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First Book and Pearson, the world’s learning company, are encouraging America to #ReadUP as part of their campaign dedicated to raising the importance of literacy in the week leading up to Election Day. The campaign will unlock funds for new books to children in need and promote informed decision-making as Election Day draws closer.

For every use of the #ReadUP hashtag through November 8, 2016, First Book will donate a book to a child in need, with funding from Pearson, of up to $10,000.

“Among the many issues discussed in this year’s election season, the importance of an informed electorate has taken center stage,” said Kyle Zimmer, First Book president and CEO. “But key to the growth of an educated public is the ability to read and think. Raising the next generation of voters is dependent on the equitable and widespread distribution of books and educational resources. This is the mission to which First Book has dedicated itself for nearly 25 years.”

Jennifer Young, Director of Social Impact Programs at Pearson, said, “Literacy is the foundation for learning. Without literacy, people can’t access education, are more likely to experience poverty, and are unable to participate fully in society. That’s why Pearson founded and convened Project Literacy, a global campaign to close the literacy gap by 2030 – a gap that stands at one out of every tenth person on this planet who is locked out of the opportunities that literacy can bring. Pearson is very proud to be supporting the great work of First Book to help thousands of children start their journey towards a life of literacy and lifelong learning.”

Even if it is tough to imagine, the wide-eyed and curious children of today will become the voters of tomorrow. Having an informed electorate doesn’t happen overnight. The #ReadUP campaign aims to help give children the resources they need to explore their curiosities, ask important questions, and ultimately become well-informed voters.

And who knows, it might just be one of those children who we’re voting for  in the future.

Education is the foundation of our future. Use the hashtag #ReadUP on social media to promote literacy and provide a new book to a child in need. Visit First Book’s social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) to join in the conversation. 

The post #ReadUP: A Non-Partisan Call-to-Action for Education and Literacy appeared first on First Book Blog.

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Tom and Catrina are the Purrs for Peace Party candidates. They believe every kitty should have a warm place to sleep, nice treats, and that catnip should be legal. They're getting my vote, for sure!

OK but seriously. These guys were fun to do. Even if you don't follow politics, unless you're living under a rock, you know what a crazy election campaign season we're having here in the States. At this point I kind of think a couple of cool cats wouldn't be a half bad choice, given our current options.

Tom and Catina were drawn by hand with colored pencils, then I added the whiskers with Photoshop.

I'm still working on the drawings of knitting Christmas tags and whatnot that I promised in the last post. Too many irons in the fire!

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Who will Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump–the Democratic and Republican Party’s likely nominees for president, respectively–pick as their vice presidential running mates? Let’s start here: It probably won’t matter much. Or, we should say, it probably won’t matter in terms of deciding the election. It could matter a great deal, however, in terms of what comes after the election. Allow us to explain.

The post Veepstakes 2016: A Reality Check appeared first on OUPblog.

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A quick search of the Horn Book Guide Online shows three picture book biographies of Hillary Clinton, including these two new ones (both published in January 2016):

   And this one from 2008, revised in August 2015:

Then there’s this new YA biography:

Along with sixteen volumes of series nonfiction (here are two):

  And here’s once place where she and Donald Trump overlap:

  For now, there appear to be no Bernie books… but that may well change! Check back next year.

The post There are no picture book biographies of Donald Trump appeared first on The Horn Book.

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Some writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins. Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first a patron, the last a punisher.

The post Thomas Paine’s Common Sense turns 240 years old appeared first on OUPblog.

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April 2015 will go down in history as the month that the 2016 race for the White House began in earnest. Hillary Clinton’s online declaration of her presidential candidacy was the critical moment. With it America’s two major political parties have locked horns with each other. The Democrats intend to continue their control of the presidency for another four years; Republicans hope to finally make good on a conservative bumper sticker that began appearing on automobiles as early as the summer of 2009 and that read, “Had Enough Yet? Next Time Vote Republican.”

The post Do America’s political parties matter in presidential elections? appeared first on OUPblog.

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After three inconclusive rounds in the preceding days, in which nobody secured the two-thirds majority needed to win, on the morning of 31 January 2015 a fourth round of voting was held in the Italian Parliament to elect the country’s President. This time, a simple majority of the 1,009 eligible voters (the members of both Chambers of the Parliament plus some delegates from the Regions) was enough to decide the election.

The post Reference and the election of the new Italian President appeared first on OUPblog.

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आमतौर पर हम चाह्ते हैं कि हमारे पास कोई जादुई चिराग हो और हम उससे जो भी मांगें वो हमे दे… पर ये इच्छा तब पल्टी मार जाती है जब चुनाव नजदीक होते है. क्योकि हम लोगो की मानसिकता यही होती है कि चुनाव के समय उम्मीदवार का ज्यादा से ज्यादा फायदा उठाया जाए वही उम्मीदवार भी वोट की चाह मे जनता जनार्दन को खुश करने मे ही जुटा रहता है. यह कार्टून भी यही कुछ दिखा रहा है क्योकि अब चुनाव आ गए हैं और जिन्न की कोई जरुरत नही … अब तो उम्मीदवार ही जिन्न की भूमिका निभाएगें … हम्बै

The post Cartoon- Haryana Election appeared first on Monica Gupta.

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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 Nonfiction Award. Members on this committee serve a twelve month term. The committee consists of a chair, eight members, a Booklist consultant, and an administrative assistant if the Chair requests. The Chair and four members will be appointed by the President-Elect of YALSA. The remaining four members will be elected by the membership of YALSA.

The Nonfiction Award committee’s primary job is to select the best nonfiction title published for young adults between Nov. 1 and Oct. 31 of the current year. 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 Ellen Spring.

Name and current position:
Ellen Spring, School Librarian in RSU#13 in Maine. My schools are: Cushing Community School, Cushing, Maine; Owls Head Central School, Owls Head, Maine; Rockland District Middle School, Rockland, Maine; St. George School, Tenants Harbor, Maine; Thomaston Grammar School, Thomaston, Maine.

Besides reading YA materials, what best qualifies you for being a member of this YALSA selection committee?
I have been writing book reviews for Library Media Connection magazine for many years, thus gaining knowledge of what is exemplary both in nonfiction and fiction for grades K-12. Working with so many students of various ages as I do in my positions, I can see the total spectrum. In previous positions I have also worked with high school students.

Talk about the experience you’re bringing to the selection committee with selection, evaluation, and working as part of a team.
I have been a member and chair of Notable Children's Recordings. We evaluated audiobooks and chose the best for a Notables' list.
Next I was a member of Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults. We worked together with the members and chair to prepare a list of nonfiction and fiction audio resources.
As a member of Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers we worked to develop a list of books that would appeal to students that can but don't want to read. These were both fiction and nonfiction. We read extensively during the two years I was on the committee.
Next I have been a member for one year and the chair for another of the Odyssey committee where we chose the most outstanding audio of the year along with honor books.
In all of my committees I was a positive member of the groups, kept up with my work load, was well organized, and totally enjoyed being a member and participating in the wonderful discussions at Midwinter and Annual meetings, as well as via email during the year.

What role do you think books can play in addressing some of the issues that negatively impact their lives?
Books are vital in letting students know that they are not alone in whatever situation they may be in. Especially reading biographies of people who have lived with impediments and risen above them would be a positive influence. If they live in a small community and that is all the student has ever known, reading can expand the student's world view. If a student thinks they might be gay or is living with an abusive parent books can give coping techniques that have worked with others. Both fiction and nonfiction books will be useful.

