YALSA announces new MySpace Page
Contact: Nichole Gilbert
Program Officer
312-280-4387
ngilbert@ala.org
For Immediate Release
December 21, 2006
YALSA announces new MySpace Page
CHICAGO - The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest growing division of the American Library Association (ALA), is pleased to announce the debut of a YALSA MySpace Page, http://www.myspace.com/yalsa.
MySpace.com is an interactive social networking site averaging about 230,000 new members daily; it is a virtual space where people can connect with other people of similar interests. The purpose of YALSA’s MySpace page, which is accessible to anyone with an Internet connection, is to provide a way for YALSA to reach out to the general public including parents, educators, teens, librarians and library supporters. According to a recent poll by Harris Interactive, on average, 8-18 year olds spend 6 hours and 21 minutes per day using media including computers and the Internet.
“In today’s information age, people are going online to do more — especially teens,” said YALSA President Judy Nelson. “As an association that advocates for excellence in library services to teens, we felt an obligation to extend our reach beyond the library walls and provide a safe, informative web space in an environment familiar to teens.”
In a 2005 survey done in partnership with SmartGirl.org, YALSA found that the majority of teen respondents said they would read more if they knew of more good books to read. YALSA’s MySpace page offers visitors convenient access to recommended reading, listening and viewing for teens, including titles that have won one of YALSA’s prestigious awards in young adult literature: the Michael Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature, the Margaret Edwards Award for lasting contribution to young adult literature and/or the Alex Awards for adult books with teen appeal.
"MySpace is the meeting place for teens as well as authors, libraries, and librarians,” said Linda Braun, chair of YALSA’s Website Advisory Committee. “Now that YALSA has its own MySpace page, members and non-members have a place to meet and network online.”
For nearly 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 e-mail: yalsa@ala.org.