cvr1 FSG bw page cvr2 The official journal of the Young Adult Library Services Association

VOLUME 3 NUMBER 1 FALL 2004 ISSN 1541-4302

CONTENTS

FROM THE EDITOR 2 ARTICLES FROM THE PRESIDENT 35 Publishing 101: A Guide 3 What YALSA Means to Me for the Perplexed David Mowery Publishers Offer Insight through Orlando Program and Interviews ARTICLES Roxy Ekstrom and Amy Alessio 6 Ten Years and Counting 37 YA Galley Project Gives Teens YALSA’s Serving the Underserved a New Voice Project, 1994–2004 Diane Monnier and Francisca Monique le Conge Goldsmith 13 What Does Professionalism Mean 40 Young Adults as Public for Young Adult Librarians? Library Users Dawn Rutherford A Challenge and Priority 16 Reaching Out to Young Adults Ivanka Stricevic in Jail 42 An Unscientific Study of Teen Patrick Jones TV Programming 20 Making a Difference Leslie Marlo Incarcerated Teens Speak Diana Tixier Herald THE UPDATE 44 AWARD SPEECHES 22 Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime GUIDELINES FOR Achievement Award Speech AUTHORS Ursula K. Le Guin 15 26 Michael L. Printz Award Speech INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Angela Johnson 50 28 Michael L. Printz Honor Speech K. L. Going 29 Michael L. Printz Honor Speech Helen Frost 30 Michael L. Printz Honor Speech Carolyn Mackler 33 Michael L. Printz Honor Speech Jennifer Donnelly FROM THE EDITOR

amed tennis player Arthur Ashe once said, “From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, YALSA Publications Committee (performing referee duties and providing advisory input for the journal) however, makes a life.” His causes Donald Kenney, Chair, Blacksburg, Virginia were many, and he shared his Lauren Adams, Newton, Massachusetts Sophie R. Brookover, Voorhees, New Jersey Fknowledge and passions with the world. Jeanette C. Larson, Austin, Texas People who work with and advocate for Marjorie Schreiber, Sacramento, California young adults can use this quote as a daily Cassie H. Wilson, St. Marys, Ohio affirmation of what we do. How many of us Executive Director provide some sort of outreach, whether in the form of visits to Julie A. Walker schools, hospitals, jails, recreational centers, or even just reaching Division Coordinator out to that one teen who is struggling with a dilemma? Most of Cindy Welch us, I expect. I would also like to think that as libraries continue Editor to recognize the value of providing resources and programs to Jana Fine teenagers, one of the reasons has to be outreach. Circulation Young Adult Library Services (ISSN 1541-4302) is published four times a year by the Thousands of librarians and associates partner with organi- American Library Association (ALA), 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. It is the official zations, engage audiences with good reads, plan and implement publication of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of ALA. Subscription price: members of YALSA, $20 per year, included in membership dues; non- not only tried and true teen programs, but also new and innova- members, $40 per year in the U.S.; $50 in Canada, Mexico, and other countries. Back tive activities to bring that elusive Generation Y group through issues within one year of current issue, $12 each. Periodical postage paid at Chicago, Illinois, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Young the library doors and into a more literate future. In the Adult Library Services, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. Members: Address changes and Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online, one of the definitions of inquiries should be sent to Membership Department, Changes to Young Adult Library Services, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. Nonmember subscribers: Subscriptions, “outreach” is the extending of services or assistance beyond cur- orders, changes of address, and inquiries should be sent to Changes to Young Adult rent or usual limits. While we ultimately try for this definition, Library Services, Subscriptions, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611; 1-800-545-2433, press we can be hampered by many obstacles. Administrative staff may 5; fax: (312) 944-2641; [email protected]. not see the overall value of outreach, especially in small rural Statement of Purpose and tribal communities where there are few staff to perform Young Adult Library Services is the official journal of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association. The Journal prima- even the most basic services. Larger systems also may not see the rily serves as a vehicle for continuing education for librarians serving young adults, ages big picture when it comes to frontline staff spending time out- 12 through 18. It will include articles of current interest to the profession, act as a show- case for best practices, provide news from related fields, and will spotlight significant side the workplace, especially when there may be a department events of the organization and offer in-depth reviews of professional literature. The for Outreach Services. These barriers can be overcome. Staff Journal will also serve as the official record of the organization. training can make some difference, perhaps conducted by Production YALSA’s Serving the Underserved (SUS) trainers. ALA Production Services—Troy D. Linker, Angela Hanshaw; Kristen McKulski and Karen The theme for this issue is outreach, and each article pres- Sheets, Production Editors. ents a different piece of outreach throughout the library com- Advertising munity. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the beginning The Goldman Group, 14497 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., #205N, Tampa, FL 33618. (813) 264- 2772; [email protected]. The Journal accepts advertising for goods or services of inter- of SUS, and we bring you in-depth information as well as per- est to the library profession and librarians in service to youth in particular. It encourages sonal stories of trainers. SUS has become a successful way of advertising that informs readers and provides clear communication between vendor and buyer. The Journal adheres to ethical and commonly accepted advertising practices and promoting outreach on a national level. In addition, you will reserves the right to reject any advertisement not suited to the above purposes or not con- have the opportunity to read speeches from Ursula K. Le Guin, sistent with the aims and policies of ALA. Acceptance of advertising in the Journal does the 2004 Margaret A. Edwards Award winner; Angela Johnson, not imply official endorsement by ALA of the products or services advertised. the 2004 Michael L. Printz winner; as well as Printz honorees Manuscripts Manuscripts and letters pertaining to editorial content should be sent to YALSA, 50 E. Jennifer Donnelly, Carolyn Mackler, Helen Frost, and K. L. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611; e-mail: [email protected]. Manuscripts will be sent out for Going. As you read these wonderful speeches, think about how review according to the Journal’s established referee procedures. See the “Guidelines for the authors are “reaching out” to us and the intended teen audi- Authors” in each issue for further information. ence and what an impact these books have made. Indexing, Abstracting, and Microfilm Young Adult Library Services is indexed in Library Literature, Library & Information Science There is very slender line that connects each article in this Abstracts, and Current Index to Journals in Education. Microfilm copies of Journal of Youth issue to what each of us does every day, and that is to empower Services in Libraries and its predecessor, Top of the News, are available from ProQuest/Bell the teens of today to reach out to their future. & Howell, 300 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48106. The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences-Permanence of Paper for Printed Library About the Cover Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992. ∞ The art is adapted from ALA Graphics’s “It’s Alive” Mini © 2004 American Library Association All materials in this journal subject to copyright by the American Library Association Poster, available at www.alastore.ala.org, and reflects the may be photocopied for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or educational advance- theme for Teen Read Week 2004. For more information ment granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. For other photocopying, reprinting, or translating, address requests to the ALA Office of Rights and about Teen Read Week, visit www.ala.org/teenread. Permissions.

2 FALL 2004 YALS FROM THE PRESIDENT What YALSA Means to Me David C. Mowery

Y=Youth Participation L=Literacy on creating advocacy tools for members; Whatever they are named—teen Teen literacy encompasses helping young increasing staff, finan- advisory group, teen advisory board, adults to develop the skills they need to cial, and volunteer resources allocated to teen library club, and so on—these seek and effectively utilize information advocacy; increasing advocacy within the groups enable young adults to actively resources. YALSA assists and promotes local community, primarily through part- participate in and guide their public libraries in this critical endeavor through nerships with strategic organizations and school libraries’ programs and the work of several of its committees, serving youth; and increasing advocacy services. Volunteer or paid opportunities discussion groups, and task forces. within the library institution. for teens cover a broad range within the Encouraging and motivating teens to During my year as YALSA president, library spectrum: serving as book read is, of course, the foundation for my action areas and concerns are: buddies to read to (and with) younger building the bond between teens and lit- 1. Adolescent Literacy. My presidential children; helping with arts and crafts eracy. We, as members of YALSA, the program in Chicago 2005 is titled programs for children; serving as “voice” for library services to young “Teen Literacy Is a Four-Letter Word: computer coaches to library customers adults, must continue to convey the Reading Equity of Access Advocacy of all ages; helping children with absolute importance of a lifelong love of Diversity.” If you have thoughts, sug- homework; performing outreach reading and learning. Teen Read Week, gestions, or ideas you wish to share, services in their community; greeting steadily increasing in popularity and par- please contact me. and informing users about library ticipation, is a shining example of a suc- 2. Development of YALSA member programs and activities; planning and cessful literacy-based initiative. training workshops and institutes on leading young adult programs; providing teenagers and literacy. peer tutoring and being teen mentors; 3. Building stronger bridges and collab- and actively participating in Friends of S=Sustainability of the oration between public and school the Library groups. Association librarians who serve young adults. Association sustainability, as a result of 4. More extensive dissemination and revenue growth, is a crucial goal area in marketing of the YALSA book A=Access, Equity Of YALSA’s strategic planning. To achieve awards and media awards lists. Young adults, an ever-increasing percent- this goal, YALSA must concentrate on This is a very exciting time for age of the population in the United three objectives: increasing revenue from YALSA. We are in the process of develop- States, are entitled to equal access to existing programs and services, including ing and rolling out a new strategic plan. library services and programs. All teens adding publications that will generate Keep attuned for news about this in should be included—ESL, GLBT, teens income over expenses; generating revenue upcoming issues of YAttitudes and YALS. with special needs, teens of diverse eco- from new products and services; and Much to our loss, Executive Director Julie nomic, ethnic, and religious back- increasing membership by developing a Walker and Deputy Executive Director grounds, and so on. Teens must feel targeted campaign to solicit new mem- Cindy Welch will be leaving the division welcome and comfortable in their local bers, while retaining existing members. to pursue other endeavors. But YALSA library in order to take advantage of the YALSA membership, at this time, remains has strengthened as an organization various things their library can offer strong at more than 4,200! (thanks to Julie and Cindy), and we will them. YALSA’s Serving the Underserved be hiring our very own full-time execu- (SUS) trainers have blazed a trail across A=Advocacy tive director in the coming months. the country training library generalists, Just as adolescents struggle through staff members, and board members, Advocacy is a primary, continuing, ever- the “growing pains” of becoming adults, enabling them to provide better service important goal area in the strategic plan- YALSA is in the process of a grand transi- and outreach efforts to young adults in ning of the division. Through the tion. I am counting on your support and school library media centers and public advocacy efforts of all YALSA members, participation to make this transition a libraries. To date, ninety SUS trainers the value of teen services within public reality. You can reach me at d.mowery@ have provided sessions for almost 30,000 and school libraries will increase. In order brooklynpubliclibrary.org or by phone at attendees! to accomplish this, YALSA needs to focus (718) 230-2753.

YALS FALL 2004 3 AASL ad 4 PLA ad 5 ARTICLE Ten Years and Counting YALSA’s Serving the Underserved Project, 1994–2004 Monique le Conge

en years may not seem like of the American Library Association Output Measures and More with Virginia that long, especially when (ALA), began training YALSA members Walter at the time. When we received the you’ve been in one library for as part of the Serving the Underserved: award, we got down to brass tacks by put- that time, as I have. But if you Customer Services for Young Adults ting together an application process.” are a teen, it may as well be a Project. Library staff around the country Initially, two seminars were held in Tlifetime. Teaching generalists to better needed education and information about 1994 and 1996 (Miami and San Antonio, understand that “lifetime” was only one teenagers in the library, how best to inter- respectively), with a third seminar in goal for the Serving the Underserved act with them, and how to encourage 2001 (Washington, D.C.). ALA World (SUS) Project begun by YALSA ten years their participation in planning collec- Book Goal Awards funded all three. As ago. What was the world like for a teen, tions, space, and programs. Furthermore, Waddle further recalls, “We did the train- or for you and me, in 1994? South Africa marketing, collaboration among commu- ing in Miami at the Annual Conference held its first interracial national election, nity resources, physical and psychological under less than ideal conditions. That electing Nelson Mandela as president. O. development, and working with boards and . . . the training led to a marvelous J. Simpson was arrested in the killings of and administration—all related to young experience and bonded the trainers in a his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her adults—were skills that needed the pro- way you could never plan for.” In all, friend, Ronald Goldman. Four were con- fessional development and continuing ninety SUS trainers from all geographic victed in the World Trade Center bomb- education opportunities that these train- areas of the United States were accepted ing. Kurt Cobain committed suicide. ers could provide. to participate in the three training ses- Thousands were killed in Rwanda. The As Linda Waddle, a former YALSA sions, based on applications. They devel- FDA approved the Flavr Savr tomato, the Deputy Executive Director, remembers: oped techniques and content to teach first genetically engineered food product. “The SUS project was a group effort. adult learners and began training in Major league baseball players went on Executive Director Ann Weeks wanted libraries all over the country. Their pre- strike. ER, Friends, and My So-Called Life YALSA to apply for the ALA/World Book sentations continue to cover such topics debuted on TV. Reviving Ophelia was a Goal Award. This was at a time when we as “adolescent development, reading New York Times bestseller. Schindler’s List were all working on Library Power, and interests, behavioral problems, youth par- won the Academy Award for Best Picture. there was a lot of discussion about pro- ticipation, facilities, and computer serv- The Shipping News won the Pulitzer Prize fessional development. Elizabeth ices for teens.”2 The workshop for Fiction. Pulp Fiction and The O’Donnell was YALSA president at the presentations have been made to profes- Shawshank Redemption premiered. time. She was on the school board in her sional and paraprofessional staff in rural Whitney Houston’s version of “I Will city and was familiar with professional public libraries with as few as seven staff Always Love You” won the Grammy for development in education and knew members (the whole staff!) to state, Record of the Year. Jacqueline Kennedy someone whom we later hired to work regional, and national conferences, and Onassis and John Candy passed away.1 with the SUS trainers....We were look- specialized seminars. They have made In 1994, the Young Adult Library ing at the training-the-trainer model and over 350 presentations to more than Services Association (YALSA), a division adult learning. Barbara Herrin provided 20,000 participants.3 Trainers continue the expertise. With Barbara’s guidance, I their own development, discussing issues did a crash course in these subjects and and learning about young adult library Monique le Conge is the Library wrote the grant proposal, Barbara and service and other useful information via a Director for the Benicia Public Library. Ann vetting it all along the way. There discussion list and a dedicated Web site. She has worked as a library consultant were other elements that came into play Because ten years have passed since for libraries around California. In addi- as well. We were working with DOE on the first group of trainers met in Miami, tion to serving on a variety of commit- tees within ALA, Monique enjoys the research project that resulted in YALSA wanted to know how the trainers spending time with her teenagers and is “Services and Resources for Children and have affected library service to teens. In an adjunct instructor for the School of Young Adults in Public Libraries”—that’s 2003, two surveys were conducted to Library and Information Science at San where the idea of YA’s being underserved learn how the training has helped both Jose State University. came from. We were also working on the trainers and the learners. One survey

6 FALL 2004 YALS LE CONGE TEN YEARS AND COUNTING asked trainers about their observations four, eighteen (40.9 percent) responded have gone from a young adult librarian to and involvement in the program, and the to the survey (appendix B). some type of supervisory position, second asked participants about the long- including several who have become term effects that the training had on their library directors. libraries. SUS trainers have reached quite Results Other goals that encouraged partici- an impressive number of people, but has pation, as listed by some trainers, include: the training changed or improved Survey One—the Trainers Networking with others who serve libraries or librarians at all? Are library Because only about half of the trainers YAs services to young adults better than they responded to the survey, and because A desire to participate more actively were ten years ago? there is no formal follow-up procedure to in YALSA and with other YALSA measure long-term effects of the training members in place, many of the answers rely on Sharing the importance of working Methods anecdotes and observations. That said, the with teens in libraries available statistical information does give Being intrigued by the process A focus group of YALSA members, insight into the strengths of the project. Receiving the cachet of being nation- YALSA board members, SUS trainers, and For most of the responses, the surveys had ally certified by a professional group YALSA office staff was convened at ALA a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest and being one of a select few with Midwinter in Philadelphia in early 2003 rating, or least effective, and 5 being the this certification to discuss the kinds of questions they felt highest rating, or most effective. A rating Helping libraries improve or start YA should be asked in a survey, and to cri- of 3 would be an average, where the ques- services tique and offer suggestions for a draft tion was somewhat important, or the survey. Approximately twelve participants goals/ideas were somewhat met. See Some additional goals that were met, provided input during a thirty-minute appendix A for the trainers’ survey. as listed by some of the trainers, include: focus group. The two primary goals of trainers I started teaching graduate work- The first survey was conducted from entering the project were youth advocacy shops at the local library school March to May 2003. Of the ninety SUS and professional development. An over- We now have a young adult focus trainers, contact information was found whelming 76 percent reported that their group and have written grants to invite eighty-one to participate in the “individual advocacy for young adults” I definitely expanded my network, survey. Even those trainers who are not was the most significant factor encourag- and I also had some participation in currently active were included in the sur- ing their participation in the SUS train- YALSA and ALA vey to find out what had changed to keep ing; 72 percent then reported that the More confidence about my own them from conducting any more train- training met this goal completely. Add in knowledge and abilities as a young ing. (Initially, trainers were expected to those who rated this goal as a 4, between adult specialist conduct one training within two years of “somewhat significant” and “most signifi- Participation in the SUS workshop their participation in the SUS project, but cant,” and individual advocacy was a goal was one of the most transformative many continued long beyond that for 95 percent of the trainers and 94 per- experiences of my life—I met lots of requirement.) This survey was first con- cent felt this goal was met more than influential people in the field and left ducted electronically using Zoomerang “somewhat.” with many new doors open to me (www.zoomerang.com) on the Internet. A secondary goal of trainers was I felt more a part of my profession Because responses were limited to a short “professional development,” with 98 per- Trainings I presented opened doors time frame, copies of the survey were cent reporting this as a 4 or a 5, both of opportunity for other libraries snail-mailed to those who did not above “somewhat significant.” This was respond or indicated they could not met completely, or just under, for 86 per- Of those responding, 62 percent respond. In two rounds of surveys, forty cent of the trainers. While leadership characterized themselves as “active” train- trainers (49.3 percent) answered the sur- development was not an original goal of ers. The most influential reason for no vey (appendix A). the SUS project, it was obliquely men- longer being active is a “change in job.” The second survey was conducted in tioned as a motivation or personal goal Second to that is “no libraries/systems October and November 2003. A sample for trainers (“professional develop- requesting training.” It’s impossible to tell of forty-four participants was taken from ment”), and it has been an outcome, as if this is a recent trend based on eco- trainers’ suggestions. These participants noted in the 2001 SUS Annual Report nomic factors, if the market has reached were libraries that had hired the SUS submitted by Linda Waddle to the YALSA saturation, or even if libraries are trainer to conduct the workshop(s) and Board in June 2001.4 Many trainers have unaware of the program. Motivation for often were learners in the workshop(s) gone on to leadership positions within the trainers to present more trainings themselves. The participants received a YALSA, not to mention within their own comes from “retraining/updating skills” paper survey by mail only. Of the forty- careers. For example, several participants (83 percent cited this, rating it “somewhat