What are some ways the award winning titles can meet the need of teens to have a more expanded view of literacy?
Often titles aren't known to librarians until they are chosen for awards. These books are picked because they are outstanding and have value to a broad group. That's why they were chosen. These choices have been made by librarians who have worked for a full year to make their decisions. These lists are used by librarians throughout the country and have been vetted by a group that is knowledgeable and respected. It would be impossible for any one person to be aware of all these titles and have had time to review them all. By ordering the books that are on the lists that meet the needs of one's collection it will be filled with quality literature. Many students are able to participate in mock elections where they read fiction and nonfiction and vote to determine what they think may win the awards. This makes it a very exciting time for students and librarians.

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 have received grants to improve the book collection and others to purchase books that were suggested by students. In working to improve the book collection I studied what was taught and where the gaps were in our collection. I compiled lists from teachers of what they wished to have purchased for the library, bought the books, and then used them in lessons covering culture in various countries, books that were "bridges" to understanding various populations, and nonfiction titles to fill collection needs. The library did become the center of the school.

Why should YALSA members choose you to be a member of this selection committee?
I love being on selection committees, reading widely during the year, and meeting to discuss the choices at Midwinter and Annual meetings.
I have wide experience from being on other selection committees as a member. Being the chair of committees has developed my leadership skills.
I have worked with all students in grades K-12 at various times in my career. Now I work with K-7th grades and will fill the niche of the younger young adults.
Being from a rural state I will bring that perspective to discussions.
I am well-organized and a hard worker. Working in five schools it is necessary.
I will truly appreciate your votes. Thank you.

Talk about a time when a teen shared with you how a book influenced them.
In one of my schools this year is a boy who has reading disabilities and is taken out of class often to receive special services. Recently he saw a book, Skateboarding to the Extreme by Bill Gutman that I had borrowed from one of my libraries for another student. He wanted to borrow it after the other student finished it and wanted to know what other books I could find for him on skateboarding. This is one of his interests and where he is equal to or can excel other students. The book had many illustrations in showing how to interpret the various moves and this was what he wanted.

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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 Katie Richert.

Name and current position:
Katie Richert, Assistant Head of Youth Services at the Bloomingdale Public Library

Besides reading YA materials, what best qualifies you for being a member of this YALSA selection committee?
I am very passionate about YA materials. I think Young Adult is sometimes frown upon as a genre and I could not disagree more! Selecting the best Young Adult material, we are helping teens, patrons and other librarians find some material that might have been overlooked by them in the past. I believe that advocacy, passion and a great ability to organize the many notes I will have to take (oh-so-many post- its!) are what qualifies me to be a member of the YALSA selection committee.

Talk about the experience you’re bringing to the selection committee with selection, evaluation, and working as part of a team.
I have done committee and taskforce work for YALSA in the past. The most challenging and the most rewarding was the 2014 Outstanding Books for the College Bound and Lifetime Learners. It was ton of reading from various fields of study. Some of those books I would never have nominated (or even read) myself but I am so glad someone else did! Committee work is all about working together to achieve the best list of books that the field can provide. I have had fun doing that every time I have been given the opportunity to do so! My next committee adventure is 2016 Odyssey committee which is very exciting for me as a lover of audiobooks! I cannot wait to see what we choose!

What role do you think books can play in addressing some of the issues that negatively impact their lives?
Teens want to see themselves in the books they read. Having a book that talks about a similar issue that also happened to them -from first heartache and losing someone they love to being bullied and being offered drugs and alcohol- can make teens feel more connected to the book they are reading and to other teens who have had like experiences.

What are some ways the award winning titles can meet the need of teens to have a more expanded view of literacy?
The first book that comes to mind is the 2014 Printz honor book The Kingdom of Little Wounds by Susann Cokal. That book blew my mind as an adult- exposing me to a well- researched look at something I would never have expected to find in a historical fiction young adult book. Books like this that change the rules of what is expected in teen literature really expand the worldview of readers. Unveiling new experiences, different lifestyles and how others might have lived through literature lets teens have more knowledge. That is something we can hope to give them when recommending award winning books.

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?
At the last library I worked at, the school district ran a crazy battle of the books with over 70 teams. We obviously did not have enough of a single title to fit the need of the community all wanting the same books the week before the competition. Therefore, our staff and the leaders of the event sat down to discuss what books would work best for both parties; books on past state lists as well as Newbery and Printz winners and honors so that we could utilize our multiple copies of these books as well as easily interlibrary loan them from other libraries. It was a great way to highlight award winning books and work together with the school district.

Why should YALSA members choose you to be a member of this selection committee?
Because I really, really, really want to be on the Printz Committee. I am passionate about teen literature and want to give my colleagues, and teens a list of books that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. I want to help other expand their reads and discover new worlds, exciting adventures, and great stories. It is always great to be nominated, but I am not going to lie; I want to be on this committee and will be heartbroken if I do not make it. So pick me. Pretty please?!

Talk about a time when a teen shared with you how a book influenced them.
I love it when a teen comes back after I recommended a book and they want to talk about it! The reluctant readers that now are ready for the second book in the series always make my day! My biggest goal in working with teens is always to get them a book they want to read. If we have done that, then we have done our job well!

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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 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.

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

Today we have an interview with Kate McNair.

Name and current position:
Kate McNair, Teen Coordinating Librarian, Johnson County Library (Overland Park, KS)

What best qualifies you for being a YALSA Board Member?
Experience and Passion are two qualities that will make me an effective and driven YALSA Board Member. As a young librairan I found a home in YALSA that has driven me to work hard for our organization. I have served on many committees and taskforces, and have learned something valuable from each about how our profession and our organization works. I want both YALSA as an organization to succeed, and YALSA members to get something meaningful from their membership. I am committed to making YALSA the best organization it can be.

Talk about the experience you’re bringing to the position with leadership, advocacy, and impact on teen services in the library?
Through YALSA I have had a variety of experiences on committees and taskforces, both as a member and as a chair. I have served on President's Program taskforces and the Margaret A. Edwards Award Selection Committee. I have had the honor to chair the Midwinter Institute Taskforce, YA Literature Symposium Taskforce and Financial Advancement Committee. My work with YALSA has taught me just how diverse a community we serve (both librarians and teens) and where my own strengths can help YALSA most. I am an organized, driven and effective individual who can help get things accomplished. I think my talents have been leading me to the YALSA Board for the opportunity to tackle big-picture topics and look at the organization as a whole. My work with YALSA has greatly informed my work at Johnson County Library, where I just celebrated my 7th anniversary. Using the YALSA report The Future of Libraries for and with Teens we are implementing more ideas of connected learning into our programs and services by expanding our makerspace and target teens.

How can being a YALSA Board Member help make a difference with issues teens may be struggling with?
As a teen librarian YALSA supports me and broadens my horizon. I hope that by serving on the YALSA Board I can help to continue to grow the organization that has given so much to me as a young Librarian. By supporting our librarians we can help support our teens. YALSA has also done an amazing job of bringing the teen voice into our organziation's work through the Teens' Top Ten Award (Johnson County Library has been a nominating group for 4 years), the BFYA Teen Feedback Session, teen contributors to our blogs, and teen participation at conferences. We also support the amazing work that impacts teens by giving awards for literature and advocacy programs that encourage the improvement of our services to 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?
I hope that by being a YALSA Board member I can hear about all the amazing things that are happening in our profession, by connecting with the best and brightest of YALSA, and disseminate that knowledge and experience throughout the organization. I hope that I can help to play the crucial role of connector between right ideas and the right people to build a spark into a fire.

Share a recent example(s) where you made a shift to better focus on the current needs of teens.
Over the past 18 months I have totally shifted my work in Johnson County based on the Future of Library Services for and with Teens report from YALSA and the concepts of Connected Learning forwarded by the organization. As an organization we are moving to more connected programs, interest-based learning opportunities and informing learning structures. YALSA's call to action on this topic resonated with me and has moved the direction my career has taken for the better.

