YALSA opens proposals for 2017 Symposium

CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is seeking program proposals and paper presentations for its 2017 Young Adult Services Symposium. The theme of the symposium is “Libraries: Helping All Teens Build a Better Future,” and is to be held Nov. 3-5, 2017, in Louisville, Kentucky.

The symposium will gather together school and public library staff, educators, researchers, young adult authors and other teen advocates to discuss the role of libraries in helping all teens build a better future. Libraries are in a unique position to support the needs of teens as they take their first steps towards their future. They provide an opportunity for teens to explore their identity; learn about the larger community and their place(s) in it; pursue their passions; investigate career options; create positive change; and more.

Now as an annual event with an expanded focus, programs at the symposium will cover the entire spectrum of topics related to providing services for and with young adults. YALSA is seeking proposals that highlight best or emerging practices for libraries of all sizes and capacities in the following categories:

• Programs and services (including planning, implementing and evaluation
• Collections and content curation
• Digital and Print Literacies
• Youth Participation
• Partnering/Collaborations
• Equity and inclusion
• Outreach

Interested parties are invited to propose 90-minute programs centering on the theme, as well as paper presentations offering new, unpublished research relating to the theme via the program proposal or paper presentation online forms found on the symposium site.

Proposals for programs and paper presentations must be completed online by February 1, 2017 and are open to everyone. Applicants will be notified of their proposals’ status the week of March 15, 2017.

Registration for the 2017 YA Services Symposium will open in April. Sign up for updates here. To learn more about the symposium, visit www.ala.org/yalsa/yasymposium.

The mission of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) is to support library staff in alleviating the challenges teens face, and in putting all teens ‒ especially those with the greatest needs ‒ on the path to successful and fulfilling lives. For more information about YALSA or to access national guidelines and other resources go to www.ala.org/yalsa, or contact the YALSA office by phone, (800) 545-2433, ext. 4390; or e-mail: yalsa@ala.org.