YALS FALL 2004 7 TEN YEARS AND COUNTING LE CONGE

SUS STORY SWAP Compiled by Monique le Conge and Jana Fine Have you ever wondered about those training sessions and what trainers think about? Read the following stories from SUS trainers around the country and find out just how rewarding training work- shops can be, not only from a presenta- Training the trainers tional aspect, but also from a personal view. interested” or higher) rather than When I did a training session in “increased marketing by YALSA,” so mar- Monterey, staff had set the scene for The SUS trainer class of 1996 keting is not necessarily viewed as a fac- themselves as a “surprise” for me upon tor in why libraries are not asking for my arrival! They had each brought a trainings. photo of themselves as teens to a coworker, who made blowups of them. These One suggestion from the statistical large photos—mostly from the ’60s and ’70s, with a few from the really big-haired information is the 72 percent who are ’50s—were tacked around the room’s walls, interspersed with period album covers “somewhat interested” or above in “part- which another staff member had bought for something like twenty-five for one nering with other trainers.” While the dollar at a local Salvation Army. It proved a wonderful ice breaker, as you can SUS seminars covered the basics of imagine.... workshop presentations, some may feel In Calexico, I was reminded that we really need some bilingual SUS trainers. unsure about partnering or may not The Imperial County library district provides some buildings with monolingual have considered it an option until men- collections (Spanish), and everyone on staff is bilingual; but the default language, tioned on the survey. They may not again, is Spanish. This meant that I could be understood; but when discussions know where to begin. Trainers who have became flowing and enthusiastic, I could only understand vaguely and couldn’t par- done this in the past might be able to ticipate (which was probably fine) because everyone returned to Spanish. They show and tell others, providing some of were not expecting me to be Spanish-speaking and were pleased with the training, the advanced training or refresher work. but it would have been more appropriate, I think, had it been conducted in Spanish This can be an effective way to present— as are many of the library services.—Francisca Goldsmith, Collection Management learners like different styles—and much and Promotion, Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St., Berkeley, CA 94704, (510) more fun. However, this is where the 981-6139, [email protected] cost factors, of course, can make skills- updating prohibitive. A half-day presen- One time, I was team-training with Leslie Westbrook in a rural part of northern tation in January 2003 did offer some California and we were talking with the group about how important it is to have a new training for those who were attend- line item for young adult services in the library budget, even if it’s only $500 annu- ing the Midwinter Meeting in ally. It makes the service “real” to the public and to the city, county, and library staff, Philadelphia. and is therefore viewed as a vital service. An interesting note is that in spite of At the next break, a woman approached us and said, “I understand what you the requirement for trainers to present are saying about needing a budget line item, but our library doesn’t have a budget one workshop within two years of the for children’s or young adult books at all. The only way we purchase new items is if initial training, 71 percent said that hav- someone dies, donates money, and specifically requested that it be spent on youth ing “done enough” was “not influential” services.” We sympathized (and realized that better preparation might have helped, when becoming inactive. So even though in terms of knowing our audience; we could have talked with someone about how they might have had an “out” to end their much support YA services had in that area of the state) with her, but pointed out term of service, that factor was not a rea- that she could always speak to the director, letting them know how valuable this son for leaving. workshop had been, and include a budget line as a recommendation from the Most trainers said that they do have “experts” and consider it as a future goal. an awareness of long-term impacts of Almost a year later, I saw this same woman at a conference. She approached SUS training on individual libraries and me, beaming, and said that her director had welcomed the idea of a line item staffs. While these are purely observa- tional statistics, the anecdotes are particu- continued on page 7 larly valuable in illustrating the benefits

8 FALL 2004 YALS LE CONGE TEN YEARS AND COUNTING

82 percent noted “positive action(s) specifically for teen materials. They now had an annual budget of $50! Obviously, for teens by staff” not much money, but now a budget “presence” that deserved attention annually.— Monique le Conge, Director, Benicia Public Library, 150 East L St., Benicia, CA 94510- The only item that didn’t have a 3281, (707) 746-4343, [email protected] majority of “yes” answers was related to “positive action(s) for teens by the library Soon after I started as coordinator of young adult service at Queens Borough Public or school board.” It is likely that this may Library, I attended the third SUS training. Not only did the training materials help be because the trainers have no personal me greatly when making staff aware of YA issues in libraries, I also learned about knowledge of that level of change, which how to focus my training toward adult learners. These techniques have served me is not always as visible as teen programs well, and thereby help our staff and system as well. Thank you, SUS.—Nick Buron, or collections. Furthermore, board poli- Coordinator of Young Adult Services, Queens Borough Public Library, 89-11 Merrick cies may already be broad and inclusive Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11432, (718) 990-8545, [email protected] and may not require changes or action. In some cases, though, boards added young What SUS means to me: adult budget lines, added a teen represen- tative to the board, and were made more Excellent training and resource materials that I have used to great effect in state aware of teens’ needs in the library. conference programs, particularly the ones on marketing. The reference mate- Some of the “positive action(s) for rials are also helpful, in particular the Reference Interview Skit. teens by staff” that trainers cited include: Lots of professional support and collegial sharing. An opportunity to get together with other trainers. More new YA staff seeks employment I love the train-the-trainer aspect. at our library because of our “Teens Being able to put together a program for a staff that is hostile to teens, and feel- Welcome Here” policy ing good about their reactions to such techniques as going back to think about Libraries have put efforts toward what you were like or doing or listening to, and so on when you were a teen. creating or updating a teen area I like the fact that SUS gives you the resources to be able to “act as if.”You Better understanding of teen might not be an expert on a subject, but because of the resources YALSA pro- behavior and motivations vides for us, we’re able to convince our audience that we are experts—even if Staff using YALSA booklists for we don’t feel like it. selection I am delighted with the SUS training I received; I’ve had really good experi- As observed earlier, the personal ences doing training (so far), from a single library staff to statewide programs to the anecdotes give the most information in national arena.—Bonnie Kunzel, Youth Services Consultant, New Jersey State Library, terms of the long-term effects, how to 185 W. State St., PO Box 520, Trenton NJ 08625-0520, (609) 633-3963, present trainings, and even about the [email protected] experience of being a trainer. Comments from the trainers include: I was YALSA president at the time, which was in the early 1990s, and there were all “I ran into a participant from a pre- of these resources coming out, either as a revision or as new stuff—things like vious training, and she was still very Patrick’s book, Connecting Young Adults and Libraries (Neal-Schuman, 1998), which motivated and told me about her I think was in revision; Fair Garden may also have had a new revision; Bare Bones current teen programs.” was either new or revised—and I remember saying to Linda Waddle (then deputy “I’m currently the chair of my executive director of YALSA) that it seemed a shame that YALSA has all these new library’s staff training and develop- resources and not very many folks know about them or how to use them. I sug- ment committee. I use what I learned gested that we apply for the World Book Award, which she felt was a long shot . . . as a YALSA trainer to provide better and the rest is history. Linda did the proposal, and office staff provided great sup- training sessions in my own library.” port. I don’t know what went on until Linda called and told me that we had the “I didn’t think I knew much about grant—which goes to show, “nothing ventured, nothing gained.”—Betty O’Donnell, YA services but realized I am doing Past President, YALSA, [email protected] much more than other libraries, and they have really looked to me for of the SUS project. But first, highlights 81 percent found a “development of advice.” from the statistics: special collections for teens” “The main thing is what a brilliant 93 percent report “program(s) cre- idea this training network has been 100 percent report an “improvement ated for teens” and how receptive most people are to in the attitude towards teens” 57 percent said that there was “cre- learning how to interact with teens. . 75 percent said that there was a “pos- ation of young adult advisory . . The one thing that would help me itive revision of policies for teens” group(s)” would be to overhaul the training

YALS FALL 2004 9 TEN YEARS AND COUNTING LE CONGE

had received special- establishing YA service was “met some- ized training. The what” or better. This can indicate that trainer had made SUS trainers are reaching libraries that them aware, they have no separate YA library service or were familiar with didn’t know they could have separate the program, or services. In fact, the training met the goal somehow they of professional development at least learned about it “somewhat” or better for 100 percent of after the fact. This is the participants. The same was true of an important factor the advocacy goal. Participants may have in establishing SUS specific goals in mind, but it seems they and YALSA as a got much more from the training than “brand” for young they expected. The SUS trainer class of 2001. adult library service. Other goals that were met include: Not surpris- manual, and especially to update the ingly, the most important reason for hav- General staff members were begin- research examples in the manual.” ing training was a “desire for professional ning to recognize the training and “I’ve had a couple of young YA development”; 76 percent of the respon- expertise of YA librarians and staff librarians contact me after the pro- dents named this as “most significant.” Staffs of two regions interacted to gram for advice on how to move Combined with the 4 rating, this share ideas ahead in the field. I’m always grateful accounted for 94 percent of the partici- Awareness for YA services and mate- for the opportunity to mentor YA pants. Second to professional develop- rials by library system directors librarians in this way since so many ment, at a rating of 5, “most significant,” Empowered paraprofessional staff by people helped me to get to the place was “wished to improve young adult providing foundation of philosophy that I am today.” services.” Interestingly, combined with the for YA services “Since receiving SUS training . . . 4 rating, this also equaled 94 percent of Eighty-five percent of the participants there is a significant increase in the respondents. reported that they were aware of long- number of libraries with either YA Advocacy for young adults, in this term impact of the training(s). Ninety- librarians or library generalists case as a library instead of as an individ- three percent reported that there were specifically charged with YA services.” ual, was not seen as a primary goal for both an “improvement in the attitude participants as it was for the trainers. And In short, the trainers responded that toward teens” and “positive action(s) for while “wished to establish young adult the trainings provided them with skills to teens by staff.”“Development of special services” was last as a “most significant” become youth advocates, gave them pro- collection(s) for teens” was noted by 85 (5) rating, it did receive 76 percent of the fessional development opportunities, and percent. That same number reported “cre- responses for “somewhat significant or have, overall, had a positive effect on ation of special space or section for teens,” higher.” those libraries they did reach. They which was not asked of the trainers. Other goals that encouraged the par- desired more training to keep skills and An interesting comparison note is ticipants to have an SUS presentation knowledge current. With high interest in that 91 percent of those responding said included: young adult services in libraries nation- that they were aware of “positive action(s) wide, increased marketing and perhaps To increase tolerance of teens in the for teens by the library or school board.” expanded availability of trainers would library This illustrates the point that these were seem to be next steps. We knew we would have a quality likely to be people aware of these often training program for our librarians “invisible” changes, as opposed to trainers Survey Two—the Participants We opened a new library and wanted who may not be aware. specialized training for our nonpro- Some of the “positive action(s) for As part of their survey, SUS trainers were fessional staff teens by the library or school board” that asked to provide contact information for Ideas for programs and services for trainers cited included: libraries or library systems where they teens presented training. These participants We have worked with school officials This was part of our CE program were responsible for organizing and often on a high school summer reading list attending the workshops. Again, this is a What provides insight into the suc- and book discussions of those books small reporting group, but it offers some cess of the SUS presentations are the rat- Library is encouraging all branches valuable information and anecdotes. ings of how goals were met by the to dedicate to YA programming Interestingly, 79 percent of the par- training(s). When asked to rate how goals New programs, space dedicated for ticipants were aware that the trainer(s) were met, 92 percent said that the goal of them, changes in attitude

10 FALL 2004 YALS LE CONGE TEN YEARS AND COUNTING

Library now site for teen activities Appendix A. SUS Program 7. About how many trainings do you do To be sure, the responding partici- Trainer Evaluation Survey each year? 0 = 6 (15%), 1–3 = 21 (53%), pants seemed to be quite satisfied with 1. What was your job title/position when 4–6 = 7 (18%), 7–10 = 3 (8%), 11 or the SUS trainers. Ninety-four percent you trained to be a trainer for Serving more = 1 (3%) said that they would have a training ses- the Underserved? sion in their library again, that they felt 8. What would motivate you to present the specialized training had an effect on 2. What is your current job title position? more trainings? 1 = low interest, 2–3 = the quality of the presentation, and that somewhat interested, 4–5 = high interest the specialized training had an effect on 3. Why did you originally take the SUS Partnering with other trainers, 1 = 6 the level of service, programs, and collec- training? 1 = not significant, 2–3 = some- (16%), 2 = 4 (11%), 3 = 14 (36%), tion development for teens in their what significant, 4–5 = most significant 4 = 10 (26%), 5 = 4 (11%) library. This demonstrated the effective- Responsibilities related to your library Increased potential for income, 1 = 13 ness of the SUS program and a desire for position, 1 = 0 (0%), 2 = 2 (5%), (33%), 2 = 1 (3%), 3 = 9 (24%), 4 = libraries to hire “experts.” 3 = 7 (18%), 4 = 12 (31%), 9 (24%), 5 = 6 (16%) 5 = 18 (46%) Increased marketing by YALSA, 1 = 7 Conclusion Your individual contribution to the (20%), 2 = 6 (16%), 3 = 9 (24%), 4 school/library community, = 9 (24%), 5 = 6 (16%) Based on these two surveys, the SUS 1 = 0 (0%), 2 = 1 (3%), 3 = 6 (15%), Retraining/updating skills/knowledge program has been successful in changing 4 = 15 (38%), 5 = 17 (44%) needed, 1 = 3 (8%), 2 = 3 (8%), 3 = and improving services to young adults Your individual advocacy for young 13 (34%), 4 = 10 (26%), 5 = 9 (24%) in public libraries, at both frontline and adults, 1 = 0 (0%), 2 = 0 (0%), 3 = 2 administrative levels. The program is (5%), 4 = 9 (23%), 5 = 28 (72%) 9. Are there other motivations that seen positively and is helpful in creating Your opportunity for professional devel- would lead you to present more train- new services and standards of customer opment, 1 = 0 (0%), 2 = 0 (0%), 3 = ings? service, as well as providing an area of 1 (3%), 4 = 16 (41%), 5 = 22 (56%) Yes = 16 (48%) continuing education that reaches more No = 17 (52%) than youth librarians. With the contin- 4. Were there other goals that encour- ued efforts of the SUS program, it is aged your participation? 10. Do you consider yourself to be an possible that by 2014, not only will we Yes = 19 (53%) active trainer? look at current events, movies, and No = 17 (47%) Yes = 24 (62%) music trivia with nostalgia, but also the No = 15 (38%) idea of not having all staff trained to 5. Please rate the level at which your per- work with young adults will be equally 11. If you are no longer participating in sonal goals were met from your partici- amusing. pation in the training for the SUS the SUS program, or do not consider Program. 1 = did not meet, 2–3 = met yourself to be an active trainer, why? 1 = REFERENCES somewhat, 4–5 = met completely Not influential, 2–3 = Somewhat influen- 1. Infoplease.com. Accessed Apr. 26, 2004. tial, 4–5 = Most influential www.infoplease.com/year/1994.html. Responsibilities related to your library 2. YALSA Web site, Serving the Under- position, 1 = 9 (0%), 2 = 2 (5%), 3 = Change in job, 1 = 4 (25%), 2 = 0 (0%), 3 served Trainers. Accessed Apr. 26, 2004. 7 (18%), 4 = 13 (33%), 5 = 17 (44%) = 2 (13%), 4 = 1 (6%), 5 = 9 (56%) www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Y Your individual contribution to the Have done enough, 1 = 11 (73%), 2 = 2 ALSA/Professsional_Development_Cen- school/library community, 1 = 0 (13%), 3 = 1 (7%), 4 = 1 (7%), 5 = 0 ter/Serving_the_Underserved_Trainers/S (0%), 2 = 3 (8%), 3 = 1 (3%), 4 = 15 (0%) erving_the_Underserved_Trainers.htm. (38%), 5 = 20 (51%) No libraries or systems are requesting 3. Ibid. Your individual advocacy for young training from you, 1 = 3 (18%), 2 = 4. YALSA Web site, Serving the Under- adults, 1 = 0 (0%), 2 = 1 (3%), 3 = 2 1 (6%), 3 = 5 (29%), 4 = 1 (6%), 5 = served. Accessed Apr. 26, 2004. (5%), 4 = 9 (24%), 5 = 26 (68%) 7 (41%) https://members.ala.org/yalsa/sus/ Your opportunity for professional devel- Burned out, 1 = 7 (43%), 2 = 3 (19%), 3 trainers/2001susreport.html. opment, 1 = 0 (0%), 2 = 1 (3%), 3 = = 3 (19%), 4 = 2 (13%), 5 = 1 (6%) 5 (13%), 4 = 9 (23%), 5 = 24 (61%) 12. Are there other reasons you are no 6. Were there other personal goals that longer participating? were met by your participation? Yes = 1 (6%) Yes = 9 (31%) No = 8 (44%) No = 20 (69%) N/A = 9 (50%)

