future:helping to attract new members and retain existing ones, creating public awareness campaigns, planning and carrying out new initiatives to pursue excellence in library service to young adults, and more.
  • Research: guiding and promoting research in the field of young adult librarianship through grants, publications, and other means to ensure that the field of librarianship has the necessary knowledge to meet the needs of teens.
  • Teen Literacy & Young Adult Literature: sponsoring literacy initiatives such as Teen Read Week, YALSA’s booklists and book awards, and guaranteeing YALSA's place in the forefront of our nation's adolescent literacy campaigns.

How to Donate

To Become a Friend:

You can become a Friend of YALSA in any giving category.

  • Platinum Circle $1,000 or more
  • Gold Circle $500-$999
  • Silver Circle $250-$499
  • Bronze Circle $100-$249
  • Friends' Circle $10-$99

 Make your tax-deductible donation in either of the following ways:

  • Donate by credit card at the ALA Development Office's secure website. (Fill in the amount you would like to donate in the YALSA box of the "Division and Offices" section).
  • Send a contribution by mail, using the printable mail-in form (PDF). Complete the form and mail it back with your donation to: Friends of YALSA, 50 East Huron, Chicago, IL 60611.

How Funds Are Used

The Friends of YALSA support a variety of initiatives and projects. In its first five years, the Friends of YALSA gave more than $25,000 to support YALSA initiatives and services that impact the profession and teens, including:

  • sponsoring Spectrum Scholars (listen to an interview between Linda Braun, YALSA past president, and Hoan-Vu Do, YALSA's 2010-2011 Spectrum Scholar)
  • sponsoring Emerging Leaders
  • sending YALSA members to ALA's Library Advocacy Day
  • creating advocacy materials for members to gain support from stakeholders

Special Recognition for Friends of YALSA

  • A letter from ALA/YALSA recognizing your generous donation for your tax records
  • Special listing in YALSA E-News, YALSA's monthly e-newsletter
  • Quarterly email newsletter just for FOY donors
  • Special listing on the YALSA Web site
  • Friend of YALSA conference badge ribbon
  • Reserved seating at the YALSA Membership Meeting, Edwards Luncheon (for ticketholders) and Printz Program and Reception (for ticketholders) at ALA’s Annual Conference
  • Acknowledgment at the annual Membership Meeting
  • Platinum and Gold Circle members receive a special invitation to meet with the Edwards Award winner at a reception at ALA Annual Conference
  • Platinum members who attend ALA's Annual Conference or Midwinter Meeting may make hotel reservations through ALA's VIP Housing option (please contact the YALSA office at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4390, to do this)

For More Information

Request a Friends of YALSA packet to be mailed to you by contacting the YALSA office at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4390, or via email at yalsa@ala.org.

Other Ways to Support Friends of YALSA

YALSA's Cafepress Store

well read tote bag at cafepress.com/yalsa Purchase official YALSA gear from  YALSA's Cafepress.com Store for yourself or to give as gifts.  Products include t-shirts (with a variety of slogans and in a variety of styles), baby items, coffee mugs and other housewares, bumper stickers, ornaments, tote bags and much more. Pick up a t-shirt that says “YALSA: Telling You What to Put on Your Bookshelf Since 1957″ for your favorite co-worker or a tote bag that says “Well Read” for the bookworm in your family. Your purchases support the Friends of YALSA. Price range: $3.49 to $41.39.

 

 

Librarians Change Lives T-Shirts

yalsa t-shirts Purchase a Librarians Change Lives t-shirt! Proceeds from YALSA's t-shirt sales, featuring custom artwork courtesy of Unshelved, support the Friends of YALSA. T-shirts come in a variety of sizes and colors and cost $20 ($18 for ALA members).

The t-shirts read "Librarians Change Lives" and were created to celebrate YALSA's 50th anniversary. Quantities are limited for this special edition t-shirt! Wear your YALSA pride and support the Friends of YALSA's initiatives.

 

Previous Friends of YALSA

2011 Friends of YALSA
2010 Friends of YALSA
2009 Friends of YALSA
2008 Friends of YALSA
2007 Friends of YALSA
2006 Friends of YALSA