YALSA’s 2020 YA Services Symposium to be held virtually

CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)’s Board of Directors has announced that YALSA’s 2020 YA Services Symposium will be held virtually November 6-8, 2020 in lieu of the originally planned in-person event in Reno, NV.

“Following the limited gathering and non-essential travel restrictions set forth by local and federal government agencies, it makes sense for YALSA to pivot to a virtual format for this year’s Symposium,” said Todd Krueger, YALSA President. “We hope this becomes an opportunity for more library staff who work with teens to participate!”

The virtual symposium will feature an array of programs, author panels, discussion and poster sessions, and more. New this year, the Edwards Award celebration will also take place at the virtual symposium. The Symposium Marketing and Planning Taskforce is currently working to reconfigure and adapt the slate of programs.

As a result of the format change of the symposium, YALSA is modifying its symposium travel stipends to instead award free registration to ten YALSA members – five to library workers and five to library students. Apply by August 1.

More information regarding registration and programs will be available in the coming weeks. Sign up for updates about the symposium via this form.

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.