YALS FALL 2004 11 TEN YEARS AND COUNTING LE CONGE

13. Do you have an awareness of the Desire for staff professional development, Program(s) created for teens, yes = 11 long-term impact of your SUS presenta- 1 = 0 (0%), 2 = 0 (0%), 3= 1 (6%), 4 (79%), no = 3 (21%) tion(s) on individual library(ies) and = 3 (18%), 5 = 13 (76%) Collaboration among agencies serving library staff(s)? teens, yes = 6 (55%), no = 5 (45%) Yes = 28 (72%) 3. Were there other goals that encourage Positive action(s) for teens by staff, No = 11 (28%) you to have an SUS young adults services yes = 13 (93%), no = 1 (7%) presentation? Positive action(s) for teens by the library 14. If the answer to question 13 is yes, Yes = 8 (50%) or school board, yes = 10 (91%), please consider the following set of ques- No = 8 (50%) no = 1 (9%) tions to indicate changes in library serv- ice that you believe have occurred since 4. Please rate the level at which your 7. If you answered “Yes, to “positive the training. goals were met from receiving training action(s) for teens by staff,” please give Improvement in the attitude towards from the SUS Program (1 = did not examples: teens, yes = 29 (100%), no = 0 (0%) meet, 2–3 = met somewhat, 4–5 = met Positive revision of policies for teens, completely) 8. If you answered “Yes,” to “positive yes = 22 (76%), no = 7 (24%) Wished to establish young adult services, action(s) for teens by the library or Development of special collection(s) for 1 = 0 (0%), 2 = 1 (8%), 3 = 4 (34%), school board,” please give examples: teens, yes = 23 (82%), no = 5 (18%) 4 = 4 (33%), 5 = 3 (25%) Creation of young adult advisory Wished to improve young adult services, group(s), yes = 17 (59%), no = 12 1 = 0 (0%), 2 = 0 (0%), 3 = 2 (13%), 9. Please share an anecdote of a signifi- (41%) 4 = 6 (38%), 5 = 8 (49%) cant experience, change, or realization Program(s) created for teens, yes = 27 Your library’s advocacy for young adults, that came about as a result of the SUS (93%), no = 2 (7%) 1 = 0 (0%), 2 = 0 (0%), 3 = 3 (19%), training. If you need to continue beyond Collaboration among agencies serving 4 = 5 (31%), 5 = 8 (50%) the space below, please use an additional teens, yes = 17 (59%), no = 12 (41%) Desire for staff professional development, sheet of paper. Positive action(s) for teens by staff, 1 = 0 (0%), 2 = 0 (0%), 3 = 1 (6%), yes = 24 (83%), no = 5 (17%) 4 = 5 (29%), 5 = 11 (65%) 10. Would you have an SUS young adult Positive action(s) for teens by the library services training in your library again? or school board, yes = 7 (25%), 5. Were there other goals that were met Yes = 16 (94%) no = 21 (75%) by your SUS presentation? No = 1 (6%) Yes = 7 (50%) No = 7 (50%) 11. Do you believe that this specialized 6. Do you have an awareness of the long- training had an effect on the quality of Appendix B. SUS Program term impact of your SUS young adult the presentation? Participant Evaluation services presentation(s) on your Yes = 16 (94%) Survey library(ies) and library staff(s)? No = 0 (0%) Yes = 13 (85%) Unknown = 1 (6%) 1. Were you aware that this trainer had No = 2 (15%) received specialized training? 12. Do you believe that this specialized Yes = 14 (79%) If your answer to the above is yes, training had an effect on the level of No = 3 (21%) consider the following set of questions service, programs, and collection devel- to indicate changes in library service you opment for teens in your library? 2. Why did you originally present the believe to have occurred since the Yes = 16 (94%) SUS young adult services training? (1 = training. No = 1 (6%) not significant, 2–3 = somewhat signifi- cant, 4–5 = most significant) Improvement in the attitude towards 13. Although this survey is confidential, Wished to establish young adult services, teens, yes = 13 (93%), no = 1 (7%) would you like to have someone contact 1 = 3 (18%), 2 = 1 (6%), 3 = 7 Positive revision of policies for teens, you regarding possible young adult serv- (40%), 4 = 2 (12%), 5 = 4 (24%) yes = 5 (42%), no = 7 (58%) ices training(s)? Wished to improve young adult services, Development of special collection(s) for Yes = 7 (41%) 1 = 0 (0%), 2 = 0 (0%), 3 = 1 (6%), teens, yes = 11 (85%), no = 2 (15%) No = 10 (59%) 4 = 6 (38%), 5 = 9 (56%) Creation of special space or section for Your library’s advocacy for young adults, teens, yes = 11 (85%), no = 2 (15%) For complete results including anonymous 1 = 1 (6%), 2 = 1 (6%), 3 = 2 (12%), Creation of young adult advisory comments, please contact the author at 4 = 6 (35%), 5 = 7 (41%) group(s), yes = 7 (47%), no = 8 (53%) [email protected].

12 FALL 2004 YALS ARTICLE What Does Professionalism Mean for Young Adult Librarians? Dawn Rutherford

The following speech, “The Leader in the be here today, for this opportunity and Mirror: New Visions of Leadership for recognition. Young Adult Services,” was presented on As we planned for this conference June 28, 2004, during the YALSA President’s and worked together to find a mix of Program and Membership Meeting at the speakers who could share innovative and 2004 ALA Annual Conference. inspiring views about leadership, I dis- covered that I myself had something ood afternoon, everyone. worth expressing on the topic. Not once, I’m delighted to see you all but twice during the early months of here. One of the things I planning, I was complimented by love about going to ALA respected peers on my professionalism. conferences is that I find it Again, this is not a word I might have Gextremely energizing and inspiring to be used to describe myself, though it cer- in the company of so many people who tainly was something I was conscious of care deeply about the same things I do, and aspired to achieve. But the compli- specifically teens and the library services ment, though flattering, raised questions we can provide for them. Some of you for me. What is professionalism for a Dawn Rutherfod may consider yourselves leaders in our young adult librarian? At the time I had chosen field. It is my hope, as co-chair of blue hair and no doubt a reputation for Spokane Public Library. And at least once the organizing committee for this pro- an eclectic wardrobe based strongly in a week I would stop in to get some books. gram, that when you leave this room thrift shop dresses and motorcycle boots. I have no negative memories of that today, each and every one of you will rec- This did not match the stereotypical library, though admittedly at this point, ognize your own leadership potential. mental image one has of professionals: all twenty-five years later, few memories of it That when you get back to your hotel suits, briefcases, and subdued hair styles. are left at all. It was a cozy little place, tonight and you step in front of the mir- But as I thought more on the subject, I with brick walls and a service desk that at ror, you won’t just see someone found that while I am not a conformist that time still used paper cards for check- exhausted by miles of exhibit halls, too by any means, I do have a very solid sense out. But the one memory that has forever many receptions, and the stifling humid- of what it means to be a professional. stood out for me of that place and the ity, but you will see in yourself the leader And I am guided by a set of values and people who worked there was the day I that you can be and already are becom- standards based in a vision of what brought so many books to the checkout ing. Young Adult Librarianship can be. desk I couldn’t get my bag to close. Did I myself have only recently discov- To understand where this vision ered that I am a leader. Admittedly this comes from, let me tell you a little about was something I long have aspired to my own experiences as a youth growing Dawn Rutherford is a Teen Services achieve, but I had no idea I had arrived at up in Spokane, Washington. I was truly Librarian at the Lake Hills branch of that point until Audra and Sara asked me blessed with great public libraries, staffed King County Library System. She has to co-chair this committee. And it took a by caring professionals. Though it was chaired YALSA’s Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults committee and is currently minute for it to sink in. “You want me to many years until I recognized it, it was at serving on the Margaret A. Edwards lead a program about leadership? You the age of seven that I first was intro- Award committee. She came to librari- think I’m a leader!” And this recognition duced to the concept of excellence in anship after being part of a young adult was a gift they gave me, a new perspective service to youth. Of going beyond what is advisory committee as a teenager. She’s on myself, and a fresh lens through which merely expected, to serve patrons as best also known for being “The Librarian with Purple Hair”—after she substantially to view our profession. At this point I as you possibly can. In second grade, each increased teen summer reading partici- would like to extend a sincere thank you day as I walked to and from school I pation by promising to dye her hair if to both of them, although Sara could not passed the little North Hill Branch of the teens read 50,000 pages.

YALS FALL 2004 13 WHAT DOES PROFESSIONALISM MEAN? RUTHERFORD the librarian chastise me for being feared by the adults and shunned to English, took my GREs, and started greedy? Did she make me put back some invisible corners, we teenagers of applying. But when I did well on the of my treasured books? No. The reaction Spokane were asked to be involved in GREs, suddenly I came across opposition I remember was that the entire staff decision-making processes, to represent to my chosen career. I had professors searched through drawers and closets to the library at public presentations and telling me that I should go to law school. find a piece of rope and helped to tie the hearings, and to freely become intellectu- Go into computer science, where the flap down on my bag so that I could ally engaged in conversation with our money was. That I was resigning myself carry those books the last half-mile librarians. How many libraries can say to library science because it was a home. that today? How many systems have woman’s field, but that I could do better. Now most everyone expects libraries Young Adult Coordinators, particularly Frankly, I was shocked at the opposition. to provide great service to children. It is ones who are free to invite teens into Here I had finally found something I felt when we get to their teenage years that their offices to visit at will? was worth doing, and people were telling the public expectations drop dramati- I see what once existed in Spokane me I could do better. Luckily my parents cally. But not during my teen years, not in (but alas, has since passed) as an example had told me as I was growing up that I Spokane in the late eighties. What I expe- of what Young Adult Services can be, for I could be whatever I wanted to be, they rienced was something else altogether. As have experienced it. At the time I did not just wanted me to be happy. I had long I grew to the age where I was asked to realize what magic was at hand. But it is thought this meant I could have any high baby-sit for the children’s librarian, she not lost, for I carry it with me. prestige career I desired, but now I introduced me to another staff member Now little did I understand as a teen understood . . . they really wanted me to she felt could help me better with my that this environment was born of a be happy more than anything else. And I reading tastes, which were outgrowing vision shared by librarians across the knew in my heart of hearts that I would the children’s section of the library. I was nation. Only recently did I find out that much rather be an excellent librarian introduced to the young adult librarian while I was a senior applying for colleges, than a mediocre lawyer any day. It was and her small, but visible collection. Spokane’s Young Adult Coordinator and with that realization that I made a con- Every day after school, I could go to the my grown-up friend, Christy Tyson, was scious choice not only to be a librarian, branch nearest my home (or any branch serving as president of YALSA. No won- but to strive to be a great one. in Spokane) and find a qualified librarian der when I look at YALSA’s recently Since the day I made the choice to sitting in the Young Adult Area ready to revised Competencies for Librarians pursue excellence in librarianship, I have provide services just for me. At the time it Serving Youth everything seems so famil- never been left wanting for like-minded seemed natural, as visiting the children’s iar. For I was taught my professionalism people. At the University of Illinois desk had for years. Now it sounds radical. by librarians modeling exemplary behav- Library School I discovered an entire Spokane also had a wonderful teen group iors, leaders living to make their vision community of incredible people, com- called YAAC which I was soon exposed real. mitted to stellar libraries and excellent to. The Young Adult Advisory Committee Though I was surrounded by great customer service. I also found a wonder- of the Spokane Public Library was a ter- librarian role models, having a career as a ful mentor in Christine Jenkins, who to rific group of teens and branch libraries librarian didn’t cross my mind until my this day continues to encourage and sup- that met every two weeks for three hours sophomore year of college. I went to col- port me, always pushing me to go a little on a Saturday morning, led by Spokane’s lege planning to be a calculus teacher, bit farther with my career. And in my first Young Adult Coordinator, Christy Tyson. then flirted with psychology, and finally job at Chicago Public Library, I had the We discussed books, reviewed new titles declared myself a music major. And all honor of working under YALSA’s own for publishers, and put out an annual during this time I worked as a library Cindy Welch, who taught me many book award (the Golden Pen) as well as page at the Bellingham Public Library. It things about how to function as a YA created our own promotional booktalk- was at the library in fact that I found the librarian within a big system, and to this ing videos, called 16 Minutes. clue that led me to my true calling. It was day is always willing to help when I have As a teen I viewed this group as lots there I checked out a science fiction novel a dilemma. When I moved out to King of fun, a place where I could get leads on called The Child Garden by Geoff Ryman. County Library System, I was lucky to be new books, meet other geeky teens, and In this wonderful book, I found a quote one of the last YA librarians to be trained find out about cool programs. But now as that I couldn’t get out of my mind. “Love under former YALSA president Susan an adult I see what Spokane had as so is a torch, you pass it on.” For weeks I Madden before she retired. Not to men- much more. I see it as an institution thought about this. What was it that I tion all of the fabulous people I’ve gotten committed to serving teens, which pro- loved enough to want to pass on to oth- to work with being involved with YALSA vided equitable staffing and leadership, ers? And the answer finally came to me: committees. So if I am a leader today, is it adequate hours and flexibility for creative books, reading, libraries. any wonder where I learned it? innovation, and a genuinely welcoming So there it was ...I was meant to be So what does professionalism mean environment for teens. Rather than being a librarian. I switched my major to to young adult librarians? It is not only

14 FALL 2004 YALS RUTHERFORD WHAT DOES PROFESSIONALISM MEAN? understanding our field the best you can, on a booktalking video like 16 Minutes want to see in the world. More than any- but committing yourself to improving it. today may someday be out in the schools thing else, this is the idea that compels It is about knowing that when you are in telling the next generation about the me. Why I strive to always be respectful your libraries, at conferences, or in any hottest new books. There is a clear line of my patrons and peers. Why I am never other situation where you are likely to be between my working on the Golden Pen discouraged by small setbacks and frus- recognized for your career, you need to Award in high school and being on the trations. Why professionalism is so put your best face forward, for you repre- Margaret A. Edwards committee today. It important to me. sent not just yourself but the entire field. is because of the professionalism shown I mentioned before what a gift it was And it is about recognizing that if you to me by adult mentor librarians when I for Audra and Sara to reveal to me my dare to follow your own vision of young was a teen, by idealistic library school own established leadership. Well now, I adult librarianship, you will find mentors professors, and by you, my peers. Want to want to pass that gift on to you. I’m and then be a mentor to the next genera- see more teen services? Do you want the telling you now, you are a leader. You are tion. public to have a better image of librari- doing great things, impacting the lives of For let there be no doubt in your ans? Wishing there was a teen librarian in many teens, and have in your hands the minds. Teens in your libraries are watch- every branch? I believe these things are all future of our organization. And I’m ing. They are learning from your exam- achievable…if we take personal responsi- proud to be associated with all of you. ple. You are leading them, even if you bility for making them happen. As Thank you. didn’t realize it. And the teen who works Gandhi said, we must be the changes we

GUIDELINES FOR AUTHORS

Young Adult Library Services is the official Services Style Guide from the editor at Label the disk with the first author’s publication of the Young Adult Library the address below. name and all file names. Services Association, a division of the Use author-date text citations as American Library Association. Young described in the fourteenth edition of the Writing and Adult Library Services is a vehicle for con- Chicago Manual of Style, section 16. Bibliographic Style tinuing education of librarians working Submit manuscripts of fifteen to with young adults (ages 12–18) that twenty pages, double-spaced (including Young Adult Library Services follows the showcases current research and practice illustrative materials, references, tables, fourteenth edition of the Chicago Manual relating to teen services and spotlights notes, and bibliographies) on a 3½-inch of Style. Authors are responsible for accu- significant activities and programs of the disk. racy in the manuscript, including all division. Attach a cover sheet indicating the names and citations. The editor may title of the article and the full name, title, revise accepted manuscripts for clarity, accuracy, and readability, consistent with Manuscript Submission affiliation, phone number, fax number, e- mail address, and complete mailing publication style and journal audience. and Publication address of the first author. Include a 200- Submit manuscripts that are neither word abstract. Copyright and under consideration nor accepted else- Place tables on separate pages. Rights of Publication Notations should appear in text for where. Send copies of the manuscript to A manuscript published in the journal is proper table and figure placement. the addresses below; send one copy elec- subject to copyright by ALA for Young Supply charts and graphs as camera- tronically via e-mail and one copy on a Adult Library Services. ready copy (a clean, crisp photocopy is disk as indicated in the next paragraph. In granting rights of publication to acceptable) or as computer files. Please The editor will acknowledge receipt this journal, the author(s) guarantees that write in data points on a printout of the of all manuscripts and send them to at the manuscript has not been published or file. The figures may be recreated to least two referees for evaluation. Accepted accepted for publication elsewhere. manuscripts with timely content will match the journal’s style. have scheduling priority. Submit disk files in either Microsoft Address Word or WordPerfect format. Use a mini- Manuscript Preparation mal amount of formatting in disk files. Send correspondence to: Executive Do not use right-justified margins, tabs, Director, YALSA, 50 E. Huron St., Request detailed guides for preparing indents, or centering. Insert two hard Chicago, IL 60611; e-mail: [email protected]. disk files and the ALA Production returns between paragraphs.