Why should YALSA members choose you to be a member of the governance committee?
I am someone who will work passionately and effectively to make YALSA a better organization for teens and for our members. I have found a home in YALSA and I want to give back to the organization and the people that taught me so much and gave me the opportunities to learn and grow. I want to pay forward what past YALSA Board members and committee chairs have given to me and put my skills in project management, communication, problem solving, leadership and vision to work for YALSA.

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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 ALA candidates can be found on the ALA Election Information page.

Today we have an interview with Joseph Janes.

Name and current position:
Joseph Janes, associate professor and chair of the MLIS program at the University of Washington Information School

Share with YALSAblog readers the areas you intend to focus on as ALA President and why these issues are important. How do you envision your leadership as ALA President being supportive of YALSA and the work it does for teens? (*Note: Janes combined these two questions into one answer).
There are two primary things I’d like to do as president, each of which play to my strengths: first, to tell our story to the wider world, and second, to help us think together about how to move forward. Those of us who work with young people are among the most important members of our profession, because so much of what they do and how they do it sets the pattern for the way people think about libraries and librarians for the rest of their lives, and that story deserves telling.

In particular, those of you who work with teens and young adults are all thinking hard about how to serve a population increasingly defined by their relationships both to technology and through technology. The ways in which they use tools like social media and gaming, for self-expression and reaching out to others, in no small part help to define who they are and who they are likely to be, which will have profound effects not only on them as individuals but on our greater society as well. This is just one example of how we all need to proceed creatively and thoughtfully and bravely toward finding the right ways forward, drawing on our traditions and innovating like crazy, to better understand and serve our communities and clienteles.

Talk about a recent time when you supported library services for teens in your current or a previous position.
Well, neither of these is terribly recent  but there are a couple of things I’m very proud of. At the very beginning of the Internet Public Library project, one of the students from the first group suggested we add a Teen Division to the plans for a story hour (the only thing I insisted be in the project). That was Sara Ryan, who is now at Multnomah County and an established YA author, and she and her colleagues did a splendid job, identifying and organizing the earliest of Internet resources aimed at teens, and I’m delighted that, 20 years later, that’s still a part of IPL.

Then I was privileged to be asked to serve as an expert witness on behalf of ALA for the Federal CIPA lawsuit. In one of those odd twists of fate, one of the lead plaintiffs in that case was a young person from Portland who wanted to find resources on gender identity but was prevented from having their Internet access unblocked, and sued. We met in Philadelphia, testifying on the same day. Then many years later, we received an application to our masters’ degree program from a familiar name! Since then, we’ve become good friends, there’s a great job and a family in the mix, and I’m happy to have been able to be a part of all of that.

Why should YALSA members choose you to be ALA president?
I love this profession; I tell my students at orientation, and anybody who’s considering it, that librarianship is the best, most important, most fulfilling thing you can do with your life. We are one of that handful of professions which has the human record in our care, the record of everything that has gone before, and what we do keeps that record available for generations to come. That is noble and vital work, now more than ever before, and I envy my students who will get to work with tools and ideas my generation can only dream of. I want to leave my profession better than I found it, and if I’m lucky enough to become president, I’ll work as hard as I can to do just that, and I’d appreciate your support. Thanks!

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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 Edwin Rodarte.

Name and current position:
Edwin Rodarte, Adult Services Librarian at Los Angeles Public Library

Besides reading YA materials, what best qualifies you for being a member of this YALSA selection committee?
Literature is a very important part of my life and YA literature has a special place in my heart. It was through YA literature that I was able to connect, find, and eventually face my self identity challenges. I believe in the power of literature and I will seek to find those items that best represent young adults while at the same time exposing the richness of the genre.
One of the main reasons why I know I qualify for this committee is because I strongly believe in its message and will do everything to ensure that YA literature stays relevant in the literary world. Classics are often times "YA" in nature, proving the lasting effects of great literary works. It is our duty as librarians to highlight the literary merits of YA literature and to ensure that teens are exposed to them, because teens, just like everybody else seek essence and depth.
Talk about the experience you’re bringing to the selection committee with selection, evaluation, and working as part of a team.
I have been in past selection committees such as the YALSA 2014 Best Fiction for Young Adults and the CLA 2013 Beatty Award Committees Being part of a team is a daily occurrence and something that I always look forward to. I love the discussions, debates, and conversations that arise when discussing literature. I love to play devil's advocate and root for the underdog. If chosen for the selection I will make sure to question decisions, bring forth diversity in literature, evaluate objectively, and ultimately seek the best representation of YA literature published that year.

What role do you think books can play in addressing some of the issues that negatively impact their lives?
I like to think that books are bridges that connect us to our inner self. Why? Because books are personal, singular, and oftentimes reflect upon ourselves. I love YA literature because I can find solace in it, and I hope that teens that read it do as well. Books are impactful not just in addressing a teen's life but also in supplementing their education. I love when teens can "escape" into a book and find answers. Books offer a transparency that resonates with them. This is especially true when they find themselves on a page. A book is a powerful tool that can leverage negative feelings, issues, problems, and questions. It is the book's role to be a companion, a guide, and a teacher.
What are some ways the award winning titles can meet the need of teens to have a more expanded view of literacy?
Teens need substance. There is plenty of YA literature that offers an easy escape and are referred to as fluff, but it is this committee's job to find those titles that immerse a teen in literature and figuratively blow their minds. Classics are classics for a reason, let's not forget that we want to make sure YA Literature stays relevant. Award winning titles offer teens a realistic portrayal of literature without dumbing down or being condescending to them. Teens need to be aware that there is a genre where they can be challenged and where they can feel satisfied. There is no path from Children, to YA, to Adult, there is simply literature, and we must understand that greatness in a genre transcends labels.

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 have always been a great believer in comic books and manga as a gateway to prose and literature. As a teen library assistant at the Ontario City Library, I advocated for the expansion of this collection and managed to increase it substantially. Thanks to this, a new audience of teens started coming to the library and getting connected to programming, resources, and literature. This collection also gave birth to a monthly anime and manga program as well as a graphic novel reading club.

Why should YALSA members choose you to be a member of this selection committee?
I don't pretend to be an expert on YA literature, but I consider myself knowledgeable about it. I would make sure to use my knowledge to objectively evaluate titles. I can bring my personal experiences and bring a bit of diversity to the committee. More than anything, I will bring my passion for literature to ensure that those titles that are selected are representative of the award and of the genre.

Talk about a time when a teen shared with you how a book influenced them.
The reason why I strongly believe in the power of books is because I have seen it first-hand. From the ESL class visits reading the poem "I am Joaquin" by Rodolfo Gonzales to the hidden recommendations in LGBTQ YA literature. Literature is impactful. A perfect example of this is a teen who was afraid of coming out because of his conservative household and who sought stories that resonated with him and validated his identity. Many times, as conduits to books, we must also be prepared to offer advice, whether through local resources or through literature. This teen read most of the LGBTQ booklist that I shared with him and confided in me the impact that the library and books had in progressing with his life and accepting himself. Those are the stories that I am most proud of, up to this day I still keep in touch with that teen, now a photography student at Pratt Institute in New York.

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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 Kefira Philippe.

Name and current position:
Kefira Philippe, Librarian, Nichols Middle School, Evanston, IL

Besides reading YA materials, what best qualifies you for being a member of this YALSA selection committee?
I have been a middle and high school librarian for over nine years while also working at the teen space at the local public library. On a daily basis I provide young adults with readers advisory and I make all the selections for my collection. In addition to having taken courses on young adult literature and book awards for children and young adults, I have extensive experience as a reader, evaluator, and reviewer. Completing the required reading will not pose a problem as I am a quick reader with excellent time management skills who can read at least one, sometimes two books a day.

