How to use this Page

Get ready to vote! The YALSA election runs from March 24 through May 1, and to help you be an informed voter, we're sharing interviews with each of the 2015 YALSA Governance and 2017 Selection Committee candidates as well as the ALA President-Elect Candidates.

Today we'll hear from a candidate for the 2017 Printz Award. Members on this committee serve a twelve month term. The committee consists of nine members including a chair. Four members and the chair are appointed and the remaining four members will be elected by the membership of YALSA.

The Printz Award committee’s primary job is to select from the previous year’s publications the best young adult book. A full description of the committee’s duties and responsibilities can be found here.

Full biographical information on all of the candidates can be found on the sample ballot.

Today we have an interview with Jonatha Basye.

Name and current position:
JonathaBasye, Senior Library Technician, Joint Base Langley-Eustis

Besides reading YA materials, what best qualifies you for being a member of this YALSA selection committee?
I think I have a lot of insight into what teens are reading; what they are currently interested in. As a former teacher and school librarian, I was constantly asking my students what they were reading, or what they found most interesting in the YA world. I also try to stay on top of that by writing reviews for VOYA (Voices of Youth Advocates) and LMC (Library Media Connection).

Talk about the experience you’re bringing to the selection committee with selection, evaluation, and working as part of a team.
I was fortunate enough to serve three years on the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Committee through the ALAN organization. We were required to read hundreds of YA novels, discuss them as a groupvia email and Goodreads, and then narrow the field down using criteria set out by the organization. This experience really made me focus on how I evaluate YA novels, and how I communicate with others via email and other types of social media. I think we had to work harder as a team since we never met face-to-face to discuss the novels. It made us be more concise, more thoughtful, and more aware of the teens we were serving.

What role do you think books can play in addressing some of the issues that negatively impact their lives?
I think that YA novels can be that "safe place" where teens can go when they are dealing with something; whether that be abuse, drugs, violence, being bullied, going through a divorce, etc. YA authors are discussing these issues very openly, and I think that makes them feel less alone. I think it can be a cathartic experience for some teens to know that someone out there understands what they are going through, especially when it is written down.

What are some ways the award winning titles can meet the need of teens to have a more expanded view of literacy?
I think that, in most cases, the award winning titles are those that fly just below the radar. They are out there, people know that they are good, but it's a little more difficult to get them into the hands of readers. We as committee members, teachers, librarians, etc., can help get those books out there by reading them, voting on them, and sharing our knowledge with others.

Share a time when you’ve advocated for a library collection to be more influential in the role of a connected learning center and what was the result?
I was a high school librarian for four years, and noticed that our graphic collection was in serious need of updating. The students were clamoring for more GN's, and we just didn't have the selection they required. I decided to work with the high school art teachers to see what they would like to have in the collection, how the GN's could be used in their curriculum, and how we could get the money to purchase said collection. We developed a wish list, with input from both teachers and students, and then wrote a grant to secure monies to purchase the GN's. With the grant, we were able to purchase $500 worth of GN's for the school library. The art teachers began bringing their classes into the library to check out the GN's to use during class. It was an amazing experience! It felt great to collaborate with supportive teachers!

Why should YALSA members choose you to be a member of this selection committee?
YALSA members should choose me to be a member of the Printz selection committee because I truly wish to serve. I have always looked to the Printz committee to see which books I should be reading; which books I should be putting into the hands of my kids. I think the work that they do is extraordinary, and I would love to be a part of that.

Talk about a time when a teen shared with you how a book influenced them.
Danny, one of my book club kids, came into the library quite regularly looking for LGBT YA novels. Danny was a transgender teen; perhaps one of the only ones in our small high school, and he often felt out of place. I gave him Luna by Julie Anne Peters to read. I told him to try it out; see what he thought. At the end of the week, Danny came back to me and said that he loved the book. He was so glad that there were authors who were willing to discuss the issues that he was struggling with. That interaction solidified for me that I was in exactly the right profession.

Get ready to vote! The YALSA election runs from March 24 through May 1, and to help you be an informed voter, we're sharing interviews with each of the 2015 YALSA Governance and 2017 Selection Committee candidates as well as the ALA President-Elect Candidates.

Today we'll hear from the candidate for President-Elect. The President-Elect serves a three-year term: President-Elect the first year, President the second year, and Immediate Past-President the third year. The President-Elect is a member of YALSA's Executive Committee, along with the President, Past President, Fiscal Officer, Secretary and Councilor.

The President-Elect's primary job is to learn the role of the President, and to make committee appointments. The President-Elect also has all the normal duties of a Board member.' A full description of the President-Elect's duties and responsibilities can be found here.

Full biographical information on all of the candidates can be found on the sample ballot.

Today we have an interview with Sarah Hill.

Name and current position:
Sarah Hill, Information Services Librarian at Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois

What best qualifies you for being YALSA President?
I’ve been very active in YALSA selection committees and was appointed to the 2013 Printz and 2015 Odyssey Award committee. I served on the Alex Award committee in 2008 & 2009 and was chair in 2010. I also served on the Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults committee and on the RUSA/YALSA Young Adult Reference Committee. I moderated an ALA graphic novel panel in 2010, and have presented at many local and state conferences

For many years, I was very active in Illinois School Library Media Association and served as a board member, treasurer, and president. I participated in many committees, planned conferences and workshops, and strived to improve school librarianship in Illinois. In my three-year term as president-elect/president/past-president of ISLMA, I served on the AASL Affiliate Assembly and attended AASL Region 3 workshops representing my state. Since taking my new position at a community college library, I’ve stepped back from leadership roles in ISLMA, but still participate on the Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award reading committee, which is how I got my start in ISLMA years ago.

