Appointed Groups
YALSA's taskforces, strategic committees, advisory boards, book award committees, and blogging teams are appointed groups established by the Board to help carry out the work of YALSA. Appointed groups are regularly assigned specific tasks by the Board to complete. These groups are for members who:
- want to give back to the organization and help YALSA achieve its goals
- have the necessary time to commit to devote to the work of the group
- are skilled in conducting work virtually through tools such as ALA Connect, video chats, Google Docs and more
- enjoy working in a team environment
- are enthusiastic about supporting and advancing YALSA's commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion
To learn more about the responsibilities of committee members, check out the Committee FAQ or visit YALSA’s Handbook.
If you decide that you have the necessary time to devote to an appointed group and want to use your skills to give back to the organization, consider filling out a Volunteer Form.
Taskforces | Strategic and Advisory Boards | Book Award Committees | Blogging Teams
Taskforces
| Taskforce Name | Start of Term | End of Term | Length of Term | Work Performed |
| TeenTober Taskforce | July 1 | June 30 | 1 year | Evaluate and make recommendations for the future of TeenTober |
| Teen Programming HQ Taskforce | July 1 | June 30 | 1 year | Evaluate and make recommendations for promoting programming resources |
| YALSA Advocacy Toolkit Review Taskforce | Varies | Varies | Varies | Evaluate and make recommendations for YALSA's Advocacy Toolkit |
| Presidential Initiatives Implementation Task Force | July 1 | June 30 | 1 year | Evaluate and make recommendations for Presidential initiatives |
Strategic Committees and Advisory Boards
The purpose of a strategic committee is to help carry out the business of the association by handling matters such as membership recruitment, fundraising, blog oversight and support, and much more. If you have not served on a committee before and would like to help YALSA carry out the work of the association, strategic committees are where you can get your start. All Strategic Committees and Advisory Boards are 100% virtual except for the Executive Committee.
| Committee/Advisory Board Name | Start of Term | End of Term | Length of Term | Work Performed |
| Awards & Selection List Oversight Committee | July 1 | June 30 | 1 year | Ensure efficient functioning of YALSA’s award committees |
| Research Journal Advisory Board | July 1 | June 30 | 1 year | Oversee the peer reviewing process for YALSA's research journals |
| Financial Advancement | July 1 | June 30 | 1 year | Fundraise for Friends of YALSA |
| Division and Membership Promotion | July 1 | June 30 | 2 years | Promote YALSA, recruit new members, and retain current members |
| Board Development Committee | July 1 | June 30 | 1 year | Develop and review board activities and materials |
| Research | July 1 | June 30 | 1 year | Encourage, guide, and direct the research needs of the field |
| Organization and Bylaws | July 1 | June 30 | 1 year | Review and recommend revisions to the Bylaws as necessary |
| YALS/YALSAblog Editorial Advisory Board | July 1 | June 30 | 2 years | Advise on content for YALS and YALSA's blog |
| Teens' Top Ten | July 1 | June 30 | 1 year | Prepare and promote the annual "Teens' Top 10" list |
| The Hub Advisory Board | July 1 | June 30 | 1 year | Participates in the development and maintenance of the Hub, YALSA's reader advisory blog |
| YALSA Advocacy Toolkit Review | July 1 | June 30 | 1 year | Update YALSA's current advocacy toolkit |
| Programming Committee | July 1 | June 30 | 1 year | Work with ALA Continuing Education to provide webinars, workshops, and other programs |
| Teen Civic Engagement Committee | July 1 | June 30 | 1 year | Create resources that support members in engaging diverse teen voices and elevating the issues that are important to them |
Book Award Committees
Book Award Committees choose YALSA's award winners. YALSA members with previous book evaluation experience and previous successful committee experience are considered more seriously for positions on selection committees than those without previous committee experience.
All award committees except Pura Belpre are 100% virtual.
Volunteer by filling out the Committee Volunteer Form between June and September of each year.
| Award Committee Name | Start of Term | End of Term | Length of Term | Award Description |
| Alex Awards | July 1 | June 30 | 2 years | Books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults |
| Edwards Award | July 1 | June 30 | 2 years | Recognizes an author's work in helping adolescents become aware of themselves and addressing questions about their role and importance in relationships, society, and in the world |
| Excellence in Nonfiction Award | July 1 | June 30 | 2 years | Honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults each year |
| Morris Award | July 1 | June 30 | 2 years | Honors a book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature |
| Printz Award | July 1 | June 30 | 2 years | Awards a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature |
| Pura Belpre Award (requires in-person attendance at final deliberation) | July 1 | June 30 | 2 years | Presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth |
| Odyssey Award | July 1 | June 30 | 2 years | Given to the producer of the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English, in the United States; co-administered with ALSC |
Blogging Teams
Blogging Teams work 100% virtually and are not required to attend conferences - they write reader advisory reviews for YALSA's Hub Blog.
| Blogging Team Name | Start of Term | End of Term | Length of Term |
| Amazing Audiobooks | July 1 | December 31 | 18 months |
| Best Fiction for Young Adults | July 1 | December 31 | 18 months |
| Great Graphic Novels | July 1 | December 31 | 18 months |
| Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers | July 1 | December 31 | 18 months |
