National Forum on Transforming Teen Services Through Continuing Education
YALSA in partnership with the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) hosted a year-long National Forum on Transforming Teen Services Through Continuing Education from June 1, 2017 through May 31, 2018. This effort brought together state library agency (SLA) youth consultants with thought leaders in libraries, youth development, afterschool programming, professional development, and more. The Forum leveraged both in-person and virtual discussions, and led to the publication of a report outlining priorities in continuing education for library staff on the topic of serving teens. This project is supported by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Read the grant proposal (.pdf) and the initial press release.
Final Project Report
As a follow up to this project, YALSA is partnering with COSLA to implement a three-year train the trainer effort beginning in July 2018, which is funded by IMLS.
Materials Created During The Project Year
- In February and March 2018 YALSA hosted three virtual Town Halls to learn about the CE needs of library stafff. The events were recorded.
- Recording of Town Hall with Library Administrators. The chat transcript is also available
- Recording of Town Hall with Library Staff. The chat transcript is also available.
- Recording of Town Hall on Cultural Competence and Responsiveness. The chat transcript is also available.
- Recording of National Forum meeting Presentation on The Future of the Past.
- YALSAblog post overview and reflection of Project face-to-face meeting.
- Statement on the Importance of Continuous Learning for Library Staff
Project Background
Recent reports such as the Aspen Institute’s “Rising to the Challenge: Re-Envisioning Public Libraries,” and YALSA’s IMLS-funded “The Future of Library Services for and with Teens: A Call to Action” outline a new vision for public libraries and teen services that can only be achieved by building the knowledge and skills of library staff. While some schools of library and information science are looking at how to re-imagine their curricula for pre-service library staff, it is also essential that at the same time there is a united effort to develop strategic directions for cultivating the skills of those already working in the field.
State Library Agency staff play a critical leadership role in the development and delivery of library-related continuing education (CE) to front line library staff. By gathering together a youth services representative from each of the 50 SLAs and other key stakeholders to inform the development of a report that sets a national agenda on continuing education for teen services, YALSA and COSLA will achieve the first step toward developing a coordinated, efficient, and effective process for transforming teen services throughout the U.S., so that teen programs and services enhance civic and cultural engagement, facilitate lifelong learning, promote digital inclusion, and support economic vitality.
Contact Linda Braun, YALSA's CE Consultant with questions. To receive updates on the project, such as when the virtual discussions will be held and to receive a copy of the final report, please complete this brief form.