Talk about the experience you’re bringing to the selection committee with selection, evaluation, and working as part of a team.
I have years of experience with selection, evaluation, and being a team member. I have served on the Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee for 2015 and am currently serving my second term for 2016. I have served on two Illinois State Book Award Committees – the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Award on the reading committee and the Abraham Lincoln Award: Illinois High School Readers’ Choice Award on the nominations committee. All of this committee work involved evaluation, selection, and working as a team member. One of the things that I have learned from my previous selection committee experience is respect for the other members of the committee. It is imperative to listen to everyone's opinions as often they will see something in a title that had not yet been considered. I have managerial experience as the co-chair of a fifteen person library department and building common ground among competing interests. Lastly, I have been writing reviews for School Library Journal since 2012.

What role do you think books can play in addressing some of the issues that negatively impact their lives?
There is an old saying that “You can’t really understand another person’s experience until you have walked a mile in their shoes”. Books allow readers to walk a mile in another person’s shoes, to share experiences with characters who are nothing like them. Many teens have happy families, enough money to be comfortable, friends, and stability, but just as many teens deal with difficulties ranging from gang violence to homelessness to mental and physical illnesses that negatively impact their lives. No matter what their situation, every teen can learn from other people’s experiences. Through reading, teens develop empathy and understanding for those around them. This empathy and understanding can and will lead to solutions to the issues that negatively impact their lives.

What are some ways the award winning titles can meet the need of teens to have a more expanded view of literacy?
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines literacy as the ability to read and write, as well as the knowledge related to a specific subject, but for many teens, literacy is defined by what they are required to read for school. Award winning titles by their very definition must have literary excellence, but the chosen titles should also make their readers think, view the world through a new lens, develop their knowledge on a new topic, or shake them out of their status quo. As librarians, we hope to help teens develop a love of all types of books and a love of reading that will grow with them into adulthood. Award winning books help to do that and so much more. When teens read award winning titles, their view of literacy expands to include thought provoking books with literary excellence, that they just happen to enjoy reading. With this expanded view of literacy teens see that literacy is so much more than what they are required to read for school.

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?
In 2014, I was chosen along with two other librarians from my district (Evanston/Skokie School District 65), a children’s librarian from the Evanston Public Library, and the young adult librarian from the Evanston Public Library to participate in ILEADUSA: Illinois Librarians Explore, Apply, and Discover through the Illinois State Library. Working in collaboration we hoped to create a connected learning center, to share our physical collections and better utilize our expertise. As a member of this team I advocated to establish formal collaboration and communication between our two library communities. As a result of this project, the Evanston Public Library has launched teacher checkout for over 300 staff members in Evanston/Skokie School District 65, Evanston Public Library staff has provided professional development to the fifteen librarians in Evanston/Skokie School District 65, the Evanston/Skokie School District 65 librarians have begun incorporating Maker spaces and projects into their curriculum, and most importantly, we continue to offer joint professional development, collaborate on projects and programming, and further investigate shared resources.

Why should YALSA members choose you to be a member of this selection committee?
Being on the Printz committee has not only been a long term professional goal, but it has also been a professional dream. I have been building experience over several years to strengthen my candidacy and I know that I am qualified for the position. Young adult literature is my passion - I love to read it, discuss it, analyze it, and encourage others to read it as well. Every year I give my 8th graders a presentation on the Printz Award - we discuss the award, the criteria, and I book talk many of the previous winners. I also conduct a Mock Printz Award with a select group of 8th graders. One of my greatest joys is seeing the enthusiasm and excitement with which the students read the Printz books and the sophisticated level of discourse they provoke. My hope is that by being on the committee, the books that I would help to select would continue to inspire young adults and encourage them to read, not just for pleasure, but also as a means of exploring thought-provoking literature.

Talk about a time when a teen shared with you how a book influenced them.
A few years ago as part of a school wide Teen Read Week event, I asked every student in my school to nominate their favorite book and write a sentence or two about why it was their favorite. As I went around collecting the 8th grade nominations, I quickly scanned one. It was a nomination for Brent Hartinger’s Geography Club. On the nomination slip the student had written that reading this book had given him the nerve to come out as bisexual. I glanced at the student and smiled, acknowledging his courage in writing this down for me to read. As the school year progressed, this student wrote me several letters about how this particular book had influenced him and how reading it and other LGBTQ books that were in our school and the public library’s collection, had given him the strength to come out to his family and friends. He graduated several years ago, but every time I select an LGBTQ book for our collection I think of him and the impact that books can have.

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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 Melanie Koss.

Name and current position:
Melanie Koss, Associate Professor of Children’s and Young Adult Literature, Northern Illinois University

Besides reading YA materials, what best qualifies you for being a member of this YALSA selection committee?
As a university professor of children’s, young adult, and multicultural literature anda book club facilitator to high school students, I teach students how to read critically and analyze books for both their literary merit as well as their potential teen appeal. I regularly book talk, share, and discuss young adult literature with students, and that allows me to get books into readers’ hands and hear their opinions on what they read. I also research topics related to young adult literature, which encourages me to read widely, be current on trends and issues with in the field, and be an objective, fair, and critical evaluator of books.

Talk about the experience you’re bringing to the selection committee with selection, evaluation, and working as part of a team.
I’ve previously had the honor of serving on the YALSA William C. Morris YA Debut Award committee and the Randolph Caldecott Award committee, andI am currently finishing up a two-year appointmentas a member of the Rainbow List committee. Being a member of these book selection committees has taught me how to manage my time, organize the large number of books that need to be read, and most importantly, work with the members of my committee to make sure that everyone’s voice is heard and everyone’s opinions are respected.

I also teach selection and evaluation criteria to undergraduate and graduate students and am able to discuss critically the literary strengths and weaknesses of books. I know how to lead book discussions as well as how to sit back and listen to what others have to say. I read widely so have a solid basis of what makes a YA book stand out.

What role do you think books can play in addressing some of the issues that negatively impact their lives?
I believe literature can serve two roles in helping teens deal with the issues they are facing in their personal lives. First, it can help teens see that they are not alone and that others encounter the same problems and issues they themselves are facing, or eventhat others have it worse off. Through literature, teens can see ways of coping with issues in both positive and negative ways, and can allow them to envision ways they can deal with their problems in a productive way. It can also give teens the belief that they can conquer the things that life throws at them. The key is finding the right books,books that portray the teen experience honestly and deal with the gritty realities of life without sugarcoating them.

Literature is also an avenue of escapism. Sometimes teens need to get away from the issues they’re dealing with, and books can give them the space to breathe and forget their problems for a while, which in turn can rejuvenate them and allow them to face their problems with a fresh mind set.

What are some ways the award winning titles can meet the need of teens to have a more expanded view of literacy?
By the time children become teenagers, their lives have become so busy that many stop reading due to time constraints. Those that love to read will make the time to read, but what about those that aren’t readers? I encounter many teens and then college students in their early twenties who tell me they used to love to read, but that they either don’t have time or simply don’t like the books they’re being told to read or exposed to in school. We can turn these teens back into readers if we can find them books they can relate to and that they find relevant and interesting, and often times those books are young adult books. Research has shown that giving teens access to high interest books that they can self select encourages teens to read, and reading is an avenue to enhanced literacy skills.

Young adult literature has a place in the high school classroom and can be a way to get teens reading and thinking critically. Award winning titles, such as Printz winners, have a strong chance of getting into schools due to their recognition of being high quality and often literary titles honored by adults who study and read widely in the field. I believe we, as adults, need to value young adult books and let teens see that they are worthwhile to read both in and out of school settings. Teens need to be shown that literacy is not just reading and writing in a classroom or job settings, but a way of exploring their worlds.

I also think graphic novels and nonfiction are areas to encourage teens to explore. Graphic novels such as Printz Award winner American Born Chinese are great examples of showing teens that literacy is more than just reading words on a page but also reading pictures and text/image placement, as do nonfiction books such as the award winning Bomb and The Nazi Hunters, which mix primary and secondary sources with high interest narratives.