Talk about the experience you’re bringing to the position with leadership, advocacy, and impact on teen services in the library?
I bring a unique view to YALSA leadership because I worked as a high school teacher librarian for twelve years, and was a curriculum director for the last three of those years. I’m currently in my second year as a community college librarian providing instruction and reference help to students and faculty. I’ve always had to be an advocate for libraries and young adult literature in my buildings in order to save my physical space, budget, and job!

In YALSA, I've been very active on reading selection committees and have a reputation as a responsible, hard-working committee member. I'm very good at managing time and money and do not like to waste either. I may not be the best writer (I know my weaknesses!), but I communicate professionally and appropriately to get tasks completed successfully.

How can being YALSA President help make a difference with issues teens may be struggling with?
This is a difficult question. At my community college, I’m making a difference because I serve on the college’s Inclusion & Diversity Education Task Force and as a Safe Zone facilitator, which means I train faculty and staff to be more knowledgeable and supportive of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, and allies. As a librarian, I help my patrons with the issues they choose to talk to me about, and as YALSA president, the best I can do is to listen and respond to members. Our members know why teens are struggling and our organization responds by creating resources and providing professional development to help librarians serve those teens.

What are some ways that being a member of a YALSA governance committee can help serve as an even better connector to helping libraries become thriving learning environments for teens?
YALSA governance committee members are the YALSA members who have a direct responsibility to make good things happen. My experience in organizations has taught me that sometimes change is slow, and the governance committee members are the ones who need to keep hammering away to create change and make improvements. By listening to our members, the governance committee can make sure that their issues and problems are being addressed, which will improve library services to teens.

Share a recent example(s) where you made a shift to better focus on the current needs of teens.
After working in high schools as an English teacher, librarian, and curriculum director for 14 years, last year I started working as the Information Services Librarian at Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois. I’m the only librarian besides my director, so that means I’m in charge of instruction and reference. I’ve been focusing on weeding and collection development lately, and I received a $2,500 LSTA grant to provide training to students and faculty about the Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards. The library purchased 141 award-winning non-fiction books in the areas of science, technology, arts, engineering, and mathematics for ages K-12. The items were added to the juvenile collection of our library that supports our education students and daycare on campus. By addressing this need, our students and staff are more knowledgeable about how a library can support state and national standards in the classroom and at home.

Why should YALSA members choose you to be a member of the governance committee?
Throughout my library career, I've praised YALSA as the national organization that has helped me the most. I've always worked with teens, and I believe that YALSA helps me stay on top of what teens want. I read YALSA blogs, follow YALSA peeps on Twitter, and stay connected with my professional learning network to learn more about teens, books, and technology. I couldn't do my job without my network and would like to give back to the organization that has helped me grow in my professional and personal life. As YALSA president, I will do my best to steer YALSA in the direction that will improve library services to teens, whether in public, academic or school libraries.

Get ready to vote! The YALSA election runs from March 24 through May 1, and to help you be an informed voter, we're sharing interviews with each of the 2015 YALSA Governance and 2017 Selection Committee candidates as well as the ALA President-Elect Candidates.

Today we'll hear from a candidate for the 2017 Edwards Award. Members on this committee serve an eighteenth month term. The committee consists of six virtual members of which three are elected.

The Edwards Award committee’s primary job is to select a living author or co-author whose book or books, over a period of time, have been accepted by young people as an authentic voice that continues to illuminate their experiences and emotions, giving insight into their lives. A full description of the committee’s duties and responsibilities can be found here.

Full biographical information on all of the candidates can be found on the sample ballot.

Today we have an interview with Jeanette Johnson.

Name and current position:
Jeanette Johnson/ Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults Chair 2014-2015

Besides reading YA materials, what best qualifies you for being a member of this YALSA selection committee?
I work with teens every day. I am a middle school librarian in Temple City Unified serving 991 students and I also work part time in the youth services department of the Monrovia Public Library.

Talk about the experience you’re bringing to the selection committee with selection, evaluation, and working as part of a team.
I get to see what is popular with all ages of teens and what circulates best at both a public school and a public library. I served three years on the Children’s Literature Council of Southern California Award committee and two years on YALSA’s Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, the second year as Chair. I am familiar with a totally virtual environment as well as physical group meetings. I am comfortable with, and will look forward to, the amount of books I will need to read for the committee.

What role do you think books can play in addressing some of the issues that negatively impact their lives?
Books are important for a variety of reasons. They can provide an escape from reality, share experiences that a teen may be facing, and give additional perspectives or much needed information as well as support a teen who may not be comfortable asking questions.

What are some ways the award winning titles can meet the need of teens to have a more expanded view of literacy?
Awards are an important part of book selection. There are so many books published that making decisions about what to buy, recommend, and read can be daunting. The Margaret Edwards Award for a body of work is a great way to expand a teens’ perspective. Generally speaking, if a teen likes a book, they will want to read another by the same author. Once they exhaust that author, they will be ready for another recommendation. Award winning titles are a great place to start.