YALS FALL 2004 15 ARTICLE Reaching Out to Young Adults in Jail Patrick Jones

he term “outreach” is used to focus on collection development issues. The vast majority of services to JCFs describe library services that Intellectual freedom is always an issue in operate without a written service agree- take place outside of the dealing with materials for teens; and in ment, collection policy, or materials library setting. Outreach nor- the correctional setting, it is perhaps the reconsideration procedure. Even though mally refers to either a com- single largest concern facing any library the majority of libraries embrace the Tmunity relations function (promoting serving JCFs. Library Bill of Rights, all but two pro- services) or actual service delivery. The While our professional values grams leave the final decision on remov- decision to deliver a service outside of the embrace intellectual freedom, there is the ing materials with the JCF. Almost all of library depends upon a variety of cir- cumstances for both the library and the customer. For the library, the call is usu- “When libraries partner with correctional facilities, we ally based on the belief that the delivery must understand the need to support the goals of that of service directly to the patron in their institution, even if they may conflict with our values.” home, school, or other location is a more cost-effective way of reaching customers. For the customer, outreach is an answer reality of working with the correctional the services consist of more than drop- when there are obstacles to physically vis- system. Any person in a correctional ping off materials and allow for interac- iting a library. For all teens, there are facility is deprived of certain liberties. So tion with residents. Most of the services plenty of obstacles, such as transporta- a teen in corrections finds the facility act- have funding (an average of $6,000) for tion, blocking their path to a library. For ing “in loco parentis” and determining materials, but most also make use of a small group of teens, often ones in des- which materials are appropriate to be donations and weeded materials. The one perate need of reading materials and read. When libraries partner with correc- common element was every library sur- information, the obstacles are the bars on tional facilities, we must understand the veyed faced limitations on materials. their jail cell. need to support the goals of that institu- Format restrictions prevent almost Despite the ever-increasing number tion, even if they may conflict with our half of libraries from providing maga- of teens serving time behind bars, few values. Our values don’t trump their val- zines. Staples in magazines, as well as spi- public libraries provide services to teens ues. When a correctional facility allows a ral-bound books, could be used as in juvenile correctional facilities (JCFs). A library to provide a service, we are like weapons against correctional officers and literature search revealed that forty-four any service provider, bound by the regu- other residents, or used as instruments of public libraries were identified as provid- lations of the facility. self-injury. Only a few libraries reported ing some level of service to jailed teens. The survey revealed a wide range of not being able to supply hardback books In the fall of 2003, these libraries were services and history of providing service, (again, safety concerns), but every single surveyed, and sixteen libraries (36 per- with some libraries just getting into the library surveyed reported restrictions on cent) responded to questions about the business while others (such as Hennepin materials due to content. The materials history of their services, the range of County Library) have more than a decade most commonly prohibited were: services offered, and restrictions on mate- of experience. The facilities also differ rials (see figure 1). The goal of the survey greatly, ranging from twenty-five to eight Anarchist Cookbook or similar was to identify the “state of the art” for hundred prisoners, with an average of High Times magazine or similar this type of service, with a particular two hundred. The one constant was that Donald Goines and Iceberg Slim the large majority of these prisoners were street life novels male. The ratio of ethnicities and races Vibe, Source, or similar magazines Patrick Jones is Manager, Outreach varied widely, from 75 percent white at Sex instruction books Department, Hennepin County Library, one program to primarily Latino at Body Art Book, Tattoo magazine, or Minnesota. He also runs www.connect- ingya.com; a consulting firm dedicated another. The range of African-American similar to providing powerful youth services. In populations ranged from 10 percent to 50 Low Rider or similar magazines addition to several professional books, percent. While the demographics and The Godfather and other mafia books Jones published his first teen novel in economics vary, an incarcerated teen is Helter Skelter and other true crime 2004 (Things Change from Walker & an at-risk teen lacking in developmental Martial arts instruction or similar Company). assets. Monster, Do or Die, My Bloody Life,

16 FALL 2004 YALS JONES REACHING OUT TO YOUNG ADULTS IN JAIL

and other gang stories Figure 1. Survey participants While the survey did not pose the Tucson-Puma Public Library Ariz. question, anecdotally we learned that Fresno County Library Calif. most libraries also don’t provide erotica San Francisco Public Library Calif. or sexually explicit materials. Allen County Library Ind. Even those libraries that “on paper” Anderson Public Library Ind. face few restrictions find the reality quite Monroe County Public Library Ind. different. One librarian noted that “there Johnson County Library Kans. is a guard from the facility who accompa- Hennepin County Library Minn. nies the patrons, and the guard (usually) Rochester Public Library Minn. examines each item and denies those that Mid-York Public Library N.Y. they don’t feel are appropriate.”Another Akron-Summit Public Library Ohio Figure 2. How often residents commented that “we have had several Multnomah County Library Ore. used a school or public library Dallas Public Library Tex. instances in which a resident will request before and after coming to Fort Worth Public Library Tex. county home school a book, we bring it, and it is taken from Austin Public Library Tex. the resident by a staff member who per- Laramie County Public Library Wyo. sonally disagrees with the material.” Almost all of the survey respondents expressed similar frustration in working County Home School, Epsilon School, with correctional officers whose “world and Minneapolis Public Library. Using view” is so different. Librarians are paid to these grant funds, the library was able to provide free access to information; correc- offer students at CHS: tional officers are paid to work in an envi- ronment where freedom is limited. A Born to Read program for teen So, is it worth it? The experience of mothers and fathers the Hennepin County Library certainly A creative writing workshop proves that the payoffs far outweigh the An author visit (YA writer Will frustration and professional compro- Weaver) mises. The library has a long history of Book discussion groups Figure 3. How residents rated Monthly booktalks held in class- outreach to correctional facilities, all of their own reading levels which were combined into an Outreach rooms before and after coming to Department in 1974. In the late 1980s, Creation of a 5,000-item library and county home school however, budget issues forced the twice-monthly visits by library staff libraries to eliminate a full-time juvenile Information literacy instruction correctional librarian. Despite that, serv- Library card sign-up and fine waiver (see figure 2) ices to teens in corrections remained Publication of a literary magazine Several CHS residents believe their strong, utilizing other outreach staff to (Diverse City) reading level has increased while at include biweekly visits by staff to the CHS (see figure 3) library created at the eighty-seven-bed Many of these programs had been A majority of CHS residents believe Juvenile Detention Center. The library offered in the past at CHS, but these they have a more positive attitude also provides library materials (“cottage grant funds allowed them to be planned, about reading than before entering collections”) to teens incarcerated at the implemented, and evaluated as a total CHS (see figure 4) County Home School (CHS). CHS is a package. The majority of CHS residents are correctional treatment facility for boys After the completion of all programs, reading more while at CHS than and girls from the ages of twelve to eight- the library conducted a survey of CHS before they entered (see figure 5) een. Both facilities are units of the residents to measure the impact of the Visiting the new CHS library was the County’s Community Corrections various Great Transitions programs upon favorite activity of CHS residents, Department. their reading attitudes and behaviors. The followed by reading books supplied In early 2002, the library obtained major findings were: by the library and located in their grant funds to further the award-winning cottage (see figure 6) Great Transitions program already in A majority of CHS residents believe place at CHS. Great Transitions is a col- they will be more likely to use public Residents also readily supplied infor- laborative project of Hennepin County and school libraries upon release mation about the best books (see sidebar, Library in cooperation with Hennepin than they did before entering CHS page 16) they have obtained from the

YALS FALL 2004 17 REACHING OUT TO YOUNG ADULTS IN JAIL JONES library and read during their stay at CHS. point of “old school” library statistical only on what services libraries provide While teens at CHS indicated they would measures, services to kids in corrections young adults but, just as importantly, on continue reading upon release, we don’t don’t make a great deal of sense. The loss the outcomes of those services. Our focus have any way to measure the lasting effect rate for materials is high, the time spent needs to be on assets—not library of our work with these challenged young setting up services is great, and the return resources, but on a positive youth devel- people. on the circulation bottom line is low. But, opment approach. If we look at outreach from the view- if we think about outcomes rather than Focusing on positive youth develop- outputs, then programs like these are an ment represents a vision of looking out- obvious choice for any library actively side of the walls of the library, not only engaging in building community. These for the usual suspects of collaboration or programs also represent a new direction outreach, but looking at what value our in teen services where the focus is not services have in the lives of teenagers. The

“Best Books” Read by Students at County Home School

Dickinson, Peter. The Rope Maker. When the magic that protects their Valley starts to fail, Tilja and her companions journey into the evil Empire to find the ancient Figure 4. How residents magician Faheel, who originally cast those spells. describe their view of reading Draper, Sharon. Romiette and Julio. An African-American girl and a Latino boy fall before and after coming to in love after meeting on the Internet, but they are harassed by a gang that objects county home school to their interracial dating. Homer. The Odyssey. Classic Greek epic poem recounts the tale of a hero’s journey home. LaHaye, Tim. Left Behind. This fictional account of life after the Rapture delivers an urgent call to today’s readers to prepare their own hearts and minister to others. Moore, Yani. Triple Take. Jonathan “JC” Cole is about to get out of the joint, and he has one thing on his mind—revenge against the three men who betrayed him to save their own skins. Mosley, Walter. Bad Boy Brawly Brown. Easy Rawlins is out of the investigation business, but when an old friend gets in enough trouble to ask for Easy’s help, he finds he can’t refuse. Myers, Walter Dean. Slam. Seventeen-year-old “Slam” Harris is counting on his bas- ketball talents to get him out of the inner city and give him a chance to succeed in life, but his coach sees things differently. Figure 5. Number of books Pelzer, David. A Child Called It. Dave Pelzer shares his unforgettable story of the residents read per month many abuses he suffered at the hands of his alcoholic mother and the averted before and after coming to eyes of his neglectful father. county home school Roberts, Katherine. Spellfall. Natalie and her friends are caught up in a sorcerer’s attempt to cross an invisible boundary in order to invade another world. Rock, Chris. Rock This. Chris Rock confronts all the hot-button issues, such as find- ing a black leader, addiction to bubble wrap, why white folks can’t say the N- word, the dirty socks rule, marriage, Bill Clinton, sexual harassment, and more. Sachar, Louis. Holes. Stanley Yelnats is sent to a hellish correctional camp in the Texas desert where he finds his first real friend, a treasure, and a new sense of himself. Sapphire. Push. This is a self-portrait of an unloved black teenage girl with a father who rapes her and a jealous mother who screams abuse. Shakur, Tupac. Rose That Grew From Concrete. This collection of more than 100 Figure 6. How residents poems honestly and artfully confronts topics ranging from poverty and mother- describe their view of reading hood to Van Gogh and Mandela. before and after coming to Souljah, Sister. The Coldest Winter Ever. After a black drug dealer goes to jail in county home school Brooklyn, his ruthless seventeen-year-old daughter takes over his empire.

18 FALL 2004 YALS JONES question no longer asks what a young adult does in a library or as part of an Teen Fiction for Reluctant Readers outreach, but also asks what happens to that young adult as a result of checking “I cannot say enough good things about this line of books. out a book, attending a book discussion It is everything I have been looking for, for my struggling, program, having their creativity tapped, reluctant readers.” —Media Specialist or learning how to locate information on the Internet. Librarians want incarcerated teens, such as this young man from the Now 22 Titles County Home School, to discover that: “I never knew reading could be so New for Fall 2004 fun. When I was out, I never did read a book. But now that you showed me how fun it can be, I’m going to read every book I can, not just ’cause of you. But because I really like reading and like to learn new things. Things I never knew.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION Angier, Naomi, and Katie O’Dell. “The Book Group behind Bars,” Voice of Youth Advocates 23, no. 5 (Dec. 2000): 331–33. Angier, Naomi, Rebecca Cohen, and Jill Morrison. “Juvenile Justice Outreach: Library Services at Detention Centers,” PNLA Quarterly 66, no. 1 Grind My Time as Caz Hazard (Fall 2001): 16. Eric Walters Tanya Lloyd Kyi Association of Specialized and 1-55143-317-6 $7.95 1-55143-319-2 $7.95 Cooperative Library Agencies. Library Standards for Juvenile Correctional Facilities. Chicago: Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies, ALA, 1999. Herald, Diana Tixier. “Booktalking to a Captive Audience,” School Library Journal 41 (May 1995): 35–36. Glunt, Cynthia. “Guidance to Go,” School Library Journal 41 (Oct. 1995): 56. “Great Transitions,” in Excellence in Library Services to Young Adults: The Nation’s Top Programs. Edited by Mary K. Chelton. Chicago: ALA, Charmed No More Pranks 2000. Carrie Mac Monique Polak Madenski, Melissa. “Books behind Bars,” 1-55143-321-4 $7.95 1-55143-315-x $7.95 School Library Journal 47, no. 7 (July 2001): 40. Reading Levels: Grades 2.0 to 4.5 Interest Levels: Grade 7 plus Author’s note: Thanks to Keven Larson AR Quizzes available (Hennepin County Library) for his assis- Teachers’ Guides available tance in conducting, compiling, and reporting the results of the JCF survey. Orca Book Publishers 1.800.210.5277 [email protected]

YALS FALL 2004 19 ARTICLE Making a Difference Incarcerated Teens Speak Diana Tixier Herald

became involved in working with interspersed with comments from other just kept reading every teen incarcerated youth quite by acci- teens at www.genrefluent.com/best.htm; book I found. Reading really dent. I was invited to a recently and while some are terse and poorly has changed my life very much. opened facility to talk about library spelled, others are eloquent and leave the I have really gotten into services and to booktalk as a one- reader with a glimpse into the lives of reading!—a fifteen-year-old girl Itime event. I was taken aback by the high these teens. Reading has got me away from level of security (it has become even Books always made a difference in my problems. It helps me more secure in recent years) and the my life. They let me escape the abusive escape from where I am in my number of locked doors between the kids world that made up my life until I went cell. It helps me not think about and the “outs.” I was amazed by how out on my own at age seventeen. They jail.—a sixteen-year-old boy thrilled these teen miscreants were to provided a constant in my life when I have someone bring them books and moved repeatedly, changing schools thir- The first book that I read was in present booktalks to them. The beginning teen times. Books let me see how life DYC . I always knew how to of my ongoing relationship with incarcer- could be and how I wanted to design my read, but I just wouldn’t do it. I ated youth was discussed in “Booktalking own future. I first discovered that I was always thought that reading was to a Captive Audience” in the May 1995 not the only one who was forever so dull and boring. I had always issue of School Library Journal.I have changed by books when an incarcerated done push-ups in my cell until I maintained an ongoing relationship with young man asked for a copy of Cynthia got a roommate who was read- the teachers at the facility and continue D. Grant’s Shadow Man so that he could ing Where The Red Fern Grows.I to provide monthly booktalks. Because it re-read it, having read it first during a had heard it was a good book, so is essential that the books talked are avail- previous incarceration. The impact of I tried it out for once. After I able to the teens, I always booktalk titles I Gabe’s death on the other characters started to read the book, I got have as review copies from publishers so inspired him to turn his life around. That sucked in. I finished it, I read that they can be left at the facility for the was the last time he was jailed (but not The Street Boys. It was about teens to read. While the favorite authors the first), and now he is a responsible World War II and how it have changed over time, the enthusiasm husband and father, working to support impacted lives of children. I of locked-up teens to escape through his family. Most changes wrought by thought it was a wonderful book reading has remained constant. Their reading YA literature are not so immedi- so I kept on reading. I read in comments on books eligible for Best ate or obvious, but recently teens in lock- all of my spare time, even when Books for Young Adults (BBYA) appear up have written: I do push-ups. And that is how reading has impacted my life.— Reading has changed my life a seventeen-year-old boy because instead of talking or Diana Tixier Herald is the author of watching TV all day, I can read. I had a fourteen-year-old boy who Teen Genreflecting, now in its 2nd edi- When I first read a book all the was coming to my book groups. He had tion, Genreflecting, in its 5th edition, way through was the first time I been sentenced to a treatment facility for and Fluent in Fantasy, and the co-author of Strictly Science Fiction. Formerly a came to DYC (Division of Youth youthful sex offenders. I always try to give popular-materials librarian she now Corrections). After that I kept away my review copies of books at the writes, consults, and speaks at confer- picking up books and reading end of the year to kids who really loved ences. She runs the non-profit Center them. The book I read that I them. He wanted The Earth, My Butt, and for Adolescent Reading, providing book thought triggered my interest in Other Big Round Things. Reading it was a discussion programs and deposit collec- tions for teens that allow her to discuss books was A Heart Divided. turning point for him. It was what finally books with teens every week. Then I read a book named made him see that girls were people like Lucas. After I read those books I him who had real feelings.