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?
Due to the nature of my job, I have not had direct experience with this, however my university has a Children’s Literature Teaching Collection that I am actively involved with. I have and continue to advocate for the use of the collection in the university’s education coursesand as a professional development resource for teachers and librarians in the area. I also encourage my students to browse the collection between their classes in order to give them access to a wide variety of titles. These actions have resulted in greater use and awareness of the collection as well as the expansion of titles, as well as allowed us to create workshops and materials highlight diverse books and ways they can authentically be used in classroom settings.

Why should YALSA members choose you to be a member of this selection committee?
I believe I would be a valuable member of the Printz Committee because I truly care about books and believe in their power to impact the lives of teens. I understand the importance of the Printz Award and will make being a member of the committee a priority. I am passionate about YA literature and getting it into the hands of teens and readers who need to have access to a wide variety of quality titles that speak to them. I am also very open-minded about the types of literature being written, and believe quality literature encompasses both a range of genres and a range of diverse populations. The Printz Award highlights books that teens might not come across on their own, and I would like to be a part of that process.

Talk about a time when a teen shared with you how a book influenced them.
Just after Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe won its numerous awards, I book talked it to a group of high school students I work with. One student came up to me afterwards and asked to borrow my copy. He emailed me two days later and told me he couldn’t put it down and stayed up all night to finish reading it, that it was the most amazing book he had ever read, and that it was the first time he was able to see himself in a book. He came to talk to me the next week and told me how the book changed his life. It encouraged him to find the strength to come out to his father and to be more open and proud about his identity as a gay male. Since then, he has borrowed numerous titles from me, particularly those with GLBTQ characters, and has told me that he never liked to read before but now considers himself a reader. He is currently a freshman in college and recently emailed me to tell me that he joined his first book club in the fall and is now in charge of leading book discussions, and he thanked me for introducing him to a world of books he hadn’t been to find before working with me.

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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 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.

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

Today we have an interview with Crystle Martin.

Name and current position:
Crystle Martin, Postdoctoral Research Scholar, Digital Media and Learning Hub, University of California, Irvine.

What best qualifies you for being a YALSA Board Member?
I have leadership experience ranging from conference chairing, to managing the YALSAblog, to being on advisory boards for journals and other professional organizations. As a postdoctoral researcher fellow, I am continually cultivating relationships with leaders across disciplines at universities, libraries, and community centers nationwide. Through my research, I am able to positively affect the lives of youth by using the results to impact the design of youth programming. I collaborate with other scholars and librarians on grants, writing, and research, which has helped me to develop excellent communication skills.

Talk about the experience you’re bringing to the position with leadership, advocacy, and impact on teen services in the library?
I have been the Member Manager for the YALSAblog for the past year. My leadership experience also includes being the AERA (American Education Research Association) Special Interest Group Chair (SIG), for the Media, Culture, and Learning SIG for the past two years, as well as organizing for a variety of academic conferences. I advocate for teens in every professional setting in which I am involved. For example, I petitioned to change the focus and name of Media, Culture, and Learning (formerly Media, Culture, and Curriculum), so that the SIGs focus would include research on informal learning spaces of youth. The valuation of the skills and experiences youth develop in informal spaces creates opportunity for a stronger sense of agency and more engagement with learning.

How can being a YALSA Board Member help make a difference with issues teens may be struggling with?
As a researcher, I have studied how youth learn in their interest-driven spaces. Many youth in these situations learn and develop very useful skills in these informal spaces, but they have difficulty making connections between their informal and formal spaces. This means youth learning is undervalued. Helping teens make these connections and receive formalized recognition for their skills, not only can strengthen their educational and career paths, but supports the agency of the youth as well.

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?
Being on the YALSA governance committee offers the opportunity to work with others, with a variety of expertise, interested in creating the most superior learning environment for teens. Together, through combined experience of the members, new solutions can be reached.

Share a recent example(s) where you made a shift to better focus on the current needs of teens.
In my most recent research, I am focusing specifically on the needs of non-dominant youth. Non-dominant youth are often exposed to less STEM oriented funding. For me, the shift occurred when I moved from exploring information literacy and learning of youth online to working in libraries so that I could more directly impact youth. Libraries offer great spaces for the creation and proliferation of innovative programs that not only bring youth into the library but also offer opportunities to learn and experience new things, exposing them to potential future paths. My current research project focuses on the creation, implementation, and improvement of STEM coding programming for underserved youth, with the long term plan of having the programming accessible to libraries across the country.

Why should YALSA members choose you to be a member of the governance committee?
If elected, I will focus on bringing the research community and the practitioner community into closer conversation. My goals are twofold: 1) Get cutting edge, up-to-date research into the hands of practitioners in order to provide the highest quality service to youth; 2) Connect researchers with practitioners so that they are able to conduct research that is in line with the needs of youth and librarians in these spaces. My unique expertise and background makes me particularly well-qualified to bridge the gap between research and practice to create more effective experiences for youth.

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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 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.

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

Today we have an interview with Adrienne Strock.

Name and current position:
Adrienne Strock, Teen Library Manager at the Nashville Public Library

What best qualifies you for being a YALSA Board Member?
I’m currently the chair of the Future of Teens and Libraries taskforce where we are working to raise awareness of and practical implementation of The Future of Library Services for and with Teens: A Call to Action. I also served as a mentor to two protégés through YALSA’s Virtual Mentoring Program.

In addition to being a teen librarian, I have been a teen services library administrator and manager and am passionate about serving teens. I’ve been a Teen Services Manager and Branch Manager at the Maricopa County Library District, YOUmedia Manager at the Chicago Public Library, and now Teen Library Manager for the Nashville Public Library.

Talk about the experience you’re bringing to the position with leadership, advocacy, and impact on teen services in the library?
Leadership: As a library manager and administrator, I have led committees, system-wide projects and programs, oversaw multimillion dollar budgets, and have overseen a staff as large as 18 across multiple sites. Though my leadership experience is strong, my leadership style--which is collaborative with high expectations—is my strongest leadership tool.

Advocacy: I think that there are small and big ways to be an advocate for teens in the library, but my favorite ways are the small ones whether it be responding positively to those that want to limit teen access to libraries to allowing teens to participate in library decisions or be their own advocates.

Impact: I’m a strong fan of assessments, statistics, and teen feedback as ways to make improvements and measure success. As the Teen Services Manager at the Maricopa County Library District, I relied on customer and staff surveys as well as teen focus groups to improve the SRP which resulted in a 17% increase in teen participation in my first year and a 21.2% increase my second year. I recently worked on an outcome assessment survey for teens at the Nashville Public Library. The information we collect will help us to begin a shift in services in the future.

How can being a YALSA Board Member help make a difference with issues teens may be struggling with?
I think that the best way a YALSA Board Member can make a difference when it comes to issues teens struggle with is to first be aware of the issues the teens at your library and at other libraries face, then be aware of issues all teens face nationally, and lastly be a voice to raise awareness of these issues and advocate for and develop solutions to these challenges for and with 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?
I think that the best way to help libraries become thriving learning environments for teens is to provide library workers and advocates with practical, real world examples, advice, and guidance on what it takes to develop a thriving learning environment for teens through handouts, stories, articles, videos, conversations, and other resources. Additionally, encouraging library workers to step out of their comfort zones, try out new ideas, involve teens in planning and leadership decisions, and then share their stories with others through YALSA will also encourage library workers to explore what a strong learning environment could look like at their library.

Share a recent example(s) where you made a shift to better focus on the current needs of teens.
I started my position at Nashville Public Library in July, and—although the Main Library has had a teen center for a long time—a separate teen services department at the Main Library is somewhat new, too. We’re still building a dedicated teen services staff team, which has allowed me to develop a vision for teen services into several phases:
First, I’ve been able to use The Future of Library Services for and with Teens: A Call to Action as a roadmap for what teen services could look like at our teen center.