Share a time when you’ve advocated for a library collection to be more influential in the role of a connected learning center and what was the result?
Last year I teamed up with our high school librarian to apply for a grant to bring the Overdrive system to our secondary school sites. We received a grant for $8000 from our School’s Foundation. Together we created the database of e-books and audiobooks. After launch, and our students learned how to use the program, we worked with our teachers to get our students public library cards so they could access the much larger Overdrive database and extend our collection. Our students now have access to books 24 hours a day, they know how to access library books on multiple devices and they have multiple databases available for them to use through the public library.

Why should YALSA members choose you to be a member of this selection committee?
The more experience I have on selection committees, the better prepared I am to meet the needs of my teens. I think it is important for my students to know I am an advocate for them. The more I am connected with YA literature, the better I can help my students find the right book. I encourage young adults to read the nominated books on all of the YALSA committees and write reviews to share with their colleagues. I spotlight the committees I serve and the Teens Top 10 program. I have a Teen advisory board which helps with all of the Teen programing on campus and provides input on book selection for our library.

Talk about a time when a teen shared with you how a book influenced them.
A teen told me a story of how the Harry Potter series helped her become an avid reader. This student always struggled with reading because she had not found the right type of book that made reading interesting. The first two books were read aloud at night with a parent. When the third book was published,she was in middle school and checked out the book. She could not put it down. She finished the series and has been a fan of fantasy ever since!

If you want to win votes and get elected in Britain, at least in general elections, then you had better get a party. The occasional and isolated exceptions only prove the rule. Before the 2010 general election, in the wake of the parliamentary expenses scandal, there was speculation that independent candidates might do unusually well, but in the event this did not happen. Elected politicians have a wonderful capacity for persuading themselves that their electoral success is to be explained by their obvious personal qualities, but the evidence is all against them.

The post How to win the 2015 General Election appeared first on OUPblog.

Get ready to vote! The YALSA election runs from March 24 through May 1, and to help you be an informed voter, we're sharing interviews with each of the 2015 YALSA Governance and 2017 Selection Committee candidates as well as the ALA President-Elect Candidates.

Today we'll hear from a candidate for ALA President-Elect. The ALA President serves a one year term. The role of the ALA President is to be the Association's chief spokesperson and to work closely with the ALA's Executive Director in identifying and promoting library issues nationwide and internationally. A full description of ALA Presidential duties and responsibilities can be found here.

Full biographical information on all of the candidates can be found on the sample ballot.

Today we have an interview with James LaRue.

Name and current position:
James LaRue, CEO of LaRue & Associates, Castle Rock, Colorado

How do you envision your leadership as ALA President being supportive of YALSA and the work it does for teens?
My platform (see next question) very much applies to teens. I envision an engaged, even activist profession, plugged into community needs, embracing of the maker movement, and serving as proud and relentless advocates for literacy. Few investments pay off like paying attention to the next generations.

Share with YALSAblog readers the areas you intend to focus on as ALA President and why these issues are important.
My platform has three planks
1. A new push for librarians as leaders. I envision a process in which librarians identify key community leaders, leave the building to interview those leaders in their own locations, strive to understand the concerns and aspirations of those leaders' constituent, then choose library-led projects that make a difference. In this way, librarians build relationships, catalog their communities, and help set the agenda for meaningful change. It's not about us anymore; it's not even about transforming lives. It's about building great communities by becoming leaders ourselves. And teens are often an area of keen interest to a community.
2. A push for librarians to move from gatekeepers (serving only as final links in the distribution chain of content) to gardeners (coaches, partners, co-creators and publishers) of new content. There is a more democratic explosion of patron generated work around us - books, music, movies. The library should be at the heart of this revolution. Think YOUmedia at Chicago Public as just one example.
3. An all-out promotion of the importance of early literacy. A host of studies have conclusively demonstrated the power of "book abundance." Research shows that getting 500 books in the home of a child between the ages of 0-5 is as good as having two parents with Master's degrees. Librarians and teachers know this; but many others in our society do not. This is of interest not only to public and school librarians, but to academic and research libraries as well. Reading for pleasure leads not only to emotionally intelligent teens and adults, but likely results in the pursuit of further education. We need to get this information out of the library echo chamber and into our larger society.

Talk about a recent time when you supported library services for teens in your current or a previous position.
As director of the Douglas County (Colo.) Libraries, we established an "Aloha Teen Tower" - a distinct section of a new library whose collections, technology, and even furniture and furnishings, were determined by our teen advisory board's recommendations. As a sponsor of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) we paid to edit, then electronically publish, our teen award winners (using local judges). In one of my favorite programs, we hired teen library assistants -- not pages! -- to work at a higher level with other teens. I'm very pleased to report that this has been a wonderful librarian recruitment program - several of those students have now returned to us as librarians.

Why should YALSA members choose you to be ALA president?
I believe we are at a tipping point in our profession, requiring a vision of far more engaged and active librarians. I have the leadership skills and experience, the vision and communication ability to both inspire our colleagues, and the drive to promote their good work to a larger environment. In addition to my work as a librarian, I have worked with a host of media (newspaper columnist, radio and TV show host), many non-profits (including the Douglas County Youth Initiative, and the National Children's Health Study, both of which I chaired), and other groups around the county, state, and nation, to ensure that librarians have a seat at the table for important discussions, and that we made valuable - and acknowledged - contributions.

