YALSA announces editor for quarterly newsletter

Contact: Stephanie Kuenn

Communications Specialist

312-280-2128

skuenn@ala.org

For Immediate Release

May 11, 2007

YALSA announces editor for quarterly newsletter

CHICAGO - The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest-growing division of the American Library Association (ALA), appointed Erin Downey Howerton as editor of YAttitudes!, its quarterly newsletter. Beginning with the Fall 2007 issue, Howerton will serve as editor for a three-year term and will be responsible for YAttitudes! content.

“I feel very privileged to contribute to the organization in a way that affects our members so directly,” Howerton said. “YALSA does such good things, and this is a perfect way to make our information more accessible to them in a fun and functional way.”

YAttitudes! is a members-only electronic newsletter that spotlights significant news and events of the organization and its member groups, including articles, interviews and other information.

Howerton currently works as school liaison for the Johnson County Library in Kansas, where she has led system-wide efforts to provide services to area schools, students and educators. Previously, she was the head of the young adult department at Hays Public Library in Kansas. She will earn her master’s in library and information science from Florida State University in December 2007; she also holds an M.A. and a B.A. in English from Kansas State University. A YALSA member since 2004, Howerton has served on several committees, including the Margaret A. Edwards Award Committee and as chair of the Program Clearinghouse Committee. She is a certified YALSA Serving the Underserved trainer.

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.