About YALSA

YALSA helps build the capacity of libraries so that they can help teens succeed in school and prepare for careers.

YALSA stands for Young Adult Library Services Association.

Our Mission

Through networking, advocacy, and professional development, the Young Adult Library Services Association empowers all those involved in the profession to provide equitable, diverse and inclusive teen services.

Read about us and our mission inAssociations Now and check out our 2014 report on theFuture of Library Services for and with Teens: a Call to Action

What We Do

TheYoung Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) brings together key stakeholders from the areas of libraries, education, research, out of school time, youth development and more to develop and deliver resources to libraries that expand their capacity to support teen learning and enrichment and to foster healthy communities. Read about us and our mission inAssociations Now and check out thisinfographic (.pdf). YALSA is committed to embedding equity, diversity and inclusion principles throughout the organization, and to helping libraries do the same. Read ourStatement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

Advocate By participating in events likeNational Library Legislative Day and implementingDistrict Days initiatives for libraries to participate in, YALSA works at a national level to inform and engage policy makers and elected officials about the important role libraries and librarians play in preparing teens to become engaged, productive citizens.

ResearchThrough efforts such as itsResearch Agenda andJournal for Research on Libraries and Young Adults, YALSA promotes and disseminates relevant research.

TrainIn order to ensure that librarians and library workers have the skills needed to engage, educate and support teens, YALSA offers a wealth of continuing education activities, includinge-learning and an annual teen servicessymposium.

Build Capacity YALSA provides over $195,000 per year to libraries throughgrants to help libraries do things like offer summer learning programs, hire teen interns and increase their digital media offerings. YALSAscholarships and stipends support librarians and library workers seeking to further their education or gain leadership skills. Read our 2014report (pdf) on Helping Libraries Meet the Needs of Diverse Teens, or watch this 5 minute video.

Watch thisvideo to learn about ourTeen Read Week Activity Grant and its impact on helping libraries promote literacy amongst teens.

Promote best practices and identify trends

Publishbooks, aweekly e-news, and a quarterly journal,Young Adult Library Services.
Develop and disseminatenational guidelines for serving teens in libraries, such as“Core Professional Values for the Teen Services Profession.”
Curate industry content via blogs athttp://yalsa.ala.org/blog andhttp://yalsa.ala.org/thehub

Help us help libraries and librarians by making adonation! Every dollar makes a difference!

Why Focus on Teens?

Teens are not simply “older children” – they have reached a developmental stage that requires a different strategic approach in order to effectively understand, connect with and serve them. In addition, the needs and developmental abilities of younger teens ages 13 to 15 vary from those of older teens ages 16 to 18. YALSA helps libraries increase their outreach to teens and serve them better. Unfortunately, research, including thisAlliance for Excellence in Education report, shows that as an age group, teens receive the least amount of funding from the government, foundations and corporate giving.