YALSA named recipient of World Book – ALA Goal Award Grant
Contact: Stephanie Kuenn
Communications Specialist
312-280-2128
skuenn@ala.org
For Immediate Release
May 11, 2007
YALSA named recipient of World Book – ALA Goal Award Grant
CHICAGO - The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest-growing division of the American Library Association (ALA), was named the recipient of the 2007 World Book – ALA Goal Award, with a grant totaling $10,000 to improve teen library services in three key states: Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The award will be accepted at the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., in June.
Using Teen Read Week™ as its focal point, the grant will fund increased professional development in the targeted states to significantly boost teen library use and ultimately teen reading and literacy.
“As Teen Read Week celebrates its 10th year this year, a number of states still struggle to provide programming and services to teen customers even though teens make up one-quarter of library users,” said YALSA President Judy Nelson. “The World Book grant will provide important tools for library workers in these states to effectively reach this audience, show teens that reading is fun, and result in teens using libraries more and increasing their own literacy skills.”
YALSA will host two workshops in each state — A Beginner’s Guide to Teens in Libraries and Power Up with Print — and give free Teen Read Week resource kits to library workers in each state, including tips on collection development, programming, and marketing library services to teens.
“While teen literature is expanding, studies continue to show that fewer teens are being taught the critical literacy skills they need. This grant will help us raise the bar for teen services in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi at this crucial time,” Nelson added. “Millennials are the second-largest generational group after Baby Boomers, so we must reach out to them now.”
For 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.
