Barnhart to serve as YALSA’s first ALA Liaison

CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association has chosen Amanda Barnhart, Teen Librarian at the Kansas City Public Library in Independence, Missouri as its ALA liaison to represent YALSA in various American Library Association (ALA) groups and committees.

“I am eager and excited to explore the possibilities afforded by this opportunity,” said Barnhart. “I look forward to the work involved in strengthening the relationships that exist between the ALA groups and YALSA and in seeking new paths that enrich the work of both.”

The liaison position is new in YALSA, and is meant to provide a means for strengthening ties between YALSA and ALA. Barnhart will serve as the YALSA representative to several ALA groups and committees, as well as attend meetings at the ALA Conferences to share and discuss news and issues on behalf of YALSA, and to identify opportunities for collaboration.

Barnhart will receive up to $1,000 in funds to support travel to and from the conferences and will serve as the liaison through July of 2018. Funds to support this effort come from Friends of YALSA. To learn more or to donate visit www.ala.org/yalsa/givetoyalsa/give

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.