Presentation for YALSA Membership
Recruitment
YALSA is ALA's fastest growing division, with a membership of over 5,000. Recruiting new members means more dues, more programs, and more impact on services for teenagers in libraries across the country. Now that YALSA is no longer receiving ALA’s small division subsidy, earning more revenue is even more important. We need to recruit all kinds of librarians,
graduate students, educators, trustees, and others to ensure young adults
receive quality library service. This script is a suggested presentation for
this purpose. Please adapt it to your own style and situation.
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Early Bird
Activity:
Put the handout called “Take the YALSA Challenge” on each seat in the room. As people arrive, encourage them to fill in the handout. Tell them that you’ll collect them at the end of your presentation and draw a winner from the pile of completed entries. Give that person a token or prize. This activity could also be done at the end of the presentation instead of as a precursor to it, if you prefer.>
Introduction:
Thank you so much for having me here today! I am both pleased and proud to talk with you about the Young Adult Library Services Association, or YALSA, which is a division of the American Library Association, the oldest and largest library association in the world. I have been a YALSA member for _______ years, and membership in this association has benefited me in many ways. But why should you consider becoming a YALSA member?
Here are some important facts to think about:
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Did you know that 23% of all the patrons who walk into the public libraries are teens between 12 and 18?
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Did you know that only 11% of the public libraries in the country employ young adult specialists?
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Did you know that by the year 2008 there will be 42 million teenagers, and an increase of 13% in the number of students in grades 9 through 12?
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According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 32% of 8th graders scored at or above the proficient level in reading in 2003.
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According to a recent study by the Nielsen Norman Group, teens are less proficient than adults at navigating the Internet. Teens performed poorly due to insufficient reading skills, less sophisticated research skills, and less patience.
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Between 2010 and 2020, 45% of today’s librarians will reach age 65.
These statistics indicate that there is an urgent need for school librarians and young adult specialists to be prepared to meet the needs of today’s growing teen population. Librarians of all kinds, regardless of specialization, will need all the help they can get, and the place to find that help is YALSA! YALSA's goal is “to advocate, promote and strengthen service to young adults as part of a continuum of total library service.”
Here are some important YALSA
facts to know:
- YALSA offers three annual awards for Young Adult
Literature
- Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young
Adult Literature
- Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement
to Young Adult Literature
- Alex Awards for the top 10 adult titles with teen appeal
- YALSA is the fastest growing division in the American
Library Association.
- YALSA administers over $30,000 in grants and awards
for its members each year.
- YALSA will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2007.
- YALSA recently adopted a new strategic plan that
means exciting initiatives for the future.
- YALSA is developing online continuing education courses, planning new Regional Institutes, exploring the idea of establishing a Young Adult Literature Symposium, considering creating a new award for a first time author in young adult literature, and more.
Facts for Students:
- When you join YALSA you become eligible for ALA’s
scholarships to help you pay for your MLS degree.
- YALSA members receive two YALSA publications and one
ALA publication that can help you with your assignments:
- Young Adult Library Services, a quarterly print
journal
- YAttitudes, a quarterly online newsletter
- American Libraries, a monthly magazine
- YALSA’s networking opportunities via its online
discussion lists, conference programs, etc. provide members with a chance to
explore possible career options and interact with potential employers.
- YALSA members also have full access to ALA’s career
resources and placement services.
- YALSA has a mentoring program where members can sign
up for free to be partnered with an experienced librarian.
- YALSA is a well-known and respected organization
within the field. Joining the association and listing it on your resume will
catch they eye of potential employers.
- YALSA’s student membership is only $40 and it includes membership in ALA.
Others: feel free to add something you feel will appeal
to your audience
Presenter's Testimonial: It’s important to balance facts and figures with your personal story. Give a brief testimonial about how you’ve benefited from YALSA. Describe briefly what YALSA has done for you, either professionally or personally, or both. Illustrate your comments with specific examples and/or a personal anecdote.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
I belong to YALSA because:
Excample #1: It provides me with a network of fellow youth advocates in libraries and publishing for support and affirmation. (“I’m the only
person in my library who works with teens, so this network is important to
me.”)
Example #2: I find many opportunities for individual growth and professional development. The ALA Annual Conferences always have interesting programs. (For example, “This year I attended a program about adult books for teen readers, and it helped me with collection development for this age group.”)
Example #3.I've served on committees in which I expanded my knowledge about the profession and developed important skills. (“As a member of the Youth Participation committee, I helped to publish a youth participation manual and develop guidelines for youth participation at the national level.”)
Example #4. I learned I could be a leader in my profession on a national level and at home in my own library. YALSA is small enough for a person to be offered opportunities to lead the association. ("I was elected to the board and developed skills that allowed me to voice my opinions, influence others and make decisions.")
Take the YALSA Challenge:
Collect the papers you handed out earlier. Once they’re all collected, go over the correct answers, then draw a winner.
Concluding Remarks:
I strongly recommend that you consider joining YALSA so you can take advantage of the many opportunities it offers you to grow as an individual & to be an agent for change in the profession.
I've brought along membership brochures and information about YALSA’s different initiatives and programs. Please pick up these valuable resources before you go. We’re also on the web at www.ala.org/yalsa if you would like to look us up after you leave. Are there any questions I can answer? (allow wait time—count to 5). Thank you for having me here today and for the opportunity to share my thoughts about YALSA with you.
Need more information or assistance to help you plan your program? Contact the YALSA Office at 1 (800) 545-2433 x4390 or email yalsa@ala.org . We’d be happy to help!\
