YALSA Vision Statement

In every library in the nation, quality library service to young adults is provided by a staff that understands and respects the unique informational, educational and recreational needs of teenagers. Equal access to information, services and materials is recognized as a right not a privilege. Young adults are actively involved in the library decision-making process. The library staff collaborates and cooperates with other youth-serving agencies to provide a holistic, community-wide network of activities and services that support healthy development.

To ensure that this vision becomes a reality, the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA):

• advocates extensive and developmentally appropriate library and information services for young adults, ages 12-18;
• promotes reading and supports the literacy movement;

  advocates the use of information and communications technologies to provide effective library service;

• supports equality of access to the full range of library materials and services, including existing and emerging information and communication technologies, for young adults;
• provides education and professional development to enable its members to serve as effective advocates for young people;
• fosters collaboration and partnerships among its individual members with library and information services that meet the unique needs and interests of young adults;
• encourages research and is in the vanguard of new thinking concerning the provision of library and information services to youth.

Adopted June 1994