Second, from that roadmap I developed a draft of strategic outcomes and a library impact assessment survey that I distributed to 49 of our teens.

Third and fourth, once the teen center is fully staffed the team will collaborate on the original roadmap and utilize the teen survey results as well as through conversations and direct feedback from teens to improve our vision for services for and with teens at the Main Library.

I see the public library as an informal learning space for teens but I also see it as a space where teens have a say and are provided with leadership opportunities to determine what learning looks like. With the plan outlined above.

Why should YALSA members choose you to be a member of the governance committee?
I see the role of a YALSA Board Member as bringing practical and tangible resources to YALSA members and those involved in teen services in libraries. For that reason, I will always try to connect the work of YALSA directly to our work.

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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 ALA candidates can be found on the ALA Election Information page.

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.

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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 Nonfiction Award. Members on this committee serve a twelve month term. The committee consists of a chair, eight members, a Booklist consultant, and an administrative assistant if the Chair requests. The Chair and four members will be appointed by the President-Elect of YALSA. The remaining four members will be elected by the membership of YALSA.

The Nonfiction Award committee’s primary job is to select the best nonfiction title published for young adults between Nov. 1 and Oct. 31 of the current year. 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 Loren Spector.

Name and current position:
Loren Spector, YA Librarian III at Los Angeles Public Library

Besides reading YA materials, what best qualifies you for being a member of this YALSA selection committee?
I do read a lot of YA materials (both fiction and non-fiction). I'm also passionate about getting good books into the hands of anyone (teens, adults or children) who wants them. I'm looking forward to getting to read and evaluate books and be able to make purchasing and reader's advisory decisions based off of my reading.

Talk about the experience you’re bringing to the selection committee with selection, evaluation, and working as part of a team.
At LAPL, we are lucky to be able to purchase books for our communities on a branch level. I have been purchasing YA materials for the LAPL branches I've worked at for the past 7 years. This has required me to stay on top of what is coming out, what is popular and what works best for the community I am purchasing for. I have also been a member of the Young Adult Reviewers of Southern California for the past 6 years and have read and reviewed almost 100 books as part of that group. Being a librarian at a community branch also means that I work as part of a team everyday. We have a small staff of 8 people and have to make many decisions regarding the branch and collection together. As Librarian III, part of my role is to act as a mentor and liaison between my region of 13 branches at LAPL and the rest of the system. I have also served on several LAPL system-wide committees in my role as Librarian III.

What role do you think books can play in addressing some of the issues that negatively impact their lives?
Most importantly I think that books can help people realize that there are other people with similar issues and in similar situations as they are. If a book can help show someone that they are not alone in their personal suffering, readers have the opportunity to learn more about their situation and how to address it.

Why should YALSA members choose you to be a member of this selection committee?
I think YALSA members should choose me to be a member of this selection committee because I'm passionate about YA services and dedicated to helping choose the best books for our community of readers. I'm looking forward to the work ahead of me in reading hundreds of books and finding the ones that all YA librarians will be excited about sharing with their readers.

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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 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.

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

Today we have an interview with Diane Colson.

Name and current position:
Diane Colson, Teen Services Librarian, Nashville Public Library

What best qualifies you for being a YALSA Board Member?
YALSA has been instrumental in my own professional growth. I can’t imagine developing the breadth of expertise that I have without all the booklists, programming ideas, and leadership opportunities obtained through YALSA. In addition to offering professional development, YALSA is the place to find others who share respect and empathy for teen library patrons. I love this environment, and want to help preserve and expand YALSAland.

Talk about the experience you’re bringing to the position with leadership, advocacy, and impact on teen services in the library?
When I was first hired as a Youth Services librarian in 1998, teen programming was one of several rotating responsibilities at my library. For a few months out of a year, librarians would “do YA,” and then move on through Outreach, School Age, Toddler Time, etc. I held on to the conviction that teens needed full-time attention, and as the years passed, it finally came to be. Of course, this wasn’t accomplished by me alone, but I believe that my constant participation in YALSA activities (book selection committees and processing committees alike), as well as conduction workshops on Teen Services through local library groups, helped keep the pressure steady.

How can being a YALSA Board Member help make a difference with issues teens may be struggling with?
I’m a believer in the power of YALSA, the support it offers librarians who work with teenagers. But a strong organization doesn’t function in a vacuum. There must be the invisible hand at work to keep the organization cohesive and relevant. That’s the beauty of Board members with frontline experience; the needs of adolescents are a familiar landscape.

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?
The YALSA Board provides a very large framework for all kinds of teen librarian connections. Within this framework are committed librarians working in many settings, such as public libraries, public and private schools, and universities of all stripes. In addition to inspiring and supporting collaborations, YALSA, through the work of governing committees,promotes national programs such as Teen Read Week. The numerous awards, lists, and blog posts introduce quality materials for bookshelves. YALSA is also a critical point of connection for librarians looking to stay current with relevant technology that enhances the appeal of teen spaces.

Share a recent example(s) where you made a shift to better focus on the current needs of teens.
At my library, I had been neglecting paper booklists over online ones. It occurred to me that there is still a need for both. Hard copies of booklists covering common genres are very helpful to browsing patrons at the point of service, and not all teens have access to a personal computer.

Why should YALSA members choose you to be a member of the governance committee?
I am mostly hoping for an opportunity to pay back all the wonderful opportunities I’ve enjoyed on selection committees – the fun stuff! I’m invested in YALSA. If my years of experience can used to further support this organization, then I would be proud to serve on the YALSA Board.

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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 Janet Hilbun.

Name and current position:
Janet Hilbun, PhD. Assistant Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, University of North Texas, Denton, TX

Besides reading YA materials, what best qualifies you for being a member of this YALSA selection committee?
1. My passion for young adult literature and my belief that not only do we need diverse books but that we need to make sure that these books are available for all teen readers.
2. My service and experience on other award committees, especially Best Fiction for Young Adults and Nonfiction.
3. My belief in "giving my all" when I make a commitment to serve on a selection committee--and the knowledge that I have and will do more than is required when it comes to reading, evaluating, and discussion.
4. I am a very fast reader and remember what I read.

Talk about the experience you’re bringing to the selection committee with selection, evaluation, and working as part of a team.
When it comes to working on a selection committee, I know that just because I "love" a book does not necessarily mean that it is award worthy. I always end up voting for a book that I really did not like because I recognize that it is of the quality that we want for an award. I try to teach my students that "It is not about them" when it comes to collection development--and the same goes for working with committees, "It is not about me" and what I like--it is about choosing the best books for the award.
The fact that all the classes I teach involve LOTS of reading as well as evaluation has honed my skills as an evaluator. Not only must I evaluate which books to put on reading lists, I must make sure that my students are able to evaluate all aspects of a book.
Serving on these committees, as well as Alex, has helped learn that to budget my time, to prioritize what is important--and to listen to what others say.

What role do you think books can play in addressing some of the issues that negatively impact their lives?
Books give readers tools to handle difficult situations, they give reader a chance to experience the negative aspects of life in a safe environment. Books help readers develop empathy, to recognize what their peers may be experiencing. When a teen is experiencing difficult situations, books can make them feel as if they are not alone, can help them see that "bad" things do end, that theref is hope for the future. I was the mother who gave my teenaged daughters Judy Blume'sForeverto read when they were in high school because I thought that they would listen to the book better than they would me lecturing them. I would still be that mother--and that librarian--but I am also glad that there are so many more books to share. I worry, though, about those librarians (and parents to be honest) who are afraid of allowing these books into the hands of teens, who feel the need to protect rather than to prepare.