Do you have a passion for the future of teens services in libraries? Are you looking for ways to give back to the profession and to YALSA? Do you want to effect change, build new skills, and develop a killer resume in the process? If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s time to seriously consider running for an elected position!
Over the course of the next seven months, the 2016 Governance Nominating Committee and I will be working towards developing a diverse slate of members to run for several Board positions including Director at-large, Secretary, and President. Successful candidates will run for election in the Spring of 2016 and begin their terms during YALSA’s Board III meeting at the Annual 2016 conference in Orlando.
For more information on the role of responsibilities of YALSA’s Board, please visit the Governance page which includes some handy FAQs to help get you started. There’s also a series of interviews and podcasts from past Board members in a series on this blog called “Life on the YALSA Board.”

As you ponder and check out these resources, please feel free to also connect with me anytime at [email protected]. I’ll also be at the Midwinter and Annual ALA Meetings if you’d like to schedule time for an in-person chat.

What is SkADaMo? Check it out here.

VOTER FLOOD

YALSA’s Awards Nominating and Governance Nominating Committees have assembled the slate for 2015.

Any individual interested in being added to the slate as a petition candidate can do so by submitting a completed Petition for YALSA Ballot form via the YALSA website found here. The closing date to submit a petition is November 2, 2014.

Please note that you must first log into your ALA account in order to access the form.

Elections open March 24, 2015 and close May 1, 2015.

The slate is as follows:

President-Elect
Sarah Hill

Division Councilor
Todd Krueger

Board Member-at-Large
Diane Colson
Crystle Martin
Kate McNair
Adrienne Strock

2017 Edwards Award Committee
Betsy Crone
Jeanette Johnson
Joy Millam

2017 Nonfiction Award Committee
Meaghan Darling
Jennifer Longee
Loren Spector
Ellen Spring

2017 Printz Award Committee
Jonatha Basye
Marianne Follis
Janet Hilbun
Melanie Koss
Jeanne McDermott
Kefira Philippe
Katie Richert
Edwin Rodarte
Jessi Shulte-Honstad

So, remember when you got that email from ALA that gave you the link so you could vote? Yeah, you’re right; that was a month ago. But you still have three days left to vote: voting closes on Friday, April 25. Now is the time to dig through your email, find that link, and go ahead and vote.

As of yesterday, 16.6% of ALA members had cast a ballot in this election. That’s a pretty low voter turnout. We don’t have numbers for YALSA members specifically, but in the past, voter turnout for YALSA has been around 20%. Still, that means fewer than 1000 people are making the decisions about things that might matter to you: who serves on YALSA’s Award committees (Printz, Edwards, and Nonfiction), and who serves on YALSA’s Board of Directors.

In March, this blog had a whole series of posts to give you information about the candidates. Every weekday, starting February 26 and running through March 19, there was at least one (and usually two) interviews each day with the candidates. You can find them easily by going to the drop-down menu labeled “Categories” on the side of this page and selecting “Election.”

For even more details, including complete biographical information on all of the candidates, check out the sample ballot.

YALSA is a member-driven organization. That means it’s up to YOU to vote for the people who will be representing you over the next few years.

Don’t let any more time go by. Vote.

Sarah Flowers, Chair, 2014 Governance Nominating Committee

Get ready to vote! The YALSA election runs from March 19 through April 25, and to help you be an informed voter, we’re sharing interviews with each of the 2014 YALSA Governance candidates.

We will start with the candidates for Board Director-at-large. YALSA Board members serve three-year terms, during which they jointly determine YALSA’s policies, programs, and strategic direction, in accordance with YALSA’s bylaws. They attend both virtual and in-person meetings and serve as liaisons to YALSA’s committee chairs and members. A full description of Board duties and responsibilities can be found here.

Candidates, who will be presented in alphabetical order, were asked to craft “Twitter-length” responses (i.e. around 140 characters). Full biographical information on all of the candidates can be found on the sample ballot.

Today we have an interview with Rachel McDonald.

Name and current position: Rachel McDonald Teen Librarian, King County Library System.

Why did you decide to run for a YALSA office? What excites you about serving on YALSA Board?  

After getting to know YALSA by serving on task forces & selection committees, serving on the board is the logical & exciting next chapter.

What areas of YALSA’s Strategic Plan do you think you can best contribute to? Why? 

Having served on the YA Advocacy Benchmarks Task Force, I’m excited to educate and empower our members to do more advocacy.

What is the most pressing issue facing YALSA today?

Advocating for our members whose positions, whether in school or public libraries, are often in jeopardy. Let’s show everyone how much we’re needed!

What priority activities should YALSA take on to address the “paradigm shift” as described in The Future of Library Services for and with Teens report?

We need to encourage librarians to facilitate connected learning with teens and provide opportunities for them to connect with mentors.

What attributes have helped you succeed professionally?

I welcome the opportunity to collaborate and learn from others, but still do my research so I can back up the positions I hold.

What do you see as the primary role of the Board?

Using the strategic plan as a guide, the primary role of the board is to help our members better serve teens in their communities.

If elected, how will you help YALSA members (in their daily work, in their careers, other)?

I look forward to helping library staff & teen advocates connect by sharing research, best practices, & advocacy tools.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I believe my collaborative skills & vision will help move YALSA forward as we continue to look for ways to engage & support our members.

