CHICAGO ¾ The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is now accepting applications from young adult book discussion groups who wish to be considered for YALSA’s YA Galley/Teens’ Top Ten project. YA Galley is an ongoing project in which publishers of young adult books provide copies of their recent titles to teen book discussion groups in libraries. In exchange, teen readers evaluate books for the publishers.
The YA Galley committee will select 15 groups during the ALA’s Annual Meeting in Anaheim this June. Each selected group will serve a two-year term beginning in August 2008.
These select groups will nominate titles for the 2009 Teens’ Top Ten books. Teens across the country will choose their favorite books of the year during Teen Read Week(tm) 2009 by voting on these nominations.
“The value of having teens select a national list of titles for their peers to read and consider now through Teen Read Week makes this list a valuable list for all,” said YA Galley Chair Mary Long. “What better way to know what books teens enjoy than having them share what they think about the books they are reading!”
The application forms, which must be submitted by a book group advisor who is a current YALSA member, are posted on YALSA’s Teens Top Ten site, www.ala.org/teenstopten. Applications are due to YALSA by June 2.
Applications for those interested in being considered for the 2008-09 YA Galley/Teens’ Top Teen project are due by June 2, 2008 and must be submitted electronically. Successful candidates will be announced shortly after the 2008 ALA Annual Conference.
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 by e-mail, yalsa@ala.org.
