YALSA offers Earth Day activity ideas, reading list
Contact: Stephanie Kuenn
YALSA Communications Specialist
(312) 280-2128
NEWS
For Immediate Release
April 14, 2009
CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has compiled a list of activity ideas to help teens learn about their environment on Earth Day, April 22. In addition, YALSA offers a booklist called “Change Your World,” highlighting titles nominated for the 2010 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults booklist, which offer books about activism, politics and volunteering.
Earth Day activity ideas include geocaching seminars, recycled jewelry programs, community clean-up programs and more. Librarians looking for activity ideas related to Earth Day can find them at
http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/Teen_Volunteering_%26_Service_Projects#Earth_Day, or libraries who have events planned for Earth Day can add their own.
“President Obama earlier this year called for Americans of all ages, particularly young people, to serve their communities and think of ways they can give back," said Sarah Cornish Debraski, YALSA president. "Earth Day is a great event for libraries to offer teens opportunities to learn more about the environment and how they can contribute in fun, interesting ways like recycling projects, community clean up activities or geocaching."
In addition, librarians can use the books listed on the Change Your World booklist (
http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/poppaper) as a starting point for displays or handouts. Books include calls to action to aid the environment (“MySpace/Our Planet,” “Fight Global Warming Now”) as well as fiction titles about the environment (“Hoot”) or getting involved in your community (“Hope Was Here”).
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.
