YALSA's Professional Development Center
Career Development | Learning Opportunities | Recruitment | Research Tools | Teen Services Resources
YALSA's Professional Development Center offers tools to help librarians in their work with teens. Please use the resources listed on this site to find practical tools for your day-to-day work, as well as tools for developing your career. You can also find helpful downloads on YALSA's Handouts page.
Do you want to propose a webinar, YA Forum discussion, or online course? Fill out our CE Proposal form.
Career Development
YALSA Presentations (links to PowerPoint presentations)
Learning Opportunities
Conferences and Events
Upcoming ALA and YALSA Conferences
YALSA at State and Regional Conferences
Questions about conferences and events should be directed to Nichole Gilbert at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4387.
Continuing Education
YALSA Continuing Education Participant Testimonials
YALSA's YA Forum (monthly online member discussions)
Questions about continuing education with YALSA should be directed to Eve Gaus at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 5293.
Research Tools
National Research Agenda, 2012-2016
YALSA's Research Bibliographies
Journal of Research on Libraries and Young Adults
International Research Abstracts: Youth Library Services
YALSA/VOYA/Henne Research Grant
YALSA White Papers
The Importance of Young Adult Services in LIS Curricula: A YALSA White Paper
The Value of Young Adult Literature: A YALSA White Paper
The Need for Teen Spaces in Public Libraries: A YALSA White Paper
Recruitment
Why YA? Recruiting New Librarians to the Profession
Library Schools and YA Services
Sample YA Librarian's Job Posting
Teen Services Resources
Guidelines
YALSA's Young Adults Deserve the Best: Competencies for Librarians Serving Youth, updated in 2010! Also available in PDF.
YALSA's Public Library Evaluation Tool
Reference Guidelines for Library Services to Teens, Ages 12-18 (PDF) , developed by RUSA and YALSA
IFLA's Guidelines for Library Services to Young Adults (PDF)
Lectures and Publications
Roots and Branches: YA Services Past, Present, and Future (speech by Mary K. Chelton, available as mp3 or PDF)
Toolkits and Bibliographies
Legislative Advocacy Guide (PDF)
Social Networking Toolkit (PDF; updated 2011)
Social Networking: A Guide for Teens (PDF; updated 2011)
Speaking Up for Library Services to Teens: A Guide to Advocacy (PDF)
Teen Reading Guide for Parents and Caregivers (PDF)
Teens' Top Ten Toolkit (Word doc)
YALSA Road Trip (PDF)
