Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)
YALSA is an American Library Association division that advances library services for teens through awards, programs, professional development, and advocacy for young adult literature and technology.
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) is a division of the American Library Association dedicated to improving and promoting library services for adolescents and young adults. Founded in 1957, YALSA brings together librarians, library staff, educators and advocates who work with teens. Its mission emphasizes equity, literacy, learning and the creation of welcoming spaces where young people can explore ideas, media and technology.
Programs, awards and resources
YALSA produces a range of well-known annual awards, selected lists and resources used by public and school libraries to develop teen collections and programs. Among these are:
- Competitive awards such as the Printz Award for literary excellence in young adult literature and the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for teens.
- Recognition lists like Best Fiction for Young Adults, Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults, and the Alex Awards for adult books with appeal to teens.
- Events and observances including Teen Read Week (each October) and Teen Tech Week (each March), which encourage reading, maker activities and digital literacy.
YALSA also organizes the Young Adult Literature Symposium and offers professional development through webinars, workshops and publications such as its peer-reviewed journal and practitioner magazine. These resources support collection development, programming ideas and evidence-based practice.
Historically, YALSA evolved from earlier ALA units focused on young adult services and expanded as the teen demographic gained recognition as a distinct group with particular developmental and information needs. Over decades it has influenced library standards, promoted diversity in teen collections and championed teen participation in library planning.
YALSA’s work is practical and advocacy-oriented: members create reading lists, evaluate media, train staff, and develop outreach strategies that help libraries reach adolescents from diverse backgrounds. Many public libraries use YALSA lists to guide purchasing, programming and literacy initiatives that connect teens to books, technology and community resources.
As a professional association, YALSA maintains several thousand members and collaborates with the broader library community through the American Library Association. Its awards and lists are widely cited by librarians, educators and publishers as benchmarks of excellence in young adult services and literature.
Questions and answers
Q: When was the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) founded?
A: YALSA was founded in 1957.
Q: Who are the members of YALSA?
A: The members of YALSA are librarians, library workers, and people who support libraries.
Q: What is the goal of YALSA?
A: The goal of YALSA is to make libraries larger and better help teens.
Q: What does YALSA do each year?
A: YALSA supports an Young Adult Literature Symposium each year.
Q: What are Teen Read Week and Teen Tech Week?
A: Teen Read Week is the third week of each October, and Teen Tech Week is the second week of each March.
Q: How many members does YALSA have?
A: YALSA has over 5,200 members.
Q: What does YALSA give out each year?
A: YALSA gives several awards each year.
Related articles
Author
AlegsaOnline.com Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/110070
Sources
- ala.org : "About YALSA"
- ala.org : "Who Is Margaret Edwards and What Is This Award Being Given In Her Honor?"
- ala.org : "YALSA's Alex Awards"
- ala.org : "Margaret A. Edwards Award"
- ala.org : "Margaret A. Edwards Winners"
- ala.org : "Morris Award"
- ala.org : ala.org/yalsa/booklistsawards/bookawards/morris/previous
- ala.org : "About the Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production"
- ala.org : ala.org/yalsa/odyssey-award
- ala.org : "Michael L. Printz Award"
- ala.org : ala.org/yalsa/printz-award
- ala.org : "Previous YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Winners"