20 FALL 2004 YALS Hyperion bw page 21 AWARD SPEECH Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award Speech Ursula K. Le Guin

f anybody knows what young adult thank you very much,” and ran away. needs—urgently needs—to learn how to fiction is, it’s you—this audience. I And I got home and rued my words. know and control such power. That is a feel foolish trying to say anything (Nobody can rue words more truly than a big idea. It reverberates. It contains about it to you. I tried writing vast writer.) I’d never been asked to write a worlds. generalities about young adult fic- book. I’d submitted stories and novels for So, a few months later the elephant Ition and discovered that all I really know ten years to publishers who hadn’t asked emerged from the boa constrictor as A is what I do, insofar as I know what that for them and didn’t want them, and now, Wizard of Earthsea. Herman Schein was is. The truth is, I just did young adult fic- a proposal? Oh yes, yes! But no: I haven’t happy with it, and his wife Ruth designed tion without thinking about it. And it’s written for kids, I have no idea what it its marvelous cover. And I was happy, very nice to be told by the Margaret involves, I don’t like thinking about a too—I had a book I knew was something Edwards Award that I did it satisfactorily. specific audience, I refuse to put any closer to what I’d hoped to write than But I still don’t know what it was I was restrictions on my imagination or vocab- anything I’d yet written. doing. ulary, and the stuff I want to write about I think it was Herman who first said How did I begin doing it? Unexpec- isn’t teenage stuff. And a fantasy, he said. to me, don’t worry about the vocabulary tedly. Herman Schein of Parnassus Press, Like Tolkien? Oh my heavens! Compete and the audience and all that: all a young who had published my mother’s books with Shakespeare, sure! Forget it. adult novel has to have is a protagonist for young children, wanted to publish But thinking about Tolkien took my over twelve and under twenty. books for older kids, and so he asked me mind away to thinking about wizards. . . Is there anything else in fact that to write one—a fantasy. and so to something that had bothered makes a YA a YA? It sounds like a rhetori- And I said, “Oh no, no, I can’t do me about wizards ...Prospero,Merlin, cal question, but it isn’t; I am really ask- that, I haven’t written anything for chil- Gandalf, all old. Peaked hat, white beard. ing you. dren, don’t know how, quite impossible, Why? What were they before they were There may be other requirements or old beardy men? Young men. Smooth rules for the YA novel, and I may even cheeks. Kids. How did kids get to be old have followed them in my YA novels. wizards? By being young wizards, evi- Writers do a great many things of which dently. Learning the craft, going to . . . they are not only unconscious but igno- wizard school? rant. Don’t let the naïve fallacy of author- Huh? Hey. There’s an idea. ial omnipotence or the critical fallacy of This is not a claim to have invented authorial intent fool you for a minute. A it. I plant no flags and do not pee on book is planned, always, to some extent, fences. In The Sword in the Stone, T. and some books are very closely planned; H.White has Merlin say something funny but in writing, we fiction writers work in about going to wizard school, and I’m the dark, perhaps more than any other sure there are other predecessors. But, in artists except poets, because we work 1968, nobody I knew of had worked the with language inside the mind. We can- idea out. not be thinking about what we write as And it took hold of me like a bull- we write, because we are using the princi- dog. No, more like a boa constrictor—it ple tool of thinking, language, to write enwrapped and devoured me. I became with—and we have to use it for the writ- it. This is what writing novels is like. ing not for thinking. We cannot be intel- Being an elephant living inside a boa lectually, articulately conscious of what constrictor. The Little Prince knew all we’re doing as we write, any more than about it. we can be intellectually, articulately con- The conception was not just of a scious of the actual process and intent of school of magic, but of a child gifted with typing on a keyboard while we type. To Ursula K. Le Guin an essentially unlimited power who think about it consciously, in words,

22 FALL 2004 YALS LE GUIN MARGARET A. EDWARDS AWARD SPEECH would stop us right there, fingers frozen he was that Ged was a dragonlord and was happening to Tenar. She had given up above the keys. the Archmage. When I wrote that sen- magic; she was a farmwife with a couple And therefore most fiction writers tence I didn’t know what an Archmage of kids. What was she thinking of? learn, taoistically, to cherish our igno- was, let alone a dragonlord. It took me seventeen years to find rance and trust it to do our job. So. How did he do that, how did he out. During those years, the second wave So as long as we have been to wizard get there, what did those words mean? of feminism broke, and I learned how to school, we do have to learn the craft. I learned what archmages and drag- write as myself, from the sensibility and That’s all we have under our control and onlords were by writing the first book; intellect of a grown woman. That was not can use intentionally: craft. We are crafty but Ged himself got there while I wasn’t the commonest thing in any genre, even people. The rest is gift. watching. I was in the second book, look- realism; and fantasy had been particularly Whatever rules I was ignorantly fol- ing away, looking east to the Kargad male-centered. It was a radical change. lowing then, the Wizard came out and Lands, writing about a girl who, like him, The key to my fourth book of was approved as a YA, getting the Boston had been given a terrible power, but Earthsea was not Tenar herself, but Globe/ Hornbook Award, which I hardly unlike him, wasn’t taught rightly how to Therru, a young child who has been terri- knew how to value back then, and taking handle it. bly used. When I saw that child, I had my my publisher rather by surprise at how it People ask forever, where do you get book. But Therru is not yet an adoles- went on selling. your ideas, and I have written several cent, and not even a protagonist, and Now, here is an example of inten- long essays about it and still have no idea everybody else in the story is middle- tionality in planning: I had wondered where I get my ideas from, except some aged. Where is the obligatory teenager? I why wizards were always not only white- of them. The Tombs of Atuan came have to confess I didn’t worry about it. I haired, but white men. I wasn’t ready yet directly from a three-day trip to eastern had grown up, my characters had grown to question the gender, only the color. Oregon: the high desert, the high, dry, up; if I thought about it, I guess I The only reason for the whiteness of wiz- bony, stony, sagebrush and juniper coun- thought, well, I hope my readers have ards seemed to be that our fantasy tradi- try, just about as far as you can get from grown up too. I went ahead and wrote tion came largely from northern Europe, this soggy Florida. It wasn’t the first time the book I had to write. At the end the with its weird skin-color hang-ups. So I I’d seen desert, I am a Westerner after all, king was on his throne, the lovers were in just reversed the convention. My hero but it was the first time I had stayed in each other’s arms, and my private title for and all his people are reddish-brown to desert country, heard that silence, walked it was Better Late than Never. Publicly I black, while the more barbaric or villain- in twilight on that dangerous, infinitely called Tehanu “the last book of Earthsea” ous types are white. Some people notice fragile land. And driving home with the because I thought it was. Oh idiot author. this, many don’t. I prefer my subversion car full of kids and sweat and dust and It was met with some shrill accusa- to be sneaky, not preachy twigs of sagebrush, I knew I was in love tions of man-hating feminism from peo- That was a deliberate, political deci- and had a book. The landscape gave it to ple who think being a hero means you sion, made “outside” the writing. Here’s me. It gave me Tenar and where she lived. win. But I guess most of my readers had an example of the stuff you write while So the Wizard got a sequel, and soon indeed grown up, because they liked it you’re just following your story, “igno- I started the third book. Trilogies were fine. And I was happy again because I had rantly,” without knowing what it implies. not obligatory back then, let alone series. brought my tale to its happy ending, ha, A year or so after the Wizard came out, I It was still possible to write one fantasy ha. was pleasantly surprised to discover that novel, or two, and stop. But as I started Again, omens and indications in the it was full of hints of more to come. The Farthest Shore I was planning two text, hints of story to come. . . And this Right on the first page I had written more books: one following Ged into mid- time, to jog my obliviousness, letters from about “the man called Sparrowhawk, who dle age, and one following Tenar. And readers: Who is going to be the next in his day became both dragonlord and then stop. Archmage? Who or what is Tehanu? What Archmage. His life is told of in the Deed Because my publishers—Atheneum are the dragons? of Ged and in many songs, but this is a by then—and I thought of the books as And a huge blooper, which I had tale of the time before his fame, before YA, I knew I had to have a young protag- already realized with horror and hoped the songs were made.” onist; but Earthsea had to have a king, nobody would notice but of course they Now I’d thought this was just a crafty too; so there you are. Young prince meets did, though they were very kind and tact- trick, learned mostly from Dunsany and older wizard and they go sailing off ful about bringing it to my attention: the Tolkien: the indication of time before the together into death. Nothing to it. Master Summoner in the third book is story and time after it and a great geogra- So having found out what happened dead, in the land of the dead; but in the phy all around it, which gives the story a to Ged, I started on the fourth book, the fourth book he is alive and apparently well chance to reverberate. one where I was to find out what hap- on Roke Island. Oh idiot idiot author! But there was more to it than that. I pened to Tenar. I wrote a chapter and Sometimes your mistake is your had announced before I even knew who stopped, because I didn’t understand what guide. I’d heard Rusty Schweikert, the

YALS FALL 2004 23 MARGARET A. EDWARDS AWARD SPEECH LE GUIN astronaut, tell the tale of how when he Is it because they’re fantasy? Is this a tusks, the intrepidity of Oog....It got went outside the space craft to do some well-known fact—which I have just dis- better every time he told it. And after a external repair, he forgot a tool he covered with cries of Eureka!—that fan- couple of generations, maybe it was the needed, and while they were getting it to tasy doesn’t have to follow the YA rule, tale of How Great Hero Father Oog slew him, he had the first free time he had ever because it bridges the gaps between age the Lord of the Mammoths, which is why had on the mission: no programmed groups? we are the People of the Long Tusk—a activity for five whole minutes. Hanging We read Alice in Wonderland or The legend, a myth. A work of the imagina- there on his lifeline in space, idle, because Wind in the Willows first at eight, or earlier tion. A fantasy. of a mistake, because of something he if they’re read to us, and again at twelve, They all begin in the same place, the forgot, he had time to look around. And maybe, and again maybe every decade or place in our mind that knows what story he looked, and he saw the Earth. The so. And every time we read them we’re a is. What reality may be, what really hap- Earth—his home, immense and fragile, different person; yet each time, if we let pened, we cannot tell; what we can tell is shining there among the stars. A vision them do it, they give us what is “appropri- the story, the infinitely flexible, wonder- that changed his life forever. ate to our age-group”—kiddies or mid-lif- fully rearrangeable, extremely useful That’s a beautiful and useful learning ers or wrinklies. The Jungle Books contain story. With it we remake reality. We story, and I used it. I looked at what I’d stories that one may read happily at ten, remake it according to our desires and got wrong, and saw why it was wrong— and understand with a hard jolt at forty- according to our needs. The truth of because right wasn’t quite what I’d five. The Once and Future King is as magi- story is not fact. Neither is it mere wish- thought it was. cal, exasperating, fascinating, and moving ful thinking. Story tells human truth, By way of answering some of the to me now as it was when it was pub- serving human community and spiritual questions I’d caused by absentmindedly lished. The Hobbit doesn’t carry across the longing. And the stories that call most on reviving the dead, or had otherwise left kid-to-adult gap reliably for everyone, but the imagination work on a deep level of unanswered, I wrote the various Tales of (going the other direction in Middle the mind, beneath reason (therefore Earthsea, in which I finally established a Earth) nine-year-olds are now reading The incomprehensible to rationalists), using coherent history. Certain features which, Lord of the Rings.Yet The Lord of the Rings symbol as poetry does to express what in 1968, I’d just bought wholesale from is a fully adult book about fully adult con- can’t be said directly, using imagery to the heroic fantasy tradition—such as the cerns, with no children in it at all. Short express what can’t be perceived directly— supremacy and the celibacy of male wiz- adults, yes. But no kids. using indirection to indicate the truth- ards—I had to really think about now, So, the Edmund Wilsons of the ward direction. and explain, and fit into my Earthsea as world croak, what else is new? Fantasy is And here myth and imaginative fic- I now perceived it, seen not only from all infantile. Childish escapism. Mind- tion run a risk; all fiction does, but it’s the top, from the seats of power, but mush. Talking animals, elves, bushwa! I particularly destructive to fantasy: the from below, through the eyes of the was charmed to learn that somebody said risk of being rationalized—interpreted, powerless, women and children, ordi- of Edmund Wilson that he always reduced to allegory, read as a message. nary people. Some people think this thought he was the only grown-up in the Such reduction is a nefarious act. change of view has led to a loss of room. It is a common delusion of critics. Teachers and critics indulge in it with the enchantment in the stories. I don’t. The It shouldn’t be encouraged, but it can be best of motives, but they leave ruin in their last tale led me straight into a nest of ignored. wake. Fortunately, the strongest fantasies dragons. Soon after that, I wrote The What should not be ignored is the simply shrug off interpretation like a horse Other Wind, which brings together all curious capacity fantasy has of satisfying twitching off a fly. Everybody wants to tell those questions, who Tehanu is; who the both the child and the adult—and even, us what Alice in Wonderland means, and dragons are; and how, when clever peo- and even most particularly, that creature the more they talk about Charles Dodgson ple meddle with it through hubris or of tormented and insatiable and uncom- and Victorian mores and mathematics and through fear, death itself might go prehended and infinite needs and long- the libido, the farther they get from Lewis wrong. ings, the adolescent. How does fantasy do Carroll and Alice, who go on about their There are young people in these last it? Or what does it do that none of the business on the chess board among the two books—Irian/Dragonfly, young other genres, including realism, does? dodos, quite intact. Ogion, my dear Kargish Princess—but Fantasy is the oldest form of litera- Take the currently almost-unques- the books don’t obey the teenage protag- ture. Even if story telling began with Oog tioned assumption that fantasy concerns onist rule, and I don’t think they’re defin- reciting to the family around the fire in a Battle Between Good and Evil. This ably YA. Yet kids as well as adults seem to the cave the true and factual story of assumption permits the author to declare buy and read them, and I’ve had no How I Killed a Mammoth, you and I one side good and the other bad without protests so far about the advanced senility know that Oog’s tale was not totally real- further inquiry as to what makes a person of Ged and Tenar. Why are the books istic. Elements of fantasy slipped in—the or an action good or evil. The heroes and thus forgiven? size of the mammoth, the length of the the villains are equally arrogant, competi-

24 FALL 2004 YALS LE GUIN MARGARET A. EDWARDS AWARD SPEECH tive, thoughtless, and bloody-minded; and so the Battle goes on ’til the Problem of Evil is solved in a final orgy of violence and a win for the so-called Good Team. Being akin to legend and folktale and myth, with no necessary allegiance to modernism or realism or any limiting school of fiction, fantasy draws its scenery and characters and images and symbols from the whole range of human story- telling back to quite primitive times; and it doesn’t have to clothe its people with dis- tracting realistic trappings and contempo- rary disguises, but can present them quite nakedly—the brave man, the kind woman, the mistreated child, the villain, the king, the traitor, the fool. Character is often less important in fantasy than role (which can also be said of Greek tragedy and much of Margaret Edwards committee members (l to r) Ranae Pierce, Nancy Shakespeare, where role and character are Reich, and Francisca Goldsmith pose with Le Guin (second from left) often the same thing). To a careless reader, such stark stuff may appear to be morally foothold in this bewildering world; they begin to stick together and make sense. simplistic, black-and-white. Carelessly long to feel they’re on the winning side, or Literature is a major tool for understand- written, that’s what it is. at least a member of the Good Team. To ing the world and the life we have to live, But careless reading of genuine fan- them, heroic fantasy may offer a vision of and we learn to use it by using it. tasy will not only miss nuance, it will moral clarity. But a battle between The rule that the YA book is about miss the whole nature and quality of the unquestioned Good and unexamined Evil young adults may apply best to the realis- work. Fantasy is in fact particularly suited is a mere excuse for violence—as brainless, tic novel of contemporary teenage life to examining the difference between good useless, and base as aggressive war in the and problems, and to historical novels. In and evil, both in act and in intent. The real world. I hope that teenagers find the other genres, the adolescent reader does- imagination is the instrument of ethics. real heroic fantasies, like Tolkien’s. I know n’t seem to demand adolescent protago- Imaginative literature offers the opportu- such fantasies continue to be written. They nists. That all the characters are adult nity to test motive and behavior, to see don’t have to be written for kids; they’ll doesn’t stop a kid from reading The how the unconscious may control the find them, whoever they’re written for. Virginian or any other good Western; the seemingly rational, to understand how Which brings me to my final thought Sherlock Holmes books or any other the bravest deed may leave a track of about young adult fiction. When I was in good mystery; C. S. Forester, or Nordhoff ruin, to ask what the road to Hell is paved my teens, I certainly didn’t feel that in and Hall, or Patrick O’Brien, or any other with, and why. order to interest me a book had to be good sea story; or any science fiction Americans think obsessively in terms about other adolescents. I got enough of story at all. Fantasy appeals to kids even of war and battle. It is a suspect metaphor. them at school. I wanted to know about earlier than the other genres, but much I don’t write about wars between good being grown up, and novels offered a genre literature is like fantasy in this: and evil. What I write about—like most chance to find out what that was like from once you’re old enough to read it, it does- novelists—is people making mistakes, and inside. Kittens playing are playing cat. n’t matter how old you or the characters people—other people or the same peo- So like all reading children who have are. Nine to ninety, as they say. ple—trying to prevent or correct those the chance (which usually means the I suspect this whole talk has been an mistakes, while inevitably making more public library), I read way ahead of attempt to justify myself to myself for mistakes. The “problem of evil” in Earthsea myself, blundering into Austen and continuing the young adult trilogy of is pretty much what it is here: that people Voltaire and Dostoyevsky and Dinesen Earthsea with a trilogy of old adult don’t or won’t recognize the evil they do. and Dunsany and Steinbeck and Forster Earthsea. But I have atoned! My next In the first book, Ged doesn’t know who and you name it, understanding bits and book, Gifts, is a YA with a definitely, he is, because he doesn’t recognize his own not understanding lots; but that’s how we absolutely, extremely adolescent hero and shadow, the shadow we all cast. learn to speak and read, isn’t it? By doing heroine. Now, of course, I am thinking of Immature people crave and demand it: not word-by-word-exactly-correct, but following those two kids to find out what moral certainty: This is bad, this is good. with mistakes and misunderstandings, in happens to them when they’re thirty . . . Adolescents struggle to find a sure moral bits and gulps and clumps that finally but that is another story.

