Young Adult Library Services Association

Our Mission Through networking, advocacy, and professional development, the Young Adult Library Services Association empowers all those involved in the profession to provide equitable, diverse and inclusive teen services. Read about us and our mission in Associations Now and check out our 2014 report on the Future of Library Services for and with Teens: a Call to Action What We Do The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) brings together key stakeholders from the areas of libraries, education, research, out of school time, youth development and more to develop and deliver resources to libraries that expand their capacity to support teen learning and enrichment and to foster healthy communities. Read about us and our mission in Associations Now and check out this infographic (.pdf). YALSA is committed to embedding equity, diversity and inclusion principles throughout the organization, and to helping libraries do the same. Read our Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Advocate By participating in events like National Library Legislative Day and implementing District Days initiatives for libraries to participate in, YALSA works at a national level to inform and engage policy makers and elected officials about the important role libraries and librarians play in preparing teens to become engaged, productive citizens. Research Through efforts such as its Research Agenda and Journal for Research on Libraries and Young Adults, YALSA promotes and disseminates relevant research. Train In order to ensure that librarians and library workers have the skills needed to engage, educate and support teens, YALSA offers a wealth of continuing education activities, including e-learning and an annual teen services symposium. Build Capacity YALSA provides over $195,000 per year to libraries through grants to help libraries do things like offer summer learning programs, hire teen interns and increase their digital media offerings. YALSA scholarships and stipends support librarians and library workers seeking to further their education or gain leadership skills. Read our 2014 report (pdf) on Helping Libraries Meet the Needs of Diverse Teens, or watch this 5 minute video. Watch this video to learn about our Teen Read Week Activity Grant and its impact on helping libraries promote literacy amongst teens.