Get ready to vote! The YALSA election runs from March 19 through April 25, and to help you be an informed voter, we’re sharing interviews with each of the 2014 YALSA Governance candidates.

We will start with the candidates for Board Director-at-large. YALSA Board members serve three-year terms, during which they jointly determine YALSA’s policies, programs, and strategic direction, in accordance with YALSA’s bylaws. They attend both virtual and in-person meetings and serve as liaisons to YALSA’s committee chairs and members. A full description of Board duties and responsibilities can be found here.

Candidates, who will be presented in alphabetical order, were asked to craft “Twitter-length” responses (i.e. around 140 characters). Full biographical information on all of the candidates can be found on the sample ballot.

Today we have an interview with Jennifer Korn.

Name and current position: Jennifer Korn, TeenSpot Manager, The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

Why did you decide to run for a YALSA office? What excites you about serving on YALSA Board?  

Serving on Board will allow me to give back to YALSA and to lead the organization in a way that supports my fellow teen serving professionals to reach their potential.

What areas of YALSA’s Strategic Plan do you think you can best contribute to? Why? 

Advocacy and continuous education because of my past and present involvement in both of these activities within my library system, regional organizations, and YALSA.

What is the most pressing issue facing YALSA today?

The decrease in support for teen-focused, school and public library services as illustrated by a reduction of allocated resources and dedicated professionals.

What priority activities should YALSA take on to address the “paradigm shift” as described in The Future of Library Services for and with Teens report?

Advocating for the necessity of teen library services needs to be a top priority – advocacy to legislators, library and school administrators, potential partners.

What attributes have helped you succeed professionally?

I welcome challenge and growth. I perform best with a team and prefer collaborative work. I am thorough and focused with all of my work.

What do you see as the primary role of the Board?

Creating high-level initiatives that support the organization’s strategic plan, and then arming members so they can translate these initiatives into objectives that address immediate organizational needs and encourage member growth.

If elected, how will you help YALSA members (in their daily work, in their careers, other)?

I will make decisions guided by member needs and concerns, and emphasize the importance of engaging more members in YALSA’s activities.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

My involvement in YALSA has helped me move from librarian to a manager with recognized leadership ability. I want all of YALSA’s members to experience the same benefits to their professional growth.

Get ready to vote! The YALSA election runs from March 19 through April 25, and to help you be an informed voter, we’re sharing interviews with each of the 2014 candidates for YALSA Award Committees.

This week we are focusing on the Michael L. Printz Award Committee, which honors the best book and up to four honor books written for teens, based entirely on literary merit, each year.

Candidates, who will be presented in alphabetical order, were asked to craft “Twitter-length” responses (i.e. around 140 characters). Full biographical information on all of the candidates can be found on the sample ballot.

Today we have an interview with Lalitha Nataraj.

Name and current position: Lalitha Nataraj, Youth Services Librarian, Escondido Public Library

Why did you decide to run for a YALSA selection committee?

I’d be honored to serve on this committee and take part in recognizing books that embody the highest literary quality. I celebrate diversity in YA lit and am eager to add my voice to the Printz Award Committee mix.

In a nutshell, what will you bring to the committee?

In serving on the Amelia Bloomer Project & YALSA Quick Picks, I’ve learned to read without bias, think critically about the representation of diverse voices and experiences, and carefully apply evaluation criteria.

What experience do you have with materials selection and evaluation?

I’m responsible for children’s and teen materials selection at my library. I review books and apps for SLJ, served as a Cybils Awards judge, and blog about multicultural youth lit.

What makes you a good fit for this committee in particular?

My Amelia Bloomer Project service has provided me great experience with critically assessing literature. Literary discussions among passionate feminists will more than prepare you for heated Printz deliberations!

How do you plan to manage the reading load required by selection committee participation?

Prior committee experience has prepared me for intense reading; I like keeping detailed notes on each title and tracking books on spreadsheets. Too, my husband is supportive and I know he’ll help with our kids!

What have been some of your favorite past winners of this particular award?

Gene L. Yang’s American Born Chinese, and Honor books Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz, and E. Lockhart’s The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks.

What books should have won the award, but didn’t?

Printz deliberations can very passionate and all-consuming- decisions are not made lightly. I prefer to respect the choices made by previous committees.

What else do voters need to know about you?

In addition to reading kid/teen lit, I also love talking about it on social media. Come chat me up on Twitter: @librarian_lali. We can talk about cats, too.

This interview was cross-posted on The Hub and the YALSAblog.

Get ready to vote! The YALSA election runs from March 19 through April 25, and to help you be an informed voter, we’re sharing interviews with each of the 2014 YALSA Governance candidates.

We will start with the candidates for Board Director-at-large. YALSA Board members serve three-year terms, during which they jointly determine YALSA’s policies, programs, and strategic direction, in accordance with YALSA’s bylaws. They attend both virtual and in-person meetings and serve as liaisons to YALSA’s committee chairs and members. A full description of Board duties and responsibilities can be found here.

Candidates, who will be presented in alphabetical order, were asked to craft “Twitter-length” responses (i.e. around 140 characters). Full biographical information on all of the candidates can be found on the sample ballot.

Today we have an interview with Gretchen Kolderup.

Name and current position: Gretchen Kolderup,Manager for YA Education & Engagement @ New York Public Library.