YALS FALL 2004 25 AWARD SPEECH The Michael L. Printz Award Speech Angela Johnson

ood evening. It is an honor technology. As someone who bought their pride that someone else knows me too. As to be with you here tonight first computer less than a year ago, I a young woman I wrote poetry and as only the fifth winner of understand a little of what they mean. As a dreamed of that time five, ten, or twenty the Michael L. Printz Award. woman who used to spend her nights wan- years down the road when I might have By creating this separate cate- dering around the house quietly, I now mastered my craft enough to call myself a Ggory, you have recognized those of us who find myself surfing the Net ordering too writer. write about the world of the young adult. many books or CDs online. The young slip I quickly learned that being a writer is A time when our characters are wrestling into this world as if they were born to it. not just the love of writing, but the busi- between the world of childhood with its And they were. But while technology may ness of being a writer. As I never intended first awakening to life’s possibilities—and make it easier to more quickly access to write The First Part Last, I had to come the inevitability of becoming an adult, knowledge, machines still don’t change the to understand that sometimes the muse is when choices often bring a lifetime of con- challenges of the teenage heart. First-time not always in control—but that others’ sequences. love, friendships, death, sex, drugs and visions are sometimes clearer than your The first Printz awards were given at alcohol, racism, exclusion from their peers, own, i.e., my editor who asked if there was the beginning of a new century with a or a body that seems to have a life of its indeed a story about Bobby I had to tell. fresh appreciation that while some things own, growing in directions so unfamiliar But now I had to open my imagina- remain the same, we have also managed to that the person who was in the mirror yes- tion up to explore how this young man create some complications. terday is a stranger today. came to be raising this baby by himself. I Certainly no librarian in 1900 could No technology can change that. No knew Bobby loved Feather, felt that the first have imagined the libraries we are now machine has made the journey less pre- time I wrote about him. But how did he building. And aren’t we happy that those dictable. When our teens flop down on the get to Ohio? Where was the mother of this who predicted the death of the books we floor of their room and find the paper they baby? His parents? How did his journey actually hold in our hands are still wrong. never found for fourth-period English or take him to teen fatherhood? People describe this period of time in the clothes they have been wearing too The gifted actress Ruby Dee once said which we live as being most changed by long, they are always wrestling in a world that “the greatest gift is not being afraid to of feuding emotions and time. question.” In writing The First Part Last, I Most of us at one point entered into had nothing but questions. But after I had that tunnel of adolescence that creates the put off the writing as long as I could, figur- illusion that anyone over the age of twenty- ing out how many new places in my house five is a mystery. Our parents seemed either I could discover to clean, or whether it distant, too involved with us, or quite wasn’t a good day to weed that garden that frankly—more stupid with each passing was growing up onto my porch, I would day. eventually have to ask and answer those But how painful to be young and questions. They would be easy. They just searching through the mysteries and wouldn’t be my answers. They had to be vagaries of the human heart. Bobby’s. For me, to write the characters in YA The idea of wanting to protect young fiction, the childhood of picture books and people from life’s realities is like trying to middle readers become as distant as the hold back time. You may fly in a plane to moon. the west so that you can go backwards an What can I bring to writing for this hour, two, even twelve hours, but eventu- world? For me it is simple. The comfort of ally today will become tomorrow. Trying to truth. Not just the truth that I’d prefer, but write novels in which pain, suffering, sex, the truth of life in all its variations of a accidents, mistakes, joy, love, death don’t teen experience. happen is just putting your head into the I know what a comfort it is to find out sand so deeply you might as well believe, as who you are. I know the pain of wondering we did when we were children, that even- if anyone else will ever know it. And on tually you’d come out the other side of the Angela Johnson days like this, I know the pleasure and earth. I find writing for teens demands

26 FALL 2004 YALS JOHNSON “ ”* writing a truth. Not the truth, mind you . . . you just changed direction. Compelling! a truth. If as a writer I follow the path that is If I had written The First Part Last on mindful, it will take me to that which is my truth and personal philosophy—Bobby truthful, not necessarily convenient or would not be raising a baby at all. Teen sex, uplifting. In that YA literature triumphs. birth control, abortion, adoption are all Life happens. It’s messy and chaotic, options and truth for young people. sometimes boring and brutal. Can we cele- Bobby’s truth would not be mine, but as a brate and write about that which is won- writer I can’t always be a mouthpiece for derful and never do justice to the other? my own personal agendas (although I Shall we write about our riches and superi- struggle against it constantly). ority and never discuss the problematic, Charles Dickens said, “It was the sea- devastating, and sad? Should we write son of Light, it was the season of Darkness, about happy families instead of orphans it was the spring of hope, it was the winter and the disaffected in a world that chooses of despair, we had everything before us, we war and destruction over improved read- had nothing before us, we were all going ing scores, decent housing, and social pro- direct to Heaven, we were all going direct grams? Should we not write about passion, the other way.” That’s what I had to write loneliness, and the exclusion of large seg- about. ments of our own children from the The challenge for me as a writer, as an dream? Should we wave the flag, call our- artist, was crawling inside the skin of selves patriots, and exclude the amazing, Bobby, Nia, his mother, father, and every- ugly, and sometimes regrettable truth? one else who cares about him. To under- Lucille Clifton writes: stand his fears, his passion, his moment of by Dennis Foon won’t you celebrate with me crossing over from a boy to a father and #VOYA’s Fantasy, Science-Fiction what i have shaped into make it real. Not my world—his world. and Horror Honor List #New York a kind of life? i had no model. Not my view, but his reality. Public Library’s Books for the Teen born in babylon Age 2004 List #Book of the Year When a character says, “I’m here,” I both nonwhite and woman Award finalist, ForeWord Magazine must listen. I have to listen to Bobby say: what did i see to be except “This outstanding first title in a trilogy “Think about what I’m doing here with should have readers eagerly anticipat- myself? this baby. I’m a young teenage father. The ing the next installment.” i made it up starred review world sees me as just another black boy —*School Library Journal, here on this bridge between Ages 11+, 320 pages who’s got a baby. I want to be a man, a starshine and clay, 1-55037-806-6 paper $9.95 father. I’m growing up before your eyes if my one hand; come celebrate 1-55037-807-4 hardcover $19.95 you let me.” with me that everyday So when my ears start listening, my something has tried to kill me fReewaLKeR mouth starts watering, and my heart starts and has failed. by Dennis Foon beating, if I’m very, very lucky it all becomes the eyes and ears and heart of an The creative spirit can be beaten In this heart-pounding sequel, 17-year-old Roan returns to rescue his sister. incredible character who will live on. His down. People may criticize our books, try “Full of menace, mystery and marvels, name could be Bobby and his baby to ban and exclude them from our schools Freewalker is a compelling read made Feather. A spirit so bright it almost makes and libraries, but they can’t change the fact even better by Dennis Foon’s ability to the weight of being a father light enough to that they exist. They will be found and combine great fantasy and SF ideas.” bear without buckling. read, and if they are speaking to the lives of —*Garth Nix Ages 11+, 400 pages This was a real challenge, but I was their audience, they won’t be forgotten. 1-55037-884-8 paper $12.95 handed a gift—I knew the end of the story; I’d like to thank the Printz Committee 1-55037-885-6 hardcover $19.95 I just didn’t know how he would meet that for their acceptance of mine and all the Read a sample chapter on our website! end. In this case, I had to create his world, 2004 recipients’ work. www.annickpress.com the world of a teenage boy in the middle of I’d like to thank my editor Kevin New York City who thought he had the Lewis for vision and my agent Barry world in his hands until a different life Goldblatt for his patience and trust. AnnickPress started happening. But as usual, life does And last but not least, the American EXCELLENCE & INNOVATION not follow rules. It makes demands. It kicks Library Association for always fighting the IN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE the bottom out of dreams. It says you bet- good fight. Distributed by Firefly Books ter be ready to rewrite your life because Good night. (416)499-8412 Toll Free (800)387-5085

YALS FALL 2004 27 AWARD SPEECH Michael L. Printz Honor Speech K. L. Going

’d like to begin by saying that giv- worked so hard to bring us to this point. Unfortunately, one of the very first ing a speech to very many people, I know enough about the selection readers of the book never made it past even if it is a thank-you speech to process to know that it took countless the first couple chapters, and she very kind people, is not my favorite hours of reading and debate, selfless serv- informed me that most people were, in thing to do. In fact, I feel about ice for which no sticker, silver or gold, fact, over that kind of low self-esteem Istanding up here much the way that Troy will be applied to your person. thing by the time they reached high felt about his first gig. (Now, I’ll be able My second reason for wanting to be school, meaning that I was now quite a to tell which people have read my book here follows closely after the first. I’d like few years too late. She also expressed her because they will be the ones moving far to take a moment to say how much the hope that Troy would lose weight and to the back of the room.) Printz Honor means to Troy and Curt. become the prom king by the end of the In fact, I’m surprised that I’m here Although it may seem strange to thank book. when any number of excuses could have you on behalf of my fictional characters, I Well, I thought. So, it is just me. been made. Impersonators could have think it is appropriate because you have But others read Fat Kid and con- been hired. Editors could have been lengthened their lives and increased their nected to it. My parents said, “Yes, this is coerced into accepting on my behalf. A ability to reach readers. good; keep going.” My agent said, “It’s my pretaped video appearance could have I’ve worked at both a literary agency f—king birthday present!” My editor been passed off as some sort of cutting- and an independent bookstore, so I’ve called my agent, who was also my boss at edge statement on postmodern technol- seen publishing from both sides, and I the time, and speaking to me, but think- ogy in YA literature. Or something like am convinced that from every angle an ing she was speaking only to Ginger’s that. Yet here I am, standing before you. award such as the Printz makes a differ- assistant said, “Tell me more about this K. There are several reasons why I’m ence. It’s easy to think that awards are L. Going person.” Since the book was committed to being present tonight, and about vanity—they praise the author and published last June many people of all the first is to say in person how much this the publisher, and bestow an ethereal ages and body shapes have told me that honor means to me. To say thank you to approval on a work of art—and these they too feel like the Fat Kid. One of the all of you on the Printz Committee who things are true and important, but awards questions I get asked by teens all the time have a concrete impact as well. They is, “How did you know how to write this affect sales and shelf life and a book’s book? You’re not fat....”I love to answer ability to reach its intended readers. that question, and Fat Kid receiving a It follows then that awards have a Printz honor says to me and to these concrete impact on an author’s life as teens that we aren’t the only ones who well; and my final reason for wanting to have connected to Troy’s inner life. It be here tonight is to share with you the affirms the truth, that many of us really personal impact that receiving the Printz are the Fat Kid at heart. Honor has had on my life. The Printz Honor has had a practical When I finished writing Fat Kid Rules impact on my life as well. When Fat Kid the World, I had no idea whether anyone was first published, I was working forty would like this book besides me. Let’s face hours a week and commuting twenty it. On page three you have a bleeding hunk hours a week to get to my job in the city. of raw leg, and well, how many people Then I was writing in my free time. Free were going to read past that kind of in- time? What free time? I was exhausted your-face punk rock imagery? I honestly and burnt-out and really wondered if I didn’t know the answer to that question. I could keep writing, considering the phys- was toiling away under a Salinger-esque ical and financial toll. Receiving the hope that indeed I was not the only one in Printz Honor is what pushed me to make the world who felt like the Fat Kid writing my number one priority, so a throughout most of my life and that when month ago I left my job to work closer to other people read my book, they would home. That decision might have been connect to the raw feelings of self-con- K. L. Going sciousness that Troy expresses. continued on page 39

28 FALL 2004 YALS AWARD SPEECH Michael L. Printz Honor Speech Helen Frost

hank you. I am honored to be in this room with all of you this evening. I am especially honored that the Printz Committee includes people Twho knew Michael Printz. He must have been a remarkable person—I wish I had known him. I have been reading the Printz books for five years now, and my respect for your other choices, this year and in previous years, deepens my grati- tude for your selection of Keesha’s House. I am at the same time enlarged and hum- bled by my inclusion in this company. Conversation about Keesha’s House can lead in many directions—teen home- lessness, novels-in-verse, the relationship between real people and invented charac- ters, the use of traditional forms to hold contemporary voices. All of these topics The 2004 Printz Committee award and honor book authors and the interest me, but tonight I’d like to speak committee that selected them. Front row, from left: Deborah Taylor, about two elements of the book that can award recipient Angela Johnson, Sarah Dentan, Pam Spencer Holley, seem elusive, but are important: race and honor recipient Helen Frost, honor recipient K. L. Going. Second row: poetry. Charlynn Osborne, Audra Caplan, honor recipient Jennifer Donnelly, When I was writing Keesha’s House, I honor recipient Carolyn Mackler, Sarah Flowers, Caroline Kienzle, and knew that it was risky to write in voices Juanita Foster.

that differ from my own by virtue of age, can tell, clues based on names and lan- gender, and cultural background. But if guage. While working on the poems, I no one allowed themselves to do that, we hired youth consultants to help me get would not be able to write about friend- the voices right. I told these teen readers ships that cross those boundaries. And in that I had been listening carefully to the settings of my book—the juvenile young people for a long time, but it was justice system, in particular—teens do still hard for me to get the different voices form such friendships. I once heard two down on paper. They understood; one girls who met in a post-detention nonvi- girl said, “That’s how school is for me all olence group discover that they had been the time.” They were specific and helpful in adjoining cells a few months earlier. in their suggestions. They had heard the guards call out one Their perceptions about the race of another’s names, but had never seen each the characters generally matched my other before that day, and may not have own. One reader said, “If you didn’t have realized that they were of different racial Keesha, Dontay, and Carmen, I would’ve backgrounds. thought ‘all these kids are white’ and shut Or, if it mattered to them, they may the book.” I asked him how he perceived have guessed, using all the clues my read- Joe—I hadn’t yet made up my own mind ers use when they want to know the race about Joe’s racial background—and he of my characters—most often, as far as I Helen Frost continued on page 29

