Kausch named YALSA’s 2012 Board Fellow

CHICAGO — The Board of Directors of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) chose Carrie Kausch, librarian at Osbourn Park High School, Manassas, Va., as its inaugural Board Fellow. Kausch will begin serving as board fellow in June 2012.

The YALSA Board Fellow program gives one YALSA member an expanded opportunity to be involved in the leadership of the association. The selected candidate will serve a one-year term, from June to July of the next year, on the YALSA Board as a non-voting member. The fellow is expected to participate fully in the work of the Board, including attending and participating in all face-to-face and virtual meetings and discussions. The fellow will receive a $500 stipend per conference to help defray travel, registration and hotel costs.

“I am honored and proud to be selected as the first board fellow. Beginnings always involve discovery, growing pains and assessment; establishing this innovative new position on the board will certainly prove this true, and I am ready to take it on,” Kausch said. “I am looking forward to serving YALSA and the profession in this position and hope to make YALSA proud.”

Sarah Flowers, YALSA president, hailed Kausch’s selection.

“The board members and I are looking forward to working with Carrie. Carrie has already done some great work for YALSA, and her credentials impressed us,” Flowers said. “We're pleased that she's willing to take on the new challenge of being our very first board fellow.”

YALSA will accept applicants for the 2013 Board Fellow program through Dec. 1. Details and an application are available at www.ala.org/yalsa/awards&grants.

For more than 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videos and audiobooks for teens. For more information about these awards or for additional lists of recommended reading, go to www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists. For more information about YALSA, please contact us via e-mail, yalsa@ala.org, or by phone, at 1 (800) 545-2433 ext. 4390.