Taking a risk? Tell YALSA
Contact: Stephanie Kuenn
YALSA Communications Specialist
(312) 280-5041
NEWS
For Immediate Release
July 21, 2009
CHICAGO — Taking risks at your library? The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest-growing division of the American Library Association (ALA), wants to hear about your experiences as part of YALSA President Linda Braun’s theme, “Risky Business.”
“Librarians serving teens don't always realize it, but to serve teens successfully they need to take risks every day. These risks might take the form of purchasing a book that might be controversial, starting an innovative program or standing up for a new service that teens in the community want, need and deserve,” said Braun. “Being a risk-taker can be scary, but it's necessary. YALSA wants to support librarians as they take risks by modeling ways to be smart in risk-taking and giving librarians a chance to learn from each other why risk is essential to teen librarianship.”
Braun will discuss smart risk-taking in depth on Aug. 5, during a YALSA online chat in YALSA’s space in ALA Connect. To participate, log into ALA Connect at
http://connect.ala.org. YALSA members should use their login for the
ALA website. Lost passwords can be recovered through the
ALA website. Once logged in, head to the YALSA area and then click “Chats.” A chat transcript will be posted on the YALSA blog (http://yalsa.ala.org/blog) on Aug. 6.
Braun’s presidential advisory task force helped her develop the theme. Throughout the year, Braun plans to develop content that highlights the ways that YALSA, librarians and teens manage risk to be effective. Content will be highlighted on the YALSA blog, with both text and video posts on new projects such as the new Readers’ Choice booklist, expanded support for discussion and interest groups and expanded online offerings for continuing education and virtual conference programming.
In addition, Braun, Hillias J. Martin and Connie Urquhart will write a book called “Risky Business: Taking and Managing Risk in Library Services to Teens” (ALA Editions, 2010), to be published as Braun completes her presidential year.
Braun encourages those who have taken risks to help develop content by contributing to the YALSA blog or the new book. To participate in Braun’s year-long celebration of taking risks, contact Linda at
yalsarisk@gmail.com. Â
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.