YALS FALL 2004 29 AWARD SPEECH Michael L. Printz Honor Speech Carolyn Mackler

n the morning of January wasn’t functioning enough to have a con- because—despite so much of what we see 12, 2004, I turned off the crete thought. I sunk onto a stool and on TV—girls of all shapes and sizes are ringer on my phone. I looked out at the Manhattan skyline in raging with hormones. Virginia doesn’t always do this when I shaking, hyperventilating disbelief. I go public with Froggy in the beginning, intend to write, so I won’t called my husband…the only words he but by the end, she gains enough confi- Oget interrupted. But then, of course, I get could discern were “Printz Honor! Printz dence to kiss him in public. I wanted wildly curious and check my messages Honor!” I called my parents and my Virginia to find her voice and demand every half-hour. And on this Monday agent and my editor. I still hadn’t started respect from her parents and tell her morning, I was particularly curious. I breathing again. brother what she really thinks of him and knew that the American Library For me, it is especially significant start feeling strong and capable and com- Association Midwinter Meeting was that The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big fortable in her own skin. Above all, I underway. I’d been hoping that The Round Things was received so generously wanted to write a story that would have Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round by librarians. I grew up in a small town in touched me when I was a teenager. Things would get chosen as a Best Book Western New York. Like many teenagers, I When I’m writing a novel, I get some for Young Adults. If it did, I didn’t know had a split personality. There was the serious leg muscles. As I’m trying to fig- how I’d find out or when. But I was too public Carolyn—gossiping, flirting, ski- ure out what a book is about, I walk. I curious to let my voice-mail go ing, hanging out with friends. And then live near Central Park, so I can walk for untouched, so I decided to check. there was the private Carolyn—wonder- miles and space out and think about my Well, there was a message on my ing if I fit in, wondering if anyone else story. I wrote a good portion of The machine. It was from a woman named had ever had these feelings, wondering Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Pam Spencer Holley, telling me she was why I seemed like a freak so much of the Things in the summer of 2001. For sev- the chair of the 2004 Printz Committee. time. To feel less alone, I turned to young eral weeks that summer, I took my laptop My first thought was, “That’s so nice of adult novels. Every week, I’d head over to and went up to central New York, where them to tell me who won the Printz Seymour Library. I’d spend forever flip- my family has a house on a cliff over- awards this year.” But as she proceeded to ping through books, narrowing it down looking Cayuga Lake. During that time, I congratulate me because The Earth, My until I’d selected seven or eight. During was trying to figure out how Virginia was Butt, and Other Big Round Things had these quiet afternoons, it was often just going to stop being victimized—by her been selected as a Printz Honor book, my the librarians and me. I loved this time. mom, her brother, her peers. Every after- next thought was . . .well ...my brain The librarians gave me the space I needed noon, I’d walk and walk and think about and wouldn’t ever grimace or laugh if I this. Usually I would meander on a flat selected a fluffy teen romance or a sexy path along the shore, but one day I went love story. I had this safe feeling that they straight uphill to the farmland perched a wouldn’t judge me for what I was read- mile or two above the lake. I was deter- ing. They would stock enticing books and mined to resolve this issue with Virginia, let me figure out where I wanted to go and I was going to walk until I figured it that week. It was exactly what I needed at out. I must have walked myself delirious that time in my life and I am forever because when I reached the dairy farm at grateful to them. the top of the hill, it came to me in a This is one of the reasons I’m com- wonderful tingling rush. Virginia would pelled to write novels for teenagers. And meet Annie Mills—the college student this is definitely one of the reasons I her brother had abused—and by these wrote about Virginia in The Earth, My two characters coming together and real- Butt, and Other Big Round Things.I izing that you can let yourself be a victim wanted to create a teenage girl who feels or you can chose to be empowered by a so alone, so freaky, and different. I negative experience—this would set wanted to write about a plus-size heroine Virginia free. As I imagined the scene who overcomes some of her insecurities where Virginia and Annie met, I stood and gets the guy in the end. I wanted there crying. Luckily, there was no one Carolyn Mackler Virginia fooling around with Froggy around but a few Holstein cows and they

30 FALL 2004 YALS MACKLER AWARD SPEECH didn’t seem to mind that I was having a she’s been having horrendous stomach I’d like to thank Deborah Wayshak, Mara breakthrough on their pasture. problems and her parents have dragged Bergman, and everyone at Candlewick Aside from occasional bouts of cry- her to tons of doctors and one finally dis- for loving Virginia as much as I do. I’d ing, I really need to laugh when I’m writ- covered that she has a parasite in her like to thank my agent, Jodi Reamer, for ing. Partially because I’m alone in front stomach. And the other one said, That’s sticking by me through every stage of this of my computer every day. But also, as so awful. A parasite?” And the girl said, book. I’d like to thank my husband, Jonas much as the teen years can be tragic and “Yeah, I know. But I’ve named him Bob.” Rideout, for cheering me on when I most heartbreaking, it’s also a time when you That’s what I remember when I’m needed it and bribing me with ice-cream have a crazy sense of humor, when you writing. That as much as things can be cones in exchange for not checking my e- have inside jokes about everything, and tough, teenagers have a wonderful way of mail while I’m writing. And I’d like to when you find yourself in a group of finding the humor. That’s why I love thank the Printz Committee for wowing friends, laughing your head off and writing for and about them. I also love and surprising me so completely, for giv- thinking, “Life can’t get better than this.” writing for teens because it’s still a time ing The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big So whenever I’m writing, I remem- when a powerful novel can change their Round Things such an esteemed honor, ber humor. I remember these two teenage lives. They definitely did for me. and for allowing me to be here tonight. girls I overheard at a poetry slam a few In addition to thanking all the librar- Thank you. years ago. One was telling the other how ians who have helped me along the way,

FROST AWARD SPEECH continued from page 27 own travels—to Vermont, to Scotland, to Great Village, Nova Scotia, when her par- Alaska, to Oregon and Indiana. I read ents cannot care for her. said, “Oh, him? I just figure he’s some that poem many times; by the time I How did that happen? How did that foreign guy that doesn’t know you’re not began writing the sestinas that would rain fall through Bishop’s poem, through supposed to let kids live in your house.” become Keesha’s House, I no longer the editors and designers at FSG, and find I could say a lot more about race, needed to turn to it as an example of the its way, some thirty years later, into my which, for all we think and talk about it, form. By then I knew the form “by heart,” poems in such a way that the illustrator is not real. The more closely you try to as we say of things we love enough to Frances selected, R. Gregory Christie, look at it, the more it dissolves in defini- commit to memory. So it was that any created that image for the jacket? If I were tion. But I want to go on to speak about connection between Bishop’s “Sestina” writing a sestina about this, the end words poetry, of which the opposite can be said: and Keesha’s House remained subcon- might be: house, rain, room, language, the more closely you look into poetry, the scious as I created the poems and struc- light, and something else completely unre- more vividly its reality comes into focus. tured the book. lated that would, in the last stanza, some- In 1968, in his office in the Hall of On the evening I learned about the how allow us to see into the mystery of Languages at Syracuse University, Philip Printz Honor, that deep connection how all these things fit together. Booth put Elizabeth Bishop’s book, between the poem and the book came to But this is prose. Let me try to craft a Questions of Travel, into my hands and the surface. Pamela Spencer Holley called sentence that will bring together the rain called my attention to the poem titled to give me the amazing news, and an falling on the house in Great Village, the simply “Sestina.” Later that day in a book- hour or so later, Frances Foster called to office full of books in the Hall of store on Marshall Street, I bought the share it with me. In the quiet glow of Languages, and my living room in that book—it was probably the first time I those two conversations, I lit a candle in moment of quiet light. Let me try, at the bought a book with those three triangu- my living room and held the book in my same time, to say something of what this lar fish swimming in opposite directions hands. I looked at the beautiful cover Printz Honor means to me: “We are all on its spine, along with the title and the design, that soft rain falling over the blue born into Great Village; with a little luck author’s name and the initials of the pub- door, and I heard a line of poetry: and the generosity of librarians, we pass lisher, FSG. And so our dreams are born. “September rain falls on the house.” It through the Hall of Languages to a quiet Bishop’s sestina went into my ear, was the first line of Elizabeth Bishop’s place in our living room where a candle is into my heart, and her book traveled with “Sestina.” The poem is about a child liv- burning and, somehow, we see it.” me from one bookshelf to another in my ing in a house with her grandmother in

YALS FALL 2004 31 Scholastic 32 AWARD SPEECH Michael L. Printz Honor Speech Jennifer Donnelly

ello and thank you. I New York in the summer of 1906. Grace crossover book is not what it says about would like to say a very was drowned in a lake in the Adirondack adults, but what it says to kids—that the heartfelt thank you to Pam Mountains by the father of her unborn stories that matter to them, matter to us Spencer Holley and the child because he did not wish to marry as well. members of the Printz her. A Northern Light shows the effect If I think back to my high school read- HCommittee for awarding A Northern Grace’s murder has on a fictional local ing assignments, novels like The Scarlet Light a Michael Printz Honor, and most girl named Mattie Gokey. When I wrote Letter, Crime and Punishment, and The of all, I would like to thank them for their the book, I was angry—angry that a Grapes of Wrath come to mind—all books dedication and commitment to young lovely young life had been so brutally that examine adult issues and situations. readers. To the members of the ALA, and ended and angry that nearly a hundred How can we tell teenagers that adult stories to all the librarians, educators, publishers, years later, during a summer that saw the are worthy of their time and attention, but and booksellers who fight the good fight headlines in America full of violence their stories are not worthy of ours? every day—thank you. To my agent, Steve against girls and women, things hadn’t The stories we like define us. They Malk, thank you for your wisdom, guid- seemed to change much. embody our experiences, hopes, fears, ance, and good humor. And to Michael It was my intention to talk to as and dreams. Dismiss a person’s stories, Stearns, editor and soulman, and every- many teenage girls as I could though my and you dismiss that person. If we one at Harcourt, thank you so much for novel. I wanted to say to them: “Listen, encourage kids to enter adult territories believing in Mattie Gokey and in me. the world is a tough place for young through the vehicle of literature, and to As an author who writes both adult women. Always has been. Always will be. value what they find there, shouldn’t we and young adult novels, I’m often asked Be wise. Be wary. Think your own repay the courtesy now and again with a what makes a story a story for young thoughts. Choose your own path.” I visit back to the realms of childhood and adults. Is it the age of the character? The hoped teenagers would relate to sixteen- adolescence? subject matter? The language? The issues? year-old Mattie and her struggle to build Just because we choose to tote The For me, what makes a story a young a life of her own choosing, and it appears Golden Compass along on the morning adult story is simply this: intention. that they have. What has surprised me, commute, it doesn’t mean we’re regress- A Northern Light was inspired by a though, is that A Northern Light is also ing. It simply means we like Lyra true story—the murder of a pregnant resonating with older readers. A mother Silvertongue. She interests us. Her world teenager name Grace Brown in upstate of two recently e-mailed to tell me and her struggle to understand it interest Mattie’s story reminded her that she still us. Should we deny ourselves the pleasure had a secret dream she wished to pursue. of her company simply because she’s a Another adult, a woman in her eighties, kid and we’re not? wrote to say how the book had reawak- The idea that books for and about ened the pain she felt as a teenager when young adults can only be of interest to she had to choose between her country young adults is absurd. It’s like telling a home and an education. reader not to bother with Ulysses unless I’m delighted that grown-ups like the she’s Irish or Trainspotting unless he uses book, of course, but in being embraced by heroin. Books are not gated communities; adults, A Northern Light has become part they’re open and shimmering cities where of an emerging and sometimes controver- we can all come and go at will, freely sial phenomenon in children’s literature: sampling other lives and times, other cul- the crossover novel. The controversy tures and realities. stems from the view that adults who take What better way to convince a an interest in kids’ books are only teenager of the importance of her views, indulging their Peter Pan complexes, or the validity of her feelings and concerns, worse yet, dumbing themselves down. than to say to her: “I like your stories. To me this criticism misses the point They’re interesting. They’re good. And . . . entirely. What’s so intriguing and so can I borrow that book when you’re important about the emergence of the done?” Jennifer Donnelly

YALS FALL 2004 33 Tor 34 ARTICLE Publishing 101: A Guide for the Perplexed Publishers Offer Insight through Orlando Program and Interviews Roxy Ekstrom and Amy Alessio

ublishing a book would seem to Early Monday morning, as the audi- tives have another benefit with editor be a fairly straightforward ence listened in, Wendy, Regina, and input, offering librarians added insight process—find a manuscript, Ginee covered the merits of several manu- into the publishing industry. Four editors edit, choose a cover, print scripts. After much discussion, new who have been active in YALSA (and copies, and sell them. But since author A. K. Paley’s Bite Me, the profan- other organizations) were interviewed Pthe YALSA Publishers’ Liaison Committee ity-laced story of a teenage boy whose about their views on these projects and has several members who live in the pub- father is a porn king, was selected. on teen literature. While they did not lishing world, we knew it was a bit more Through the informal give and take, the always agree about trends in the field, involved. During our brainstorming ses- audience learned about everything from they all commented on the benefits of sions, we started throwing out the ques- selection to editing, production costs to their committee work. tions we personally wanted answered. subright income. One year later, the David Gale, editorial director of How does an editor find a new author? unknown author proved to be worth the Simon & Schuster Books for Young What happens during the editing process? risk. It had great kid appeal, star reviews, Readers, has worked with Why are the paperback and trade covers and an attractive number of zeros in the several YALSA projects, different? Does the author have any say? profit column. Isabel covered the cover, including developing the And ...what about the money? How showing the artwork from conception to Michael L. Printz Award. much advance does the author get? finished product. The audience even had a “So many of us had The librarians on the committee chance to do a bit of cover designing. wanted this sort of award knew bits and pieces, but committee Terry Borzumato finished the presenta- for so long; it was some- members Terry Borzumato, Executive tion with a comprehensive overview of thing I felt strongly was needed, and I felt Director, School and Library Marketing, the marketing techniques used by pub- good about what we were doing.” Random House Children’s Books, and lishers. She touched on everything from Marc Aronson, award-winning David Gale, Editorial Director, Simon & Internet marketing to advanced reading author and editor who has worked at Schuster Books for Young Readers, knew copies for new titles, to the influences that companies including Candlewick, it all. And, even better, they knew who major awards and author visits have on HarperCollins, and Carus, agreed with would be great for a panel presentation: book sales. Questions and answers from Regina Griffin, vice president, editor-in- the audience completed the program. chief, Holiday House; Wendy Lamb, vice The expertise of publishing practi- Roxy Ekstrom, a member of the YALSA president and publishing director, Wendy tioners truly made this program. And the Publisher’s Liaison Committee, is the Lamb Books/Random House Children’s dual membership of the Publishers’ Youth Services Collection Development Books; Ginee Seo, vice president, associ- Liaison Committee—librarians and Librarian at the Schaumburg Township ate publisher, Atheneum Books for Young members of the publishing field—is what District Library in Schaumburg, IL. She loves booktalking for Junior High stu- Readers; and Isabel Warren-Lynch, execu- makes this committee work. dents and also spent thirteen years as tive director of art and design, Knopf a high school English teacher. Amy Delacorte Dell Books for Young Readers/ Publishers On YA Alessio is the Teen Coordinator at the Schaumburg Township District Library in Random House Children’s Books. These Publishing panelists created a mock publishing com- Illinois. In addition to being active in YALSA, she has published and spoken pany, Perplexed Publishing, to give the Committee work offers members a widely on teen services, and has audience a glimpse into the complex chance to network as well as improve the enjoyed the constant advice of her Teen publishing world. industry for others. Some YALSA initia- Advisory Board for the last six years.

YALS FALL 2004 35 PUBLISHING 101 EKSTROM AND ALLESSIO this: “I’ve gotten something out of all the professionals on the front publishing recently worked with authors Todd committees I’ve worked on, but probably lines. Strasser and Rachel Cohn. the various Printz committees (planning Zvirin has the widest view of the and evaluation) ...have meant the most, industry as most of what is published A Shared Passion because of my passion for the cause, and comes through her department each year the satisfaction of creating the award.” for review. “I’ve seen huge swings in pub- Librarians and editors for this age group Marc has ideas for teachers and librarians lishing during the twenty-eight years I share a special passion for the needs of at his site: www.marcaronson.com. have been here....Now we have a teenagers. “I still respond to things the Booklist Books for Youth Editor tsunami (of YA fiction) . . . and we are way I did as a teenager,” says November. Stephanie Zvirin has been a consultant to seeing fewer picture books and middle- “The books are always about ‘opening several book selection grade fiction as a result.” out,’ new experiences, and going into the committees, including Best “The industry has changed dramati- world for the first time.” Books for Young Adults, cally,” agrees November. “Children’s While he also works on books for Quick Picks for Reluctant books are big business and less of a back- preschoolers and up, “my true love is Readers, and Printz , help- water than they had been....Frontlist books for teens,” says Gale. “I know that ing her develop perspec- has become increasingly important, and teens can and should read up and down, tive on the process. “Each books go out of print much more that is, books for adults and books for one has a different character. Some are quickly.” Libraries with shrinking budgets children. But in giving them quality lively, some contentious, and some just are all too aware of this as waiting for books that will also resonate with them don’t mesh at all. The Printz was great. copies to go into paperback in order to on an emotional level, I think we’re They had a huge advantage over Best buy multiples becomes impossible. reaching them in ways that other books Books for Young Readers as the list of Aronson agrees with this as well: “All can’t.” books they consider is so much shorter, of publishing is more “make it or break Aronson enjoys the freedom of the which allows them more time to consider it” than it used to be. Books that do well young adult genre. “ I enjoy the fact that each book.” can do extraordinarily well, books that teenagers are smart, self-aware, and have “I became an ALA don’t can disappear . . . it means that some knowledge—so there is less con- member to support there is a better chance than ever of creat- straint in what a book can be.” libraries and librarians, ing something that many kids see and and especially in order to read. Another way of seeing the same Input from Teens do committee work. I trend is that the importance of the library All agree that they enjoy the exchange of think it’s really important,” market has significantly declined.” perspective with librarians from commit- Viking Children’s Another trend mentioned among the tee work, and they also work with input Books/Puffin Books Senior Editor Sharyn editors includes a hope for a rise in non- from teenagers themselves. The YALSA November emphasized. November can fiction, something librarians working Teen Galley project has been successful in list YALSA Youth Participation, with reluctant readers know is badly putting review copies into teens’ hands Publishers Liasion, and Legislation needed. Some of the editors also noted a and then sending the teen views back to among many committee credits. Sharyn positive trend in publishing for older the publishers, including Aronson and also has ideas and topics of interest for young adults. Gale. librarians at her site: www.sharyn.org. Just as school and public libraries November also pursues teen input can have different wish lists for books, actively through online reading partner- and teens can have vastly different inter- Industry Trends ships. “Right now I have over 100 teen ests in reading, the editors have different readers all over the world,” she admits. “It Many times librarians want to know why preferences in their work. November is has changed my work dramatically.” they don’t see more of a particular genre the creator and senior editor of fantasy While her work at Booklist limits her teens are clamoring for, or have questions and science fiction imprint Firebird. The teen exposure, Zvirin also agrees on the about why titles are not available in line offers reprints of many favorites in importance of keeping relevant to young paperback. Just as teen input is essential the genre as well as new titles. Gale would people and the real world. “We talk to to offering relevant services at the library, like to look at something different. “I’m librarians and teachers who work with research about the publishing world can hoping the fantasy wave will subside youth all the time, and we keep as up-to- be crucial with materials selection. soon, as I’m tired of being offered ‘the date as possible when it comes to popular Professional reviews and journals offer next Harry Potter’ and other derivative, culture.” valuable insight, as do the opinions of the endless fantasy sequences.” Gale has

