YALSA launches mentoring program
Contact: Stephanie Kuenn
Communications Specialist
312-280-2128
NEWS
For Immediate Release
March 16, 2010
CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) will begin a new mentoring program in April 2010. The program will pair an experienced librarian (six years experience or more) with a new librarian (fewer than six years experience) or graduate student in a library science program. The program will encourage both the mentor and protégé to provide guidance and support for one another.
“YALSA’s mentoring program provides members of all levels of experience with opportunities to learn from each other in order to provide the best services possible to teens in their local communities,” said Linda W. Braun, YALSA president. “Experienced librarians have a wealth of knowledge ranging from how libraries really work to what teens really are like. New librarians and library school students have ideas and information ranging from trends in library service to teens to new ways of doing traditional library activities. The two sets of librarians working together and informing each other will no doubt not only result in librarian successes in local communities but will also strengthen the field as a whole.”
Applications for the mentoring program will open online April 5 and close June 30. Applicants will be notified of their status in mid-October, with training and matching to follow. The mentoring period is January-December 2011. For more information, visit
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/profdev/mentoring.cfm or contact Eve Gaus, YALSA program officer for continuing education, at
egaus@ala.org or 1-800-545-2433, ext. 5293.
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.