Why did you decide to run for a YALSA office? What excites you about serving on YALSA Board?  

I’m jazzed about the opportunity to to dig into the work of our association with others who care deeply about library services for teens!

What areas of YALSA’s Strategic Plan do you think you can best contribute to? Why? 

Member recruitment/engagement. My YALSA experience has been so meaningful; I love sharing that & helping others hook in to the association!

What is the most pressing issue facing YALSA today?

Remaining relevant and effective to its members as well as financially stable as our profession continues to change.

What priority activities should YALSA take on to address the “paradigm shift” as described in The Future of Library Services for and with Teens report?

Sounds silly, but: help ppl feel comfortable getting out of comfort zones. Report shows evolution’s necessary & good, but change can be scary.

What attributes have helped you succeed professionally?

Determination, creativity, collaborative leadership style. Learned from building YA svcs from scratch in my first job & leading The Hub!

What do you see as the primary role of the Board?

Board fulfills YALSA’s mission to expand & strengthen teen services. Should help members in the now & advocate for members’ futures.

If elected, how will you help YALSA members (in their daily work, in their careers, other)?

Provide practical tools (like YALSA’s Pub Lib Eval Tool), create opps to recognize & share best ideas, advocate for teen services nationwide.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

Whether I’m elected or not, I’m interested in helping us all become even more stellar librarians for teens. Always up to collaborate or chat!

Get ready to vote! The YALSA election runs from March 19 through April 25, and to help you be an informed voter, we’re sharing interviews with each of the 2014 YALSA Governance candidates.

We will start with the candidates for Board Director-at-large. YALSA Board members serve three-year terms, during which they jointly determine YALSA’s policies, programs, and strategic direction, in accordance with YALSA’s bylaws. They attend both virtual and in-person meetings and serve as liaisons to YALSA’s committee chairs and members. A full description of Board duties and responsibilities can be found here.

Candidates, who will be presented in alphabetical order, were asked to craft “Twitter-length” responses (i.e. around 140 characters). Full biographical information on all of the candidates can be found on the sample ballot.

Today we have an interview with Betsy Fraser.

Name and current position: Betsy Fraser,Selector, Calgary Public Library

Why did you decide to run for a YALSA office? What excites you about serving on YALSA Board?  

I was inspired to run by the Board liaison I had while chairing the Summer Reading Taskforce and I am excited about the opportunity to do the same thing for someone else.

What areas of YALSA’s Strategic Plan do you think you can best contribute to? Why? 

Advocacy and member recruitment, as I am a staunch believer in YALSA and what it offers.

What is the most pressing issue facing YALSA today?

The need to attract and retain members, which offers possibilities for partnerships and advocacy.

What priority activities should YALSA take on to address the “paradigm shift” as described in The Future of Library Services for and with Teens report?

Promote digital and media literacy and capitalize on the know-how and innovative programming done by members.

What attributes have helped you succeed professionally?

Enthusiasm, determination, and a sense of humor.

What do you see as the primary role of the Board?

To look to the best possible future for the Division.

If elected, how will you help YALSA members (in their daily work, in their careers, other)?

Be available as a sounding board, as others have consistently been for me.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I’ve served on Council, ALSC committees, & YALSA award, selection & process committees & have a solid understanding of where we fit.

Get ready to vote! The YALSA election runs from March 19 through April 25, and to help you be an informed voter, we’re sharing interviews with each of the 2014 candidates for YALSA Award Committees.

This week we are focusing on the Michael L. Printz Award Committee, which honors the best book and up to four honor books written for teens, based entirely on literary merit, each year.

Candidates, who will be presented in alphabetical order, were asked to craft “Twitter-length” responses (i.e. around 140 characters). Full biographical information on all of the candidates can be found on the sample ballot.

Today we have an interview with Kelly Jensen.

Name and current position: Kelly Jensen, Teen & Adult Services Librarian, Beloit Public Library

Why did you decide to run for a YALSA selection committee?

After serving on other YALSA selection committees, I felt ready to take on Printz. It’s an honor to volunteer time and energy for my professional organization.

In a nutshell, what will you bring to the committee?

I’m passionate about discussing and debating the merits of YA books. I’m excited by the opportunity to spend a year talking about what makes a book stand out as the most excellent with fellow passionate readers.

What experience do you have with materials selection and evaluation?

Selected YA materials since my first librarian job in 2009; served on the CYBILS YA judging panel for 3 years & Outstanding Books for the College Bound. I write critical, in-depth book reviews at STACKED.

What makes you a good fit for this committee in particular?

I’m a fair, objective, and critical evaluator of books across genres. My skills for reading deeply and eagerness to discuss the qualities which make a book “best” or “not best” are a strong fit.

How do you plan to manage the reading load required by selection committee participation?

Serving on the CYBILs required reading 60-100 books in a 3-month period. I’ve also served on Outstanding Books for the College Bound & I’ve developed a method for reading lots of books in a short period of time.

What have been some of your favorite past winners of this particular award?

My favorite Printz winners are John Corey Whaley’s Where Things Come Back and John Green’s Looking for Alaska but I’ve loved a number of titles that have earned Printz honors, too.

What books should have won the award, but didn’t?

Each committee makes their choices based on what they read and discussed at length. I think one thing that the Printz does- and does well- is constantly surprise.

What else do voters need to know about you?

