New date and format for Michael L. Printz Program and Reception

CHICAGO — Booklist Publications and The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), are proud to announce a new date and format for the Michael L. Printz Program and Reception to be held June 26–July 1, 2014 during ALA’s Annual Conference in Las Vegas.

The Michael L. Printz Program and Reception is now being held on Friday, June 27, 2014, a time slot formerly held by the Booklist Books for Youth Annual Forum. This year’s Printz Program will feature a new format in addition to the new time. Marcus Sedgwick, the 2014 Michael L. Printz winner for his book "Midwinterblood," will deliver a speech following the presentation of awards to the four Printz Honor Book authors, Rainbow Rowell ("Eleanor & Park"); Susann Cokal ("Kingdom of Little Wounds"); Sally Gardner ("MAGGOT MOON"); and Clare Vanderpool ("Navigating Early"). After the presentation of awards, Sedgwick and the four Honor Book authors will respond to questions that have been submitted in advance by librarians and local teens. Gillian Engberg, editorial director of Books for Youth at Booklist Publications, will moderate the panel discussion. A reception will immediately follow the program. The Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature is administered annually by YALSA and sponsored by Booklist Publications.

Librarians and teens wanting to submit a question for the Printz Program and Reception may do so online by June 1 at http://tinyurl.com/printz14.

“The Booklist Books for Youth Annual Forum, a staple of youth-literature programming at ALA for over 35 years, has traditionally been held on Friday evenings during Annual Conference,” said Bill Ott, editor and publisher of Booklist Publications. “We’re happy to use this familiar time slot to continue to celebrate the best in youth literature, now with the Michael L. Printz Award ceremony.”

“YALSA is excited to continue to host the highly anticipated and attended Printz Program and Reception with Booklist now on Friday night during Annual,” says Shannon Peterson, YALSA president. “Registrants will truly get the opportunity to kick off their conference experience by hearing from the best authors in young adult literature.”

Tickets to the Michael L. Printz Program and Reception are $34 in advance and $40 at the door. To add ticketed events to your existing registration, (1) By phone: Call ALA at 1 (800) 974-3084 and ask to add an event to your existing registration; (2) Online: Add an event to your existing registration by going to http://ala14.ala.org/register-now. Use your log in & password to access your existing registration & add events in the “Your Events” section (screen 6). The event code is YAL3. Then simply check out and pay for the events you’ve added.

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For more than 50 years, YALSA has worked to build the capacity of libraries and librarians to engage, serve and empower teens. For more information about YALSA or to access national guidelines and other resources go to www.ala.org/yalsa, or contact the YALSA office by phone, (800) 545-2433, ext. 4390; or e-mail: yalsa@ala.org.