YALSA selects two members for ALA Emerging Leaders Initiative
Contact: Nichole Gilbert
YALSA
312-280-4387
For Immediate Release
October 3, 2006
YALSA selects two members for ALA Emerging Leaders Initiative
CHICAGO - The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest growing division of the American Library Association (ALA), has announced its support of two YALSA members, Jenine Lillian and Elsworth Rockefeller, for ALA's Emerging Leaders 2007 initiative. YALSA will provide stipends of $500 per conference for Lillian and Rockefeller to attend the Emerging Leaders training program conceived by ALA President Leslie Burger.
Lillian, a youth services librarian at the Fayetteville (Ark.) Public Library, has been a member of the American Library Association since 2004.
In the short time she has been in her current position, Lillian has placed an emphasis on creating dynamic teen programs and collections while fostering community networks.
She has recruited and trained teen volunteers to assist in program and collection development; created and facilitated a Teen Anime Club; formed partnerships with University of Arkansas' J-Pop Radio Show and ADV Films; served as the Middle School/Junior High Specialist; the Youth Services representative on her library's Web Design Committee; and developed many new teen programs.
Rockefeller, who currently works at the Point Pleasant (N.J.) Boro Branch of the Ocean County Library System, has been a member of ALA since 2004.
Rockefeller has a passion for connecting boys and young men with books and works to foster an enthusiasm for reading in the male youth he serves.
An active planner and facilitator of the BoyzREAD Mini-Festival, part of the Wisconsin Book Festival, he strives to continue this work in his current position by creating exciting programming opportunities designed to appeal to young men, increase availability of materials with high boy-appeal, and actively recruit male volunteers and library event participation.
"YALSA is very pleased to be able to support two of our members in this endeavor," said YALSA President Judy Nelson. "As the fastest growing division in ALA, we are very aware of the importance of developing new leadership for both YALSA and ALA."
Emerging Leaders 2007 will select and train 100 new librarians to get a jump-start in leadership.
The initiative will kick off with a day-long session during the 2007 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle, and it will grow and develop virtually for six months, culminating at the 2007 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.
More information about the Emerging Leaders 2007 initiative can be found at Leslie Burger's Web site:
http://lb.princetonlibrary.org/emerging_leaders.html.
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.