I’m really good at keeping spreadsheets, a skill that is far more handy in committee work than most people realize.

This interview was cross-posted on The Hub and the YALSAblog.

written by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Bryan Collier. Simon & Schuster, 2008. We've been reading this book over and over in the past several weeks. The story begins with a mother and son watching Obama give a speech on TV during the 2008 campaign. The little boy in the story starts to ask why all the people are chanting and clapping as Obama stands before them giving an inspiring talk. His

Without a doubt, things change and sometimes, we even know why. I haven’t heard mention made of it, but I’ve noticed this year the conventions are much later than usual. I can remember when I was little we’d take vacations to visit family in Chicago and the outings would always be planned so that we would return in time to watch the convention. I know I didn’t want to watch them, but I knew they were important and exciting because my parents, aunts and uncles were all glued to the screen following and discussing every detail. Of course, that was when more of the convention was actually televised and the American public wasn’t pandered to with events meant to be more glamorous.

Perhaps having students back in school during this year’s convention will give teachers the opportunity to highlight the events in class. Even if students are too young to vote, they’re not too young to get excited about the process. I don’t remember ever being involved in a mock election but they sure do get young people to pay attention to the process!

Rock the Vote does too.

Election years are also good times to teach students about information literacy: how to find good sources of information

primary vs. secondary and tertiary sources

create information products

credit sources

analyze information

It can be difficult to find sources without bias, sometimes we just have to be able to recognize what the bias is. Factchecker.org can help with that. Politico tries to be unbiased and I’m going to believe NPR does, too. Students might want to follow the campaign of both candidates on Twitter and FB. It can’t hurt to know what the other guy is saying!

Not often political in natural, but a good place to get the conversation started is the Sociological Images blog. Click for an interesting piece about Oprah’s hair and another about the racializing impact of Romney’s welfare ads.

The more politically involved college students might be interested in learning how it all works by getting involved in their state legislature as an intern. I was reminded of the ones here in IN when I received a very informative newsletter from one of my congressmen. Students can apply for Republican or Democratic internships.

Finally, if you’ve moved be sure to update you voter’s registration!

I think I’ll work on a list of books featuring teens of color that relate to voting and politics. Any suggestions?

One of the great things about participating in YALSA is knowing that you can make a difference.  No matter what your level of experience, if you are passionate about serving teens in libraries, we can find a way for you to contribute.  And while not everyone has time to serve on the Board or take part in a book committee, one thing each and every one of us can do is vote in the YALSA and ALA elections.

Don’t forget you can learn about the candidates by checking out YALSA’s posts on this Blog, reading through the handy 2012 YALSA Election Guide, and going through the sample ballot.

YALSA is fortunate to have what is considered by many to be the most innovative, resourceful, and vibrant membership group in all of ALA.  Today I challenge you to make YALSA stand out in a new way:  let’s see if we can’t get the highest election participation of any association in the entire ALA.  Take the time to vote this week, and remind your friends to take part, too!

This episode concludes our coverage of the 2012 YALSA elections. The following podcast contains interviews with of the two candidates for YALSA President.

Mary Hastler

Shannon Peterson

If you prefer, you may download the podcast at the YALSA Podcast site and transfer the file to the mp3 player of your choice.

This episode continues our coverage of YALSA’s 2012 elections. The following podcast contains interviews with the two candidates for YALSA Councilor.

Vicki Emery

Steve Matthews

If you prefer, you may download the podcast at the YALSA Podcast site and transfer the file to the mp3 player of your choice.

This episode continues coverage of YALSA’s 2012 elections. The following podcasts are interviews with the four candidates for the Board of Directors.

Candice Mack

Matthew Moffett

http://traffic.libsyn.com/yalsa/2012_board_candidatesmackmoffet.mp3

Sarah Sogigan

Priscille Dando

http://traffic.libsyn.com/yalsa/2012_board_candidatessogigandando.mp3

If you prefer, you may download the podcast at the YALSA Podcast site and transfer the file to the mp3 player of your choice.

It’s just about time for you to cast your vote in the 2012 YALSA election. The association’s 2012 Nominating Committee wants to make it as seamless as possible for you to make your selections and cast your ballot. Over the past few week’s we’ve worked to do that by providing information on candidates, the process, and the positions up for a vote. Now, we’ve put together a handy 2012 election guide for you to use as you continue to prepare. In the guide you will find all of the posts from the past few months on the election. You’ll also find a sample ballot which includes an example of the actual ballot along with the biographical and professional information for each of the candidates running for a YALSA position. You can read through before going online to cast your ballot. That way you’ll be all ready for voting day.

In just under two weeks you’ll receive an email from ALA with your voting information, it should arrive in your email as part of a 48 hour email blast between March 19 and March 21. The polls are open from March 19 through April 27.

Remember, by voting in the election you have the opportunity to help guarantee that YALSA is the association you want it to be. By the way, there is more information on candidates still to come. Over the next few days audio interviews with each of the candidates running for governance positions will be posted on the YALSABlog, stay tuned.

In February we are posting interviews with each of the 2012 Candidates for YALSA Award Committees. This week we are focusing on Michael L. Printz Award Committee.  Each day this week we’ll post an interview with one of the candidates for that committee. We are posting alphabetically by candidate’s last names.

The YALSA Nominating Committee for 2012 has been working hard to select candidates for this year’s election.  The Printz Committee is charged with selecting from the previous year’s publications the best young adult book (“best” being defined solely in terms of literary merit) and, if the Committee so decides, as many as four Honor Books. The Committee will also have the opportunity for input into the oversight and planning of the Printz Awards Program. Committee size: 9, four to be elected, plus a consultant from the staff of Booklist, and an administrative assistant if requested.

This is your chance to get to know this year’s candidates that have been nominated to serve on the Printz Award Committee.  Polls are open from March 19 to April 27.

Today we have an interview with Emily Williams.

What experience do you have that makes you a good candidate for the award position for which you are running?

I’ve worked pretty extensively with our statewide book award for the last six years. I served on the Sequoyah Book Award’s Intermediate master list selection committee from 2005-08, and was chair from 2007-08. During that time I helped advocate for a high school master list, which successfully launched in 2008. I’ve been on the Sequoyah High School committee since 2009, currently as their faculty advisor.

Why do you want to be a member of this awards committee?

I have been an advocate for YALSA since I started working in libraries in 1997. I teach a graduate-level YA literature class at the University of Oklahoma, and according to students’ comments in my class evaluations, my love of young adult literature and my passion about the field is evident. Having promoted the Printz since the first award was named in 2000, I would be deeply honored to serve on this committee. I feel like my entire career up to this point has been preparing me for this.

What are you most looking forward to in being a part of this award decision process?

I am most excited about working with other librarians that are as passionate about this award as I am, and creating something of which we are immensely proud.

What do you feel are the key factors for decision-making for this award?

The Printz is an award for literary excellence. I think key factors of that are books that grip you, make you feel something, and leave a lasting impression. Maybe even change you.

The reading load for awards committees is very high, how do you plan on managing the work load of award committee life?

I fully understand that the reading load will be insane. I am organized, focused, detail-oriented, and I thrive on the challenge of an extensive reading list. I am used to reading hundreds of books a year from my state award committee experience and I am ready to live and breathe for the Printz. You will never catch me without a book.

What have you learned from past experiences on awards, juries, or other YALSA committees that you will bring with you to this committee?

Colleagues on past committees have found me to be an effective and valuable team member. You have to be flexible, open-minded, and willing to re-read titles.

In your experience how has the YALSA Awards and Selected Lists helped you as a librarian or made your work better or easier or different than expected?

I coordinate our library system’s YA Services for a large area that includesOklahoma Cityas well as many small rural communities. I do a lot of outreach to local sc

In February we are posting interviews with each of the 2012 Candidates for YALSA Award Committees. This week we are focusing on Michael L. Printz Award Committee.  Each day this week we’ll post an interview with one of the candidates for that committee. We are posting alphabetically by candidate’s last names.

The YALSA Nominating Committee for 2012 has been working hard to select candidates for this year’s election.  The Printz Committee is charged with selecting from the previous year’s publications the best young adult book (“best” being defined solely in terms of literary merit) and, if the Committee so decides, as many as four Honor Books. The Committee will also have the opportunity for input into the oversight and planning of the Printz Awards Program. Committee size: 9, four to be elected, plus a consultant from the staff of Booklist, and an administrative assistant if requested.

This is your chance to get to know this year’s candidates that have been nominated to serve on the Printz Award Committee. Polls are open from March 19 to April 27.

Today we have an interview with Sarah Wethern.

What experience do you have that makes you a good candidate for the award position for which you are running?

Well, this is perhaps a tad clichéd coming from a librarian, but I love to read and I read voraciously. I have served on Minnesota’s Maud Hart Lovelace award committee, reading a plethora of both YA and middle grade books to narrow down the nominations which are then voted on by kids across the state. I served on the Cybils committee in 2009 in the Young Adult Fiction category as a round one judge, reading the many books that were nominated in order to create a list of seven finalists. As of February 2012, I am starting my tenure on YALSA’s Popular Paperbacks Committee which will give me better exposure to working within a YALSA governed media list and prepare me for the rigorous work that could potentially follow if I am elected to the Printz Committee.

Why do you want to be a member of this awards committee?

There is something special in knowing that by participating in the Printz Committee, I am helping to leave an indelible imprint on the field of young adult literature. I work hard to match readers to new and interesting books every day in my job and I love being exposed to the various opinions that come out of those discussions and conversations. I believe that serving on the Printz Committee will help elevate my local library work to a new level.

What are you most looking forward to in being a part of this award decision process?

The discussion amongst my fellow committee members. Reading alone is wonderful but I have found that as I have become more critical about the books I read, I want people to discuss those books with. I enjoy the give and take that comes with talking amongst dedicated book aficionados. There is nothing better than digging in with a pen and a group of dedicated readers ready to dissect the text, to uncover its secrets and to ultimately make an exciting decision. And I am also looking forward to the speeches that come after from the winners. That is a special moment!

What do you feel are the key factors for decision-making for this award?

Literary excellence is a key factor in this book. The beauty, ingenuity and freshness of the writing are qualities all Printz books need. These are books that have to stand the test of time, that feature themes that should be part of the reader conscious for years to come. Additionally, these books should have high teen appeal. After all, they were written with teens in mind. The Printz Award is leaving a literary mark on history and it needs to be a mark that will continue to evolve as new readers discover the stories and characters within.

The reading load for awards committees is very high, how do you plan on managing the work l