36 FALL 2004 YALS ARTICLE YA Galley Project Gives Teens a New Voice Diane Monnier and Francisca Goldsmith

dults who care about reach- finding the site on their own or being to the teen market, what these readers ing teen readers with books directed to it by informed librarians or deemed the best became the Teen Read that will attract, engage, and teachers, they will be participating in Week slate, and YA Galley and Teens’ Top inspire them work in a vari- Teens’ Top Teen; a project of YALSA’s YA Ten became a dynamic effort that now is a ety of interrelated fields— Galley Committee. Growing in popularity blueprint for an annual teen-selected list Asometimes at cross-purposes. “Certainly each year, Teen Read Week stands as a of top new books. young adult librarians are the largest youth participation success story. With Fifteen library-based teen book majority of professionals that promote Teens’ Top Ten, teenage participation groups, including some in middle and titles to teens, but there are also book- comes from two fronts: those who partic- high schools as well as public libraries, sellers, publishers, and book reviewers as ipate in the YA Galley Committee’s work located around the nation from well.” More than six years ago, Publishers Weekly columnists Jennifer M. Brown and By externalizing the critical efforts of the teen Cindi Di Marzo reached the conclusion reading groups involved in reviewing galleys of new that there can be so much adult caring books targeted to the teen market, what these (and carefulness) going on, that the readers deemed the best became the Teen Read Week voices of teen readers themselves are in danger of being bypassed.1 At the time slate; and YA Galley and Teens’ Top Ten became a this news hit the larger publishing and dynamic effort that now is a blueprint for an annual reviewing world, YALSA was already at teen-selected list of top new books. work on a plan to give teen readers them- selves a direct voice in the process of actually help to design the slate of books Maryland to Michigan to Texas and finding and championing new books put to the vote, while any teen anywhere Arizona, applied in 2002 to be the first intended to reach them and their peers. can cast a vote during Teen Read Week. official YA Galley groups. This designa- YALSA’s commitment to youth par- That means that this is a genuinely teen- tion allows the library-based teen book ticipation ascribes to the organization’s generated “best” list. groups to acquire galleys of newly members the responsibility for seeking The concept for Teens’ Top Ten devel- published young adult books from youth participation that is meaningful. oped through more than a decade of pre- among the offerings of more than a score Teens’ Top Ten aids teens in making their liminary brainstorming and organized opinions about new books be heard by task force work. YALSA member and cur- such audiences as other teens, library staff rent Voice of Youth Advocates Editor Cathi Diane P. Monnier, Chair of YALSA’s YA serving teens, and by publishers. To this Dunn MacRae promoted the idea of a Galley Committee, works as Senior end, in 1999, a YALSA project, cospon- “teens only” list as a way to further Librarian for Children’s and Adult Services at Rockville Library in sored by Voice of Youth Advocates, enhance youth participation in library- Montgomery County, Maryland. A past brought the galleys of participating pub- related activities. YALSA’s 2004 President member of The Best Books for Young lishers directly into the hands of library- Audra Caplan also worked in the founda- Adults (BBYA) Committee, Diane is sponsored teen book groups. In 2003, the tion planning of this project. In a closely Youth Participation Coordinator for project goal of enhancing YALSA’s annual related effort, but one focused on funnel- YALSA, working with BBYA to involve teens in the discussion of nominated Teen Read Week with a direct method of ing teen reading opinion toward the very books at ALA conferences. Diane is a demonstrating teen views on new YA producers and marketers who make YA Serving the Underserved trainer and books was realized in the first live Teens’ books a reality—book publishers—the YA has conducted training sessions in Top Ten online vote.2 Galley project developed from task force Maryland, Pennsylvania and Colorado. During Teen Read Week 2004, teens status to an official YALSA Committee in Francisca Goldsmith is the Collection Management and Promotion Librarian who log on to YALSA’s event-specific January 2003. By externalizing the critical at Berkeley (Calif.) Public Library. In her page will be able to cast votes for their efforts of the teen reading groups involved capacity as YALSA Director, she serves favorite YA books of the year. Whether in reviewing galleys of new books targeted as liaison to the YA Galley Committee.

YALS FALL 2004 37 YA GALLEY PROJECT MONNIER AND GOLDSMITH of publishers who participate in the gal- will encourage students to celebrate Teen online national vote of its kind, Ameri- ley project. These teen groups read and Read Week with a vote for their own can teenagers apparently were willing to discuss the books and provide feedback “top” list. vote the Book of Mormon as their second to the publishers on a book evaluation favorite title. Four years later, we are form designed to give editors a clear idea REFERENCES much more savvy about how to focus attention on specific new YA books, how of what works and why, and what doesn’t, 1. Jennifer M. Brown and Cindi Di Marzo, to incorporate electronic polling with with the literature they hope to sell to “Why So Grim? Awards and Controversy Focus Attention on a Recent Burst of our efforts to get the public to listen to teens, either directly or through the inter- teens speak up with their thoughts and cessions of librarians, bookstore sellers, Dark-Themed Fiction for Teens,” Pub- lishers Weekly 245, no. 7 (Feb. 16, 1998): opinions, and the need to include a nom- and reviewers. 120. inating body with representatives from In anticipation of the first YALSA 2. During YALSA’s first Teen Read Week in all parts of the United States. Teens’ Top Ten vote held during Teen 2000, YALSA members and the general Read Week 2003, five of the fifteen public who paid attention to this little groups were designated to work together piece of news were surprised and some- to create a nomination list of their what incredulous to read that, in the first favorites. The teens who had read and discussed so many books during the year cast votes as did teens across the country YA Galley Groups–Newly Selected at Annual 2004 who enjoyed reading books on the official nomination list as it appeared on YALSA’s The Five YA Galley/TTT Nominating Groups Teen Read Week site. No sooner were the public votes cast and the list announced 1. Young Adult Advisory Council from the City of Mesa Library (Mesa, Ariz.) in 2003 than the same YA Galley groups under the direction of Diane Tuccillo were hard at work on the 2004 nomina- 2. Middle Creek High School Printz Club from the Middle Creek High School tions. This year’s list is posted at (Apex, N.C.) under the direction of Teresa Brantley www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/teenreading/teen- 3. Teen Literacy Initiative from the Memorial High School (Eau Claire, Wisc.) stopten/teenstopten.htm with directions under the direction of Pam Gardow for voting during Teen Read Week 2004. 4. CHS Book Club from the Central High School (Grand Junction, Colo.) under The first Teens’ Top Ten list gener- the direction of Leota Sweetman and Diana Herald ated lots of excitement among teens, 5. TAB (Teen Advisory Board) from the Downers Grove Public Library (Downers librarians and publishers. Nearly 2,000 Grove, Ill.) under the direction of Heather Booth and Amanda Blau teens voted on the 2003 list during Teen Read Week. The YA Galley Committee The Ten (Additional) YA Galley Groups discussed the project and urged even 1. City Library Street Team from the Salt Lake City Public Library, Canteena (Salt greater participation in 2004 during Lake City, Utah) under the direction of Susie Woodward and Julie Bartel YALSA’s Teen Read Week Preconference, 2. Mary Jacobs Teen Group from the Mary Jacobs Memorial Library (Rocky Hill, It’s Alive! @ Your Library, this past June in N.J.) under the direction of Elizabeth Willoughby Orlando. 3. Keene Public Library Teen Read from the Keene Public Library (Keene, N.H. ) The work of the first fifteen groups under the direction of Gail Zachariah will be history right after Teen Read Week 4. Danbury Library Teen Council from the Danbury Library (Danbury, Conn.) 2004, having given us all two years of under the direction of Dymphana Harrigan thoughtful and energetic insight on what 5. Young Adult Advisory Council from the Johnson County Library (Shawnee makes a YA book a “best” with teen read- Mission, Kans.) under the direction of Tricia Suellentrop ers. Fifteen new groups have been chosen 6. Stratford Library Youth Review Board from the Stratford Library Association to continue the project into 2005 and (Stratford, Conn.) under the direction of Barbara Blosveren and Diane 2006. They begin their work in Stackpole November, reading galleys, sending com- 7. Best Books for Young Adults Discussion Group from the Elizabeth Public ments to publishers and, for five of the Library (Elizabeth, N.J.) under the direction of Kimberly Paone groups, searching for just the right books 8. Watertown-Mayer Book Club from the Watertown Public Library (Watertown, to nominate as Teens’ Top Ten in 2005. Minn.) under the direction of Maggie Snow Teen Read Week gives each teen an 9. Teen Talk Book Clubs from the Lincoln County High School Media Center opportunity to be part of history by read- (Standford, Ky.) under the direction of Kay Hensley ing books on the nominated list and cast- 10. Teen Advisory Board from the Tippecanoe County Public Library (Lafayette, ing votes for up to three favorites. Online Ind.) under the direction of Kelley Lathgo voting is easy, and hopefully librarians

38 FALL 2004 YALS Scholastic bw page 39 ARTICLE Young Adults As Public Library Users A Challenge and Priority Ivanka Stricevic

uring the last decade, in the special department for young adults has same way as many public been in operation since 2000. Since its libraries in the world, the opening four years ago, the number of Medvescak Public Library teenagers becoming members of the IDI (MPL) in Zagreb, Croatia, PA VIDI (IPV) Young Adults Department Dwas faced with poor interest from young and using the newly run services has adults for library services in general. From increased by 1,000. The most prominent the early sixties, MPL paid a lot of atten- figure is the number of teenagers visiting tion to elementary school children, tod- per month (more than 2,500 visits). This dlers, preschool children, and their parents suggests a great interest from a popula- The workshop on non-violent as library users, but neglected young peo- tion that had been neglected prior to the communication led by trained ple between childhood and adulthood. introduction of new library services. volunteers The Medvescak Public Library is one The Young Adults Department, of the public libraries in Zagreb whose named by young users as IPV (Go and tion to this age group. In this period numerous innovations in the last few See . . .), offers standard library service to of life, when children make the tran- decades have had a huge impact on the teenagers in a way they find acceptable sition from childhood to adulthood, theory and practice of public librarian- and in a separate space that is designed they need to be offered services and ship in Croatia. It is the first public specifically for this age group. Also, activities that will be suited to their library in Croatia that has computerized library materials are adjusted to the needs specific interests in the new media of its operations and developed special pro- and interests of young adults, and new today’s communication. grams for preschoolers; and it is also the forms of work are developed, motivating The Go and See Department (IPV) is first public library that has set up a spe- young people to spend most of their free located between the Children’s cial services department for teenagers. time in the library participating in vari- Department and the Adult Department. The library covers a district of ous actvities, programs, and projects. Librarians from both areas are involved Zagreb with some 50,000 inhabitants, but The need for innovations in this area is in its operation, but daily activities and it is open to all citizens of Zagreb (a mil- a result of a number of facts and indicators, programs for teenagers are implemented lion inhabitants) regardless of where they the most important being the following: by children’s librarians. This has proven live. The library registers some 15,000 Public libraries (in most parts of the to be a better solution in the MPL, since members annually. Almost one-third of world as well as in Croatia) do not children’s librarians are better qualified in them are children up to age thirteen, and provide continuous programs and terms of transferring knowledge and about 2,000 are young adults from thir- services that would cater to the playing methods, have a better under- teen up to twenty-two or twenty-three. A changing needs of young library standing of young people and their users as they grow up; rather inten- needs, and are more willing to include sive programs for children are imple- game and fun elements in their work. For Ivanka Stricevic is the Head of Children’s mented only until they finish the last four years the children’s librarians and Young Adults’ Services for the elementary school. After that, they have become more competent and skillful Medvescak Public Library in Zagreb, become (or they do not become) in working with young adults, but with- Croatia. She has published dozens of books and articles about children’s and users of adult services, which are not out any specialized training. young adults’ librarianship, co-operation very often suited to their needs in The premise of the Young Adults with parents in public libraries, children’s terms of methods or contents. Department differs to some extent from reading, and child rights, as well as a More developed library systems other parts of the library. Teenagers partic- few picture books for children. She throughout the world have shown, ipate in designing the location (notice serves as the Chair of Libraries for Children and Young Adults IFLA Section and IFLA Guidelines on Library boards, wall newspapers, round tables like and the Chair of Children’s Section of Services for Young Adults have those in coffee bars, a shop window with the Croatian Library Association. defined, the need to pay special atten- people sitting in it, etc.). Teenagers were

40 FALL 2004 YALS STRICEVIC YOUNG ADULTS AS PUBLIC LIBRARY USERS involved in all stages of department devel- from expert-guests; and participating in opment; they suggested topics, literature, workshops on a variety of topics. and programs they would like to partici- Computers and CD-ROMs are used pate in, took part in interior decoration, in a variety of ways: for educational pur- and chose the name for the department. poses or for independent use, for individ- Results of a survey conducted before ual and group work, for information the opening of the department showed gathering, writing, participation in proj- that more than 50 percent of teenagers ects, development of materials for the surveyed were keen on using the new IPV Department, workshops and fun department. In fact, 57 percent said they activities of choice. Recently a group of would prefer to have access to CDs, audio, young users has designed their own Web and video cassettes, while 55 percent dis- page, located on a separate domain but played interest in the Internet and books linked from the MPL home page for young adults. One-third of those sur- www.knjizmed.hr. They maintain the veyed were interested in participating in Web page and are primarily responsible workshops and interest groups. The topics for the content and design. It contains they wanted to read about or discuss in News, a Forum, Chat, a list of recom- workshops are in order of importance: mended books and Web sites, best books, new books in the library, a fun box, actu- 1. Adolescence, sexuality, and addictions alities, columns, and interesting 2. Choice of school, college, and career addresses, etc. 3. Human rights and children’s rights By introducing new services for Doing schoolwork or just reading young adults, MPL records numerous Sports, a traditional topic that positive changes, especially in the increas- teenagers are particularly interested in, information, culture, social, and per- ing number of young people buzzing all ranked only eighth. As many as 66 per- sonal development. around and making a special atmosphere cent of the teens said they were ready to in the library. A lot of indicators suggest In only four years of operating the take an active part in working in the its success. The changes can be perceived Go and See Department, many public department (do some decorating, assist in the following areas: libraries in Croatia have started with the librarian, etc.), which they confirmed some kind of service for young adults. after the department was opened. Quantitative and qualitative indica- Some of them provide a special book col- The activities that are offered continu- tors—the extent to which teenagers lection for youth as well as computers ally include: getting together with friends; use the library (its materials, pro- with Internet capability, while others finding fun and riveting books, magazines, grams, and services), their readiness arrange special rooms, run a youth club, information leaflets; borrowing books listed to participate as library volunteers in or set up projects and programs in coop- on their school’s reading list; listening to all types of programs and services, eration with local high schools and non- CDs; looking through CD-ROMs; playing provide input about interior design governmental organizations. computer games and using stimulating and other facilities required for computer programs; surfing on the working with young adults. REFERENCE Internet; using the computer for homework Changed awareness of the role of the 1. IFLA Section of Libraries for Children (typing a report or paper); finding a variety public library and its focus on the and Young Adults, Guidelines for Library of booklets about subjects (“Tips for . . . ”); rights of all age groups and special Services for Young Adults (The Hague, seeking and getting advice on many issues groups associated with education, Netherlands: IFLA, 1996); www.ifla.org.

GOING AWARD SPEECH continued from page 26 attracts the attention of people who I’ve read each of the other books honored delayed a long time otherwise, or it might might otherwise pass over my book with- tonight, and I’d be thrilled to know they never have been made, but the Printz out even picking it up. And this is so were chosen because they are great books. offers me the hope of a career that will important. It’s important to every one of Fat Kid is in fabulous company, and that allow me to support myself. And I hope it us in this room, and it’s important to the means a lot to me. Enough to bring the “fat means there are people out there who life of YA literature as a genre. kid” out on stage to give a speech. care if I write another book. I’m very glad that there is a Michael L. So, thank you again. From me and Every day at the bookshop where I Printz Award. I would be glad even if Fat Troy and Curt. now work I see the way the award sticker Kid hadn’t been named an honor book.

YALS FALL 2004 41 ARTICLE An Unscientific Survey of Teen TV Programming Leslie Marlo

elevision programming, as acceptability for a not-yet-adult audience. also emphasizes family relationships, but with most forms of entertain- However, teens flock to these shows; for this viewer could not determine if the ment, spans the spectrum them, the more outrageous and absurd, show was meant to be a comedy; if noth- from high to low quality, with the better. ing else, it was certainly trying to be hip, plenty of mediocrity in Dramas such as Judging Amy or Joan with references to skateboarding and Tbetween. The quality seems to be depend- of Arcadia take a more serious view of extreme sports and a “Game Theory” class ent in large part on the network carrying their content. CBS presents a trendier, being offered