Join YALSA

The Power of A: Stronger by AssociationInvest in your career or show your support for library services to teens and join YALSA! YALSA is a division of the American Library Association, and YALSA's goal is to ensure that all teens have access to high-quality library services. To aid professionals in this goal, YALSA provides a wealth of resources to librarians, library workers and advocates to help them in their work for and with teens.

YALSA members are a diverse group of dedicated individuals who work with or for teens, including:

  • library support staff, librarian generalists, teen services specialists, youth services librarians, reference librarians, managers, trustees, and administrators at public libraries
  • school librarians, school library support staff, reading specialists, educators and administrators in middle and high schools
  • graduate students in library science or young adult literature programs
  • faculty at graduate schools of library and information science
  • librarians who work with teens in special libraries, including hospitals and correctional facilities
  • afterschool providers who work with teens
  • supporters of youth literacy, bookstores, corporations and authors
  • supporters of libraries, including parents, teens, Friends of the Library groups and community members

Join today!  We have over 5,200 members across all 50 states and abroad.  Check out our YALSA Member Google Map to see who's near you!

Membership Benefits

YALSA members enjoy all benefits that ALA members receive (see a complete list of ALA benefits) as well as additional benefits just for them, including:

  • discounts on products and books, discounted registration for online courses, webinars, conferences, and more
  • eligibility for more than $125,000 in YALSA's grants, awards, scholarships, stipends, and contests for members each year
  • subscriptions to publications like YALSA's award-winning quarterly journal, YALS, and a monthly e-newsletter
  • professional support, including networking, volunteer opportunities, help with book challenges and practical resources

See a full list of YALSA's members' only benefits and check out this free 33 minute video about making the most of your membership, presented by Shannon Peterson, 2013-2014 YALSA President.  The slides are also available for viewing online.

Dues and Rates

You can join ALA/YALSA using a secure, electronic form. Membership dues and rates are:

  • $125 for regular members (first year; $65 for ALA/$60 for YALSA)
  • $158 for regular members (second year; $98 for ALA/$60 for YALSA)
  • $190 for regular members (third and later years; $130 for ALA/$60 for YALSA)
  • $58 for student members ($33 for ALA/$25 for YALSA)
  • $71 for nonsalaried members (unemployed, nonsalaried, or library support staff; $46 for ALA/$25 for YALSA)
  • $71 for retired members ($46 for ALA/$25 for YALSA)
  • $138 for international members  ($78 for ALA/$60 for YALSA)
  • $84 for associate and advocate members ($59 for ALA/$25 for YALSA; appropriate for individuals who do not work in the library field but are interested in participating in the work of YALSA, such as authors, booksellers, parents, teachers, etc.)
  • $84 for Trustees ($59 for ALA/$25 for YALSA; appropriate for non-librarian members of governing boards, advisory groups, Friends organizations, and special citizen caucuses)
  • Organizational membership varies depending on institution size ($175-$2,000 for ALA/$70 for YALSA)
  • Corporate membership begins at $570. See other corporate opportunities with YALSA.

Learn More

Learn more about ALA membership and how to get involved in YALSA. Do you have questions about YALSA membership? Contact Letitia Smith, YALSA's Membership Coordinator at lsmith@ala.org or 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4390.  She's happy to help!