What are some ways the award winning titles can meet the need of teens to have a more expanded view of literacy?
Too many teachers, parents, and readers think that "reading" is just reading fiction or novels--and reading at the "correct" Lexile or reading level. YALSA shows leadership by having awards for nonfiction,for graphic novels, and for adult books for young adults and by realizing that it is the act of reading, not what is read that promotes literacy and engages readers. The fact that so many of these titles have been made or are being made into movies also helps to expand literacy as not only do the teens read the book and see the movie but they also read other books by the author. Mostly though, when librarians share these books with enthusiasm, when they have teen book clubs, when they promote reading of all types of literature, when they know their patrons and are able to suggest books and discuss books with teens, literacy is promoted. This is done with both award winners and those more pedestrian but popular books that make kids want to read.

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'm not sure how to answer this question as it has been about ten years since I was actually in a school library as the Librarian. I am part of a group called DI4LL--the Denton Initiative for Life-Long Learning--where two library schools, Denton Public Library, and Denton ISD are working together to use Guided Inquiry as a research model for K-20 research. Of course, this impacts library collections. Next week I am giving the Denton ISD librarians a workshop on using books in their library collections to introduce research as part of the process.
I also find in my classes that while the majority of my students "get it" when it comes to developing collections that support both reading for pleasure and as well as for gathering information for either research or personal use, every semester I have a few who do not want anything controversial, anything "grit," or anything that they don't approve of or want kids to read. Convincing them that while parents do have the right to choose what their children can or cannot read, as librarians we have to provide books for every patron, even those whose beliefs differ from theirs, that they are not the "library police" who decides what is right or wrong for a child. Yes, we do talk about "age appropriateness," collection development policies, and so on but for some this is a hard thing for them to understand and accept. I am always happy when a student says, "This is going to be hard for me, but I know that I will stop and think when making these decisions."

Why should YALSA members choose you to be a member of this selection committee?
Everyone who is running is worthy of being on this committee and wants to be elected as much as I do. I can only say that I will give it my all, that I will be a dedicated reader, that I can look at a book objectively and take myself and my likes and dislikes out of the equation when it comes to making decisions, that I have the time and experience to do a good job--and that I really, really want to serve on this committee. (Actually I have felt this way about all of the committees I have served on.)

Talk about a time when a teen shared with you how a book influenced them.
Again, having been out of the school library for a number of years, I don't get to spend as much time with teens as I would like. I will share an anecdote from this summer that sort of touches on this subject. I gave my 13 year old granddaughter Libba Bray's Beauty Queens to read this summer (with the caveat that I always give her that if she doesn't like it, she doesn't have to read it. She pretty much is an omnivore when it comes to reading, though.) Anyway, I posted this on Facebook and was amazed at the number of school and public librarians who "jumped" on me for giving her this book, saying she was too young. Well, she loved the book. When talking to her about some of the content, she made this comment: "Grandma, all young adult books have sex in them. Grownups just have to get over it."
So, yes, over the years, I have discussed books with many teen readers. I don't get so much the stories of how the book influenced them but mostly why they liked it, what they want to read next, and comments about different parts of the books. Maybe the books did not have an overt influence, but anything that makes them think, that makes them make observations about what they read, that encourages them to read another book does influence them--they just might not realize how much for several years.

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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 YALSA Councilor. The Councilor serve a term of three years commencing at the adjournment of the final ALA Council meeting of the annual conference following their election. The YALSA Councilor is also a member of the YALSA Executive Committee, as well as the Board of Directors.

The YALSA Councilor’s primary job is to serve as a member of the YALSA Board, attend all meetings of the ALA Council, report to the YALSA Board about Council agenda, vote as directed by the YALSA Board, represent YALSA’s position on Council, and report to the YALSA Board about Council actions.

A full description of the Councilor’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 Todd Krueger.

Name and current position:
Todd Krueger, Selector, Collection Development, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, Maryland

What best qualifies you for being a YALSA Councilor?
I have worked within many governing bodies and have learned the best ways to understand the matters at hand in a legislative process. Communication is key, and making certain that the issues facing teen librarians and teens in libraries are brought forth as necessary before the ALA Council. Conversely, reporting any items of note regarding teen librarianship and service to teens that are raised by ALA Council members back to the YALSA Board and membership at large. Using soft skills can often be the difference between getting the desired result for an organization and being left on the wrong side of the vote. My experience within YALSA has largely been on selection committees, but I have numerous colleagues who serve and continue to serve on ALA Council and the ALA Executive Board who have given me considerable understanding of the work of that body.

Talk about the experience you’re bringing to the position with leadership, advocacy, and impact on teen services in the library?
I have chaired several committees within and outside of my public library system that focused on services to teens, particularly with regard to collection needs. These have given me an understanding of the ever-moving target of what teens are looking for from their libraries. Always making sure that teens are considered when teen programming, building renovation, and staff development needs (for example, best practices for staff interaction with teens) are raised has been critical to my constant advocacy for this population.

How can being a YALSA Councilor help make a difference with issues teens may be struggling with?
I believe it's vital that the YALSA Division Councilor, among all councilors that have served and continue to serve teens make it a priority to remind fellow councilors of the needs of young adults. I have had a longstanding focus on teen literature, collection development, and intellectual freedom. Issues regarding these subjects continue to arise in the form of materials challenges, censorship, and selection decisions. As the lines blur of the borders of adolescence, both on the tween side and for younger adults, YALSA is positioned perfectly to advocate for an ever-growing group of library users.

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?
It is critical that teens have a place to be comfortable to self-educate. If that means becoming lost within the pages of a novel, or socializing with other teens, or following a path of personal interest, teens need to know all that the library can be for their growth. This may mean individual attention but can also be as simple as the right programming for the right group of teens at the right time. Constantly reassessing the needs and wants of the given crop of teens cannot be overstated. As a member of the governance committee I would advocate for ways to best use the often limited resources currently in place, while always being ready to pivot to reallocate resources as changes occur.

Share a recent example(s) where you made a shift to better focus on the current needs of teens.
These days, teens are continually overscheduled. Few have the opportunity to spend time reading more than a handful of free reading titles over the course of a given year, aside from the exceptional readers. Using data that showed how titles circulated among readers in my library system, I was able to clear out a lot of never or rarely used materials, and allow readers to more easily browse the teen collections at our twenty locations. This allowed me to identify just how quickly the reading tastes of teens changes in my community.

Why should YALSA members choose you to be a member of the governance committee?
It's important for teen librarians to be constantly aware of the current needs of the teens they serve, given the short window of time that a connection can be made. After serving on a number of YALSA and other selection committees, I am looking forward to transitioning to the governance side of advocacy for teens. There is so much potential in each of the young people we work with; let's use our energy and focus to prepare the teens we encounter for successful young adulthood and beyond.

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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 Nonfiction Award. Members on this committee serve a twelve month term. The committee consists of a chair, eight members, a Booklist consultant, and an administrative assistant if the Chair requests. The Chair and four members will be appointed by the President-Elect of YALSA. The remaining four members will be elected by the membership of YALSA.

The Nonfiction Award committee’s primary job is to select the best nonfiction title published for young adults between Nov. 1 and Oct. 31 of the current year. 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 Jennifer Longee.

Name and current position:
Jennifer Longee, Librarian at Durham Academy

Besides reading YA materials, what best qualifies you for being a member of this YALSA selection committee?
So much of my job revolves around reading, evaluating, and utilizing nonfiction books for student learning. The collaborative work I have done with my English, science and history departments qualifies me to be on the Nonfiction Award committee. For the past 10 years, I have assisted these departments in creating cross-curricular units that center around reading nonfiction books. To guarantee the success of these units, I have read hundreds of nonfiction titles to select the most informative, engaging and entertaining works for our students. I work closely with the students in creating projects based on their reading. This helps me understand which nonfiction books best meet the teens’ interests and needs.

