YALSA gears up for Midwinter with special events and media awards
Stephanie Kuenn
YALSA Communications Specialist
312-280-2128
skuenn@ala.org
NEWS
For Immediate Release
September 23, 2008
CHICAGO - The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), announced its preliminary plans for this year’s Midwinter Meeting in Denver, Jan. 23–28, 2009—just in time for members to take advantage of the bundled registration for both Midwinter and the 2009 Annual Conference in Chicago, July 9–15. Through Sept. 30, those who purchase the bundled Annual and Midwinter registration will save 20 percent over advance registration for both conferences. To learn more, visit
www.ala.org/midwinter.
“As always, YALSA has lots of great activities planned for Midwinter Meeting, from casual social gatherings such as the happy hour to the ticketed day-long diversity preconference,” said Sarah Cornish Debraski, YALSA president. “Whether you are a seasoned member or this is your first conference, there will be lots of opportunities to get to know other members, enhance your professional skills and work face to face with fellow committee members.”
Full details on YALSA’s plans for Midwinter Meeting are available at the YALSA Wiki,
http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa.
YALSA will kick off Midwinter with Reaching Today’s Diverse Teens, a one-day institute that examines today’s teens, a group of more than 30 million that represents the most ethnically diverse generation ever, with special emphasis on serving immigrant teens. The institute includes lunch and takes place from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 23. Tickets cost $210 for YALSA members, students and retirees; $250 for ALA members; and $300 for nonmembers.
After the institute, YALSA will host a happy hour from 5-7 p.m. Attendees can mingle with colleagues while enjoying drink specials and winning YALSA prizes. Friday night is also YALSA’s Mixer and Tech Playground. Join YALSA from 8–10 p.m. for a fun evening of mingling with colleagues and sampling new technologies for teen library services. Tickets cost $40; refreshments will be served.
YALSA will offer a candidates forum on Saturday, featuring those running for YALSA office, as well as the annual Best Books for Young Adults Teen Session, in which teen book groups from the Denver area will sound off on the nominees for the 2009 Best Books for Young Adults booklist.
Midwinter also marks the announcement of the 2009 Youth Media Awards—including the debut of the William C. Morris Award for the best book for young adults by a first-time author; the Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature; the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime contribution to young adult literature; the Odyssey Award for the best audiobook production for youth (co-administered with the Association for Library Service to Children); and the Alex Awards, presented to the top 10 adult books with teen appeal.
Finally, Midwinter draws to a close with the Joint Youth Division Member Reception. Enjoy light refreshments, beer and wine with your colleagues, courtesy of reception sponsor Hyperion Books for Children.
For more than 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.
