From the Editor

For many of you, Teen Read Week plans have been underway formonths. But if budget constraints or other obstacles have kept your library from participating in the past, Kevin A. R. King from YALSA’s Teen Read Week Committee offers some creative, quick, and aff ordable ways to put a spotlight on teen readers in October. Check out “Get Real!” on page 12 for free or low-cost activities to bring teens into the library, displays to get their attention, and programs to keep them connected with their community. These suggestions can add to what you have already planned or be a springboard for quickly getting things going this year.

A daily challenge in teen services is fi nding the right book at the right >time for a patron. Jamie Watson and Jennifer Stencel, both of whom have served on YALSA’s Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers Committee, know that fi nding that “magic” book often means making sure a selection of new nonfi ction titles are out in the open. Read their article, “Reaching Reluctant Readers with Nonfi ction,” on page 8 for suggestions on timely books that won’t break the budget.

While some nonfi ction titles sell themselves, others need some context—sometimes even some promotion. Jane Charles off ers her favorite nonfi ction booktalks on page 12, along with a meaty list of more nonfiction titles, many of which you will already have in your collection.

There are so many ways YALSA members can share information with one another. Teen services is a second career for me, and from the beginning of their YA service journey I was impressed (actually, blown away) by how giving YALSA members are in every aspect of supporting fellow YA librarians, from finding specifi c titles, developing read-alike lists, sharing booktalks at the last minute, and giving candid reports on budgets, programs, facilities, and promotion of teen services. Much of the sharing happens on YALSA’s active discussion lists (go to http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/electronicresourcesb/websitesmailing.htm to sign up for discussion lists; there is more than YALSA-BK out there!), but YALSA members can also use this quarterly print journal and our onlineYAttitudes, to go on record and explore issues in more depth.

We hope you will consider contributing to future issues of Young Adult Library Services.