My twelve years of experience working with ALA, YALSA, AASL, and ALSC committees also qualifies me to be a member of this committee. I have proven myself to be a hardworking, diligent, and conscientious committee member.

Talk about the experience you’re bringing to the selection committee with selection,evaluation, and working as part of a team.
I served on ALSC’s 2015 Theodore Seuss Geisel Award where I learned the demanding responsibilities of serving on a selection committee. I understand how to balance the heavy time commitment while dedicating myself completely to the process of selecting the most distinguished book of the year. I believe in the importance of searching meticulously for potential candidates, evaluating each work carefully, and working together as a committee to determine the award-winning titles.

What role do you think books can play in addressing some of the issues that negatively impact their lives?
Books have so much power. They helpus understand ourselves and world better. They allow us to visualize our own potential and develop coping strategies for the negative issues we may face. In just looking at nonfiction for teens, there are so many inspiring works that demonstrate how it is possible to overcome difficult situations. Books like Liz Murray’s Breaking Night show that huge challenges like homelessness, drug addiction, and poverty are not insurmountable. CynthiaLevinson’s We Got a Job explains how young people can play a significant role in addressing and overcoming social inequality. I could go on and on, but ultimately I believe books offer teens problem-solving skills while building confidence.

What are some ways the award winning titles can meet the need of teens to have a more expanded view of literacy?
When you walk into a library or bookstore, it is often difficult to pick a great book. There is so much out there and no one has time to waste on a book that is not interesting. I find that my students will often stick with an author they like or a particular genre. That silver or gold sticker on the cover of the book though draws their eye and arouses their interest. Something in that book was good enough to win that medal and it might be worth their time, even if it is not something they would normally read. I love when students read an award-winning title and then want to discuss whether they thought the award was merited.

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?
When I started working at Durham Academy, my first priority was to get students reading more for pleasure. I tried to persuade my teachers that independent reading was essential for developing lifelong learners. I created a monthly booktalk program for each grade level where students would come to the library, hear about great fiction and nonfiction titles and have time to select books. In an academically rigorous school where instructional time is closely guarded, it was hard to get all the English teachers on board, but once they did, my circulation statistics soared. I now have students coming to the library all times of the day to browse the collection and they often ask me when will be the next booktalk.

Why should YALSA members choose you to be a member of this selection committee?
I would like YALSA members to choose me to be on the Nonfiction Award committee because I will be a hardworking, diligent, and conscientious committee member. I will put in the time to carefully read and evaluate all contending titles. I will work with my committee to award a book worthy of our association’s name.

Talk about a time when a teen shared with you how a book influenced them.
A few years ago I had a student who was dreading the upcoming holiday vacation. Her parents were fighting constantly, and she thought the stress of the holidays would only make things worse. She loved to read and I wanted to find a good book to take her mind off the turmoil at home. I handed her Tom McNeal’s Far Far Away. As soon as she left, I worried that I had picked too dark of a book. However, over the winter break she sent me an email thanking me for the recommendation, saying it was her absolute most-favorite book ever. She even got her mother to read it. I still keep that email to remind me how a great book can lift a person’s spirits.

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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 Marianne Follis.

Name and current position:
Marianne Crandall Follis; Senior Librarian at the Valley Ranch (Irving) Public Library in Irving, TX.

Besides reading YA materials, what best qualifies you for being a member of this YALSA selection committee?
In addition to being a big fan and reader of YA, I select for my library's collection, serve teen readers, have written reviews for YA, taught classes on youth literature and served on two of the Texas Library Association's teen reading lists: The Lone Star List (grades 6-9) and the TAYSHAS Reading List (grades 9-up).

I feel that I have a clear understanding of both the literary merits of the literature, and the need for appeal and authentic voice teen readers seek.

Talk about the experience you’re bringing to the selection committee with selection, evaluation, and working as part of a team.
I have previously served on the ALSC Newbery Award Selection Committee. While it is a different division, and age group, I think the skills learned and experiences gained are applicable. When you read *that* many books and serve on a committee with other individuals who do the same, you quickly learn so much about your own reading strengths, weaknesses and preferences. While serving on a committee may not change who you are as a reader, the process of committee reading gives you a more even approach to your evaluation. For example, I love voice and tend to shy away from overly explicit settings. I know that about myself, so when I read a book where setting is key (and yes it can be to almost all books) I am a more engaged reader paying closer attention than one would in a causal reading instance.

What role do you think books can play in addressing some of the issues that negatively impact their lives?
It is important for young adults to be able to see themselves in books. I think they need to see others in the same position they are in and have those positions be treated with care, authenticity and respect.

Many adults are far removed from the world their teens navigate. I have heard adults say "What I wouldn't to have school be the only thing I *had* to do" but if an we would stop and remember, there was so much more going on than just school. Teens today are bombarded with information, images and are more connected than any previous generation. It is important that there are books that accurately portray the world teens navigate, and the pressures and obstacles they face.

What are some ways the award winning titles can meet the need of teens to have a more expanded view of literacy?
I think the great achievement of Award winning books are their visibility. People gravitate towards award winning books and once teens find them they are exposed to an expanded world view. Add to this the variety of genre, literary styles and appeal and you have the foundation for a broader world view and a larger conversation.

Using critical literacies the award books are great launching points for discussions and possible social change on important topics, such as death and suicide in Looking for Alaska.

There are also increased ways to share ideas and opinions on books that engage multiple literacies. Book blogs, vlogs, fan fiction and fan art engage teen on multiple learning levels while engaging in digital literacies.

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?
Our library recently underwent a renovation to include 5,000 unused square feet of storage into a larger library. During the process I advocated for a Digital Media Lab to be included in the new and improved teen area. I cited research done by our state educational commission on the skills that many teens lack when entering the work field and college. I supported this with demographics from our neighborhood and suggested that we have a large gap in access to technology and equipment.

The result was THE GREEN ROOM, a digital media lab fitted with software and media equipment where teens can explore, experiment and create. While this may not seem like a traditional library collection, it does when you look through an expanded lens of the role of the library. Teens can check out and use video and still cameras, light kits, microphones and software to edit it all.

THE GREEN ROOM has opened up programming for us to include mentors with special skills from the community to model and hang out with teens while they experiment with their digital creations.

It has altered the way staff views teens. As the teen librarian, I love not having to know everything and allow my teens to teach me. This serves everyone in so many ways, allowing the teens an opportunity to be proud when sharing their knowledge, while allowing the adults to be inspired by the role models our teens have become.

Why should YALSA members choose you to be a member of this selection committee?
Well, as most people who work with young people, I am passionate about teens, and the authors, books and programs that serve them.

I respect my teens. I remember what it is like to be that age and know that they are doing the hard work of becoming their true selves, while fighting the world assigning roles and values.

I have a good understanding of the history of Young Adult Fiction, the audience it serves and how books impact the lives of the teens who experience them.

I have experience on book selection committees and in evaluating YA.

I will make some nifty campaign buttons.

I am uncomfortable talking about why you should vote for me in first person. Third would be even worse.

Talk about a time when a teen shared with you how a book influenced them.
We recently had a suicide in our community. One of my teens and many of her peers were left missing their friend, and wondering what they could have done to prevent the situation. Like so many people who survive suicide there is this self assigned responsibility for the actions of others.

While rummaging through my collection of ARCs, this teen found All the Bright Places (Nevin, 2014). The book served as both a cathartic venue for expressing emotions and grief, and as a way to understand that mental health issues are a very real and sometimes insurmountable obstacle for those in serious pain.
This teen shared "I wanted to think that I could have stopped her from leaving us. That there was a secret message in her texts that I could have decoded, said the right thing, and stopped her. But I guess you don't ever know how the world looks from someone else's eyes."

Books don't always give you all of the answers, but can be a quiet places for us to visit with our feelings and see the world through someone else's eyes.

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