For immediate release | April 29, 2011

Jack Martin wins 2012-2013 YALSA presidency

CHICAGO — Members of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), selected Jack Martin as the division’s next president-elect. Martin will begin his term as president-elect in June 2011, becoming president for one year in June 2012. Martin defeated Mary Hastler, YALSA’s current fiscal officer and director of the Harford County Public Library in Maryland.

“I am super excited to have this opportunity and would like to thank all the YALSA members who voted for me and can’t wait to work with them as president-elect and president,” Martin said. “Mary Hastler and I always joke that it would be great to be co-presidents together, and I’m sorry that only one of us can win, as she’s an amazing advocate for teens and libraries. I look forward to working with her and all of our members to move our organization forward.”

Martin is assistant director for public programs and lifelong learning for children, teens and families at the New York Public Library. He currently serves as a director-at-large on YALSA’s Board of Directors and is the coauthor, with Linda Braun and Connie Urquhart, of "Risky Business: Taking and Managing Risks in Library Services for Teens" (ALA Editions/YALSA, 2010). Martin also served on the 2010 Michael L. Printz Award committee.

In addition, YALSA elected Penny Johnson as fiscal officer, Sarajo Wentling as secretary, three new members of its board of directors and new members for its 2013 Edwards, Printz, and Nonfiction committees. YALSA membership also approved four bylaws measures: adding a non-salaried librarian dues category, a young adult services advocates category, dues increases for certain dues categories and a reorganization of the nominating committee.

The full YALSA election results are posted at www.ala.org/yalsa.

For more than 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videos and audiobooks for teens. For more information about YALSA or for lists of recommended reading, viewing and listening, go to www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists, or contact the YALSA office by phone, (800) 545-2433, ext. 4390, or e-mail, yalsa@ala.org.

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