YALSA highlights young adult reading on Support Teen Literature Day

CHICAGO — On April 12, 2012, librarians all across the county are encouraged to participate in Support Teen Literature Day at their library to raise awareness among the general public that young adult literature is a vibrant, growing genre with much to offer today's teens.

Sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) and celebrated each year on the Thursday of National Library Week (April 8 – 14, 2012), Support Teen Literature Day seeks to showcase some award-winning authors and books in the genre, as well as highlight librarians' expertise in connecting teens with books and other reading materials.

“Young adult librarians throughout the U.S. work year round to support teen literature and make sure that teens have access to a wide variety of books to choose from,” said YALSA president Sarah Flowers. “Support Teen Literature Day provides libraries with the opportunity to discuss the benefits of teen reading and to ensure that it is an important priority in every community.”

Each year, YALSA committees select books and media for six prestigious young adult literature awards and numerous book lists. Libraries can help celebrate Support Teen Literature Day by displaying and recommending books on these lists, as well as holding programming in their libraries that involve teens in activities that encourage reading.

New to Support Teen Literature Day this year is a fundraising campaign called “Booze for Books.” Aimed at raising money to support literacy for needy teens, the “Booze for Books” campaign encourages those who would like to participate to host an event to raise funds for Books for Teens, a program which aims to give libraries funds to purchase age-appropriate, high-quality recent materials for teens. More information can be found by visiting http://www.ala.org/yalsa/givetoyalsa/boozeforbooks.

Also on Support Teen Literature Day, YALSA will also announce the nominations for the Teens’ Top Ten, a book list where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year. The nominations will be posted on the YALSA website at http://www.ala.org/yalsa/teenstopten, so teens across the country can be reading them all summer, with voting open in August and September. The winners will be announced during Teen Read Week, Oct. 14 – 20, 2012.

The Young Adult Library Services Association is a division of the American Library Association. For more than 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videos and audio books 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 by e-mail at yalsa@ala.org.