I planned to post about YALSA’s Board meetings every day of Midwinter. But, as they say, “The best laid plans….”
Following the Saturday 1/16/10 meeting, the YALSA Board met twice more and the hard-working members continued to strategically plan for the Association. Items on the agenda on Sunday and Monday were discussion items. That means that what was discussed was not slated for specific action. Items listed as discussion usually are related to topics that haven’t yet been discussed by the Board and which may need more thought, and perhaps revision, before placed on a future agenda for a specific action. Discussion items can be acted on, but they do not have to be. An overview of topics discussed on Sunday, 1/17/10, and Monday, 1/18/10, follows.
- At both Annual Conference and Midwinter Meeting, the YALSA Board receives an update on the Association’s financial health. This update is provided by YALSA’s Fiscal Officer, Mary Hastler, and Executive Director, Beth Yoke. The report at Midwinter included suggestions that help guarantee that during financially difficult times, YALSA remains financially secure. The YALSA Board will continue to consider ways to control expenses and maximize revenues while meeting member needs. The full financial report is available on the YALSA web site.
- Over the past couple of years the YALSA Board has spent some time discussing the possibility of the Association starting a foundation. The reasons for this are multiple and include that a YALSA foundation could help the Association to better manage fundraising efforts. The YALSA Board decided to go forward with an investigation of this concept and has asked me to contact YALSA’s representative to the Executive Board to discuss whether or not it is feasible, within the ALA structure, to continue to explore YALSA foundation possibilities. The document related to foundations which the Board discussed is available on the YALSA web site.
- In the fall YALSA member Sarah Flowers worked with a task force to revise YALSA’s competences for librarians serving teens. Sarah presented the revised document to the YALSA Board and discussed with Board members the changes and decisions made during the revision process. Changes include a simplifying of language and embedding of technology into the entire set of competencies. The Board approved the revised competencies and the update will be released and distributed soon. The revised document is available on the YALSA web site.
- In 2004 a task force charged with coming up with recommendations for use of the William C. Morris Endowment interest funds included in their report that after five years the use of the funds should be evaluated. A draft evaluation report (prepared by an ad hoc committee of the Board, Chaired by Mary Hastler) was presented to the Board. The report included an overview of the ways in which the funds have been spent to date and ideas for future use of the monies. Ideas covered in the document include possible grants and awards for librarians and authors. After some initial discussion, it was determined that the Board needs to spend more time looking at the possibilities and to think strategically about the best ways to s
One of the things that struck me the most about the many comments on YALSA’s new readers’ choice list, is the opposition some people in the field have had to the idea of creating a list based on input from YALSA’s 5,700 members.
One of the key messages I emphasized to the press during my year as president–something I said over and over again–was that teens and their caregivers should turn to their local school or public librarians for guidance in choosing reading materials. YALSA works hard to show that young adult librarians are the experts in the field–not just a few, but all librarians. It’s an important message and YALSA even has a white paper on the topic.
In stark contrast, respected individuals in the field have been vocal in their opposition to a readers’ choice list, somehow suggesting that the majority of YALSA members are not capable of identifying quality books for teens. This elitist attitude runs contrary to all the messaging from ALA and YALSA that says librarians are professionals with unique expertise in matching the right book with the right patron. It is also an insult to YALSA members, and I am saddened that respected individuals in the field would take this discriminatory stance.
Any librarian who works with teens should have the opportunity to select the year’s greatest young adult books. That is why I support the readers’ choice list. It can live alongside YALSA’s existing portfolio of selected lists and offer the entire YALSA membership a way to participate in the selection of materials for teens.
I love the idea of YALSA’s new reader’s choice list because, as I said during the Board discussion of it, why wouldn’t I value the opinion of 5,700 of my colleagues? Additionally, with over 2,000 books being published for teens each year, I think that a list with broad participation and input will result in a strong final product.
The theme for my presidential year was “Engaging the YALSA Community.” I hope and believe that this list does that and more.
Sarah Debraski
Immediate Past President
Every year, children in grades K to 8 from across British Columbia are invited to read books from a nominated list of BC books and vote for their favourite in the Chocolate Lily Book Awards. Orca Book Publishers has a whopping seven nominations in this years Chocolate Lily. A big congratulations to our author nominees!
Picture Book Nominees:
A Sea-Wishing Day
written by Robert Heidbreder, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton
Kids Can Press
Boy in Motion: Rick Hansen’s Story
written by Ainslie Manson, illustrated by Renne Benoit
Greystone Books
Goodnight, Sweet Pig
written by Linda Bailey, illustrated by Josee Masse
Kids Can Press
Jeffrey and Sloth
written by Kari-Lynn Winters and illustrated by Ben Hodson
Orca Book Publishers
Lily and the Mixed-up Letters
written by Deborah Hodge, illustrated by France Brassard
Tundra Books
Mechanimals
written and illustrated by Chris Tougas
Orca Book Publishers
Pink
written by Nan Gregory, illustrated by Luc Melanson
Groundwood Books
The Summer of the Marco Polo
written by Lynn Manuel, illustrated by Kasia Charko
Orca Book Publishers
Novel/Chapter Book Nominees:
A Perfect Gentle Knight
by Kit Pearson
Puffin
The Alchemist’s Dream
by John Wilson
Key Porter
Baboon
by David Jones
Annick Press
Boxcar Kid
by Norma Charles
Sandcastle
The Eco-Diary of Kiran Singer
by Sue Ann Alderson & Millie Balance
Tradewind
Honey Cake
by Joan Betty Struchner & Cynthia Nugent
Tradewind
I, Bruno
by Caroline Adderson
Orca Book Publishers
Lucky’s Mountain
by Dianne Maycock
Orca Book Publishers
Rebel’s Tag
by K.L. Denman
Orca Book Publishers
Shadows on the Train
by Melanie Jackson
Orca Book Publishers
When the Bough Breaks
by Irene N. Watts
Tundra
