Item # 8 YALSA Board of Directors Meeting February Meeting via Conference Call February 29, 2008 Topic: Background: Action Required: Slate for 2009 Annual Conference Listed below is the proposed slate for 2009, as compiled by the Program Clearinghouse Committee. The Board will want to review it to ensure that it fits with YALSA s mission and goals and give feedback to the committee. Action Snapshot of Slate (incl. ticketed events) Proposed Program or Ticketed Sponsor Event Half day preconference on?? Full day preconference on genres Preconference Planning Committee YALSA 101? YALSA Happy Hour? Edwards Lunch N/A Downloadable Technology Technology Committee Alex Winners Alex Committee YA Author Coffee Klatch? Graphic Novels in Schools Great Graphic Novels Committee Speed Dating w/ YA Publishers Publishers Liaison Committee YA Craft Programs Program Clearinghouse Committee OBCB OBCB Committee Role of Sex in YA books Lynn Bidermann Fine Line b/w Selection & IF Committee Censorship President s Program President s Program Planning Committee Fabulous Films Fabulous Films Committee Printz Reception N/A We ll be in the second year of the Diversity & Advocacy Campaigns in 2009. Should there be programs on these topics? Is it desirable to feature the winner of the first Morris Award at Annual 09? If so, how? Detailed Slate FRIDAY 8:30 to 5:00 Preconference -1-
What topic is desirable for this half day event? Once a topic is selected, Paula or Sarah will need to appoint a taskforce. 12:30 to 5:00 Genre Preconference Sponsor: Preconference Planning Committee Authors, speakers, breakout discussions on different genres 4:00 to 5:00 YALSA 101 No Form A was submitted for this, but in the past the Division & Membership Promotion Committee has sponsored it. 5:00 to 7:00 YALSA Happy Hour Do we want a specific committee or member group to sponsor this? SATURDAY 12-1:30 Margaret Edwards Luncheon 1:30-3:30 Program: Downloadable Technology: Current and Future Trends Sponsor: Technology for Young Adults (Kelly Tyler) Panel discussion reviewing current trends in downloadable technology for teens and possible implementations for programming and services in libraries. Track: Children and Young Adults, Technology To broaden appeal, it would be great to include information on how schools and school librarians can use downloadable technology and how they can work with public librarians on programming. The proposal indicates a panel discussion will there also be demonstrations? Could be boring and not easily understandable if there are no demos. Include Playaways and other downloadable materials and alternatives in presentation. It would be great to include practical uses in libraries and schools, especially those who can t afford the newest computers or the best internet. Would this program also include examples of ways teens want their libraries to use downloadable tech? Is there a way to address ADA issues and/or to be inclusive of teens with special needs? 4-5:30 Alex Award Winners 2009 Sponsor: Alex Awards Committee (Priscille Dando) Panel presentation of the 10 titles chosen for the Alex Award including authors and book talks. Authors will also speak about how winning the Alex Award has impacted them. -2-
SUNDAY 8-10am YA Author Coffee Klatch (ticketed event) Who do we want to feature at the 2009 Klatch? In 2007 it was Printz & Edwards winners. In 2008 it will be BBYA authors. 8-10am Graphic Novels in Schools Sponsor: YALSA Great Graphic Novels Committee (Robin Brenner) (Alternate time Sunday, 1:30 to 3:30) (**avoid times when GGNT meets) Graphic Novels in schools encourage literacy, connect to the curriculum and engage students. This program will help school librarians and educators feel confident selecting and using them in the school environment and encourage public librarians to form partnerships with their local schools. Tracks: Children & Young Adults; Collection Development and Management; Literacy/Partnerships (?) To broaden appeal, this program should not only discuss how public librarians can partner with schools, but should also focus on how school librarians and educators can make graphic novels part of their collections and curriculum. Panelists should include school librarians/educators who have experience with graphic novel collections. Emphasize importance of graphic novels for reluctant readers. Have resources for suggested titles to buy and tips on understanding manga and comics better. (YALSA s GGNT list) YALSA is doing a full day preconference on graphic novels in Nashville at the Symposium as well as a paper presentation 8 months prior to Annual 09. Could this presentation be saved for the next AASL Conference and free up a slot for Annual 09 to address something more pressing or unique? 10:30-12:30 Speed-Dating with Young Adult Publishers Sponsor: Publishers Liaison Committee (Carlisle K. Webber) Representatives from small and large publishers will present their young adult titles for the coming seasons. They will get the chance to give and receive input regarding needs and trends in YA literature from YA librarians and YA materials selectors. Track: Children and Young Adults; Collection Development and Management Speed-dating and Round Robin idea is a good way for more personal interaction between librarians and publishers. However, it might be challenging with a large group. -3-
How will program be organized to accommodate larger groups and still encourage audience feedback? To avoid chaos please make sure committee organizes a concrete plan for movement during the rounds. There is some concern about keeping everything moving and making sure that tables/groups or not overlooked. This is what the Exhibits floor is for; there is a need to duplicate it How would it be impartial? All publishers would need to be involved Books are not allowed to be sold anywhere but Exhibit floor (ALA policy) We recommend that this program move forward only if it has a unique focus: such as publishers who publish books in foreign languages or who publish for a specific audience, such as African American youth. This makes a stronger program and also supports YALSA s new YA Diversity Campaign. It also fills a need for members: smaller, more niche publishers don t often have the means to market heavily to the library market and a program which features them could help more members become aware of these important publishers. 1:30-3:30 YA Craft Programs Sponsor: YALSA Program Clearinghouse, Jessy Griffith and Morgan Doane Craft programs in the library are extremely popular among some teen populations. Here are some new and cool ideas for teen craft programs. (working description) Craft programs are very popular, and we have not seen a YA program on this topic yet. This is an excellent, practical program that YA librarians can immediately put to use in their libraries. Perhaps an interactive component of the program could be a program exchange where librarians bring copies of their own programs to exchange in small groups. PCC members, Jessy Griffith and Morgan Doane, has volunteered to help put together this program and is working on getting other committee members to join in. 4:00-5:30 OBCB: The Books Your Teens Should Read to Succeed Sponsor: Outstanding Books for the College Bound Committee (Sarajo Wentling, OBCB chair; possible ACRL co-sponsor) Hear more about the selected titles from the 2009 Outstanding Books for the College Bound and Lifelong Learners list. Learn how you can use this list with teens, teachers, advisors, parents, and lifelong partners. Track: Children and YA; (Also Collection Development?) Notes from the Office: This supports a key YALSA resource and revenue generator. It should be a priority for Annual 2009. -4-
MONDAY 8-10 Blume or Burst; Exploration or Exploitation: The Role of Sex in 30 YA Books Over 30 Years Sponsor (proposal from YA Lit. Symposium) Lynn Bidermann, JD, MLS Blume s Forever put sex into YA literature. A YA author, lawyer, and librarian uses legal skills to analyze 30 books over the past 30 years: whether sex in these books is frank or filler, realistic or reprehensible, and represents trends in teen behavior, in an effort to develop review factors and explore this statement If the sex reflects a truth about teens, even in its most exploitive usage, then the literature can generate introspection. Additional notes from sponsor: This program supports YALSA goals of assisting librarians in providing materials to teens that meet their needs and interests. Through extensive research of YA literature, this program offers factors by which librarians can review and better understand the use of sex in YA literature. Not only informative, the program teaches an evaluative tool to serve librarians reviewing the plethora of contemporary YA literature dealing with sex. This will ultimately serve to broaden collections through understanding which books address social, psychological, educational and recreational needs of young adults. Tracks: Children & Young Adults; Author/Literacy; YA Fiction Research (?) Like the idea of providing tools and review factors for understanding sex in YA literature. Need more info. on sponsor library background, educator background, etc. Can the sponsor connect with a YALSA committee (Research or Intellectual Freedom?) Will this subject be talked about at the Intellectual Freedom program on censorship and selection? There is concern regarding the background of this person and whether she can be connected with a YALSA committee. YALSA Board, please advise. 10:30-12 Walk the Line: The Fine Line Between Selection and Censorship (Joint program) Sponsor: YALSA Intellectual Freedom, ALSC IF, and AASL IF Committees (alternate day/time: Saturday, 4:00 to 5:30 p.m.) Selection policies notwithstanding, every young adult librarian faces the challenges of internal censorship when dealing with collection development. Panelists will discuss walking the fine line between selection and censorship within the areas of graphic novels, edgy and urban fiction, music, nonfiction, and religion. Track: Children and Young Adults; Professional education; Intellectual Freedom; Collection Development; -5-
Including school librarians, as well as public librarians and experts, on the panel would broaden appeal. Include discussion about school library challenges, as well as community challenges. Can this program also include ideas for opening lines of conversation with other library departments when those lines are crossed? Past cases of challenged books should be discussed. Notes from the Office: An IF program every year makes bringing a fresh perspective to it difficult and takes up a valuable program slot. It might be time to evaluate whether or not an annual program is necessary, desired or strategic. 1:30-3:30 YALSA President s Program (check with new committee for program title) Sponsor Sarah Debraski? 4-5:30 Program: Fabulous Films for Young Adults Sponsor: Fabulous Films for Young Adults Committee (Chair, Katie Boyes) (alternate time Sunday, 4:00 to 5:30) View scenes from the selected films from YALSA s Fabulous Films for Young Adults list and get some tips on how they can be used in libraries and classrooms. Track: Children and Young Adults, Collection Development, Other: Non-book Media Let s make sure someone from PCC attends this program to observe body count for the program. Do feedback forms from this program get turned in? Notes from the Office: There s no indication here that a fresh or unique approach is being taken. This program should not move forward if it s going to be the same format as in the past. 8-10 PM YALSA Printz Reception -6-