YALSA chooses programs for first-ever Young Adult Literature Symposium

Contact: Stephanie Kuenn


Communications Specialist, YALSA


(312) 280-2128


skuenn@ala.org




For Immediate Release,


February 5, 2008


YALSA chooses programs for first-ever Young Adult Literature Symposium

CHICAGO -The Young Adult Library Services Association, the fastest-growing division of the American Library Association (ALA), announced its program slate for its first-ever, biennial Young Adult Literature Symposium. The Young Adult Literature Symposium 2008 will be in Nashville, Tenn. Nov. 7-9, with the theme of “How We Read Now.” The symposium is funded in part by the William C. Morris Endowment.




Details about the symposium, including registration information, will be posted in early spring at
www.ala.org/yalitsymposium.




The symposium will begin with a preconference focusing on illustrated materials for teens, including comic books, graphic novels, graphic nonfiction, manga and anime. Programs at the symposium will showcase a wide variety of topics within young adult literature and librarianship. They are:

  • Hit List or Hot List: How Teens Read Now, presented by Rosemary Chance and Teri Lesesne
  • Inside the Authors' Studios: Award Winners Right Out of the Gate, presented by Lisa Wemett and Olivia Durant
  • Never Enough Non-Fiction, presented by Pam Spencer Holley
  • Listening to Literature, presented by Sharon Grover and Francisca Goldsmith
  • Just Keepin' It Real: Teens Reading Out of the Mainstream, presented by Rollie Welch
  • Reading: It's Not Just about Books Anymore, presented by Linda Braun
  • Thrilling Young Adults: How to Keep the Attention of Today's Teens, presented by Amy Alessio
  • Quickest of YALSA's Quick Picks, presented by Diana Tixier Herald and Diane P. Monnier
  • Zine-a-Paloosa 2008: Teens and Zines!, presented by Julie Bartel
  • Explaining and Exploring Fandom, Fan Life, and Participatory Culture, presented by Liz Burns
  • Beyond the Rainbow Canon: Books for LGBT Teens, presented by Angie Miraflor and Daisy Porter
  • Books Between Cultures, presented by Mitali Perkins
  • Connections: YA Literature and Curriculum, presented by Jane P. Fenn
  • Teen Readers' Advisory: How Research Informs Practice, presented by Jessica E. Moyer)

F our papers will be presented as well:



  • Are You There God? It's Me, Manga: Manga as an extension of young adult literature (Lisa Goldstein and Molly Phelan)
  • The Age of Blank? Connecting YA Readers to Each Other and the World (Tom Philion)
  • Accept the Universal Freak Show: LGBTQ Themes in Contemporary YA Literature and Incorporating Them @ your library (Angie Manfredi)
  • Bullies, Gangs and Books for Young Adults (Stan Steiner).

F or more than 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videosand 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.