This year, Teen Read Week is set for October 8-14, when libraries nationwide have great options for teen programming.  When you participate in Teen Read Week, your library is joining a national literacy project sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) of ALA.

The 2017 theme is “Unleash Your Story.”  This is your chance to spotlight all the resources and activities you provide for the teenage crowd.  From the YALSA website: “Teens are not simply ‘older children’—the 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…”

YALSA is a division of the American Library Association and was launched in 1957.  Its website is a great spot to find promotional materials, with links to ALA online store merchandise.  Also collection development lists, top YA titles, along with STEM and STEAM toolkits. 

How will you help teens in your community Unleash Their Story?  Share your plans for Teen Read Week @ Your Library.  

Teen Read Week

Leading up to Teen Read Week, young adult services librarians are invited to encourage teens in their communities to vote on their favorite YA titles from a list of 26 nominees.  The voting site is hosted by Dogo Books.

The button below takes you to a list of the nominated titles which include

• The Year We Fell Apart by Emily Martin
• Don’t Get Caught by Kurt Dinen
• Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum
• Once Upon a Dream by Liz Braswell

These titles make a good collection development list; compare / contrast which of these award-winning YA books are in your library.  And be sure to ask your teen library users to vote on their favorites.  Voting is open now through October 14.  Winners will be announced later in October, after Teen Read Week concludes. 

 Teens Top10 Voting

Next Library101 September 14

Typically offered 4 times each year, LIBRARY 101 introduces newly hired directors to library support systems and services in Iowa.  It’s a friendly, helpful orientation.  In a 2-hour webinar format, you’ll meet the staff at the State Library—at least virtually—helping you match names with faces.

We’ll discuss public library service standards and provide explanations of popular statewide programs, with plenty of time to answer your questions. People new to support staff positions, as well as trustees, are encouraged to attend.  This serves as a good refresher, too. 

Because it's offered 4 times each year, this program is not recorded. The time is 9:30-11:30AM...Join us for LIBRARY101 on September 14!   

C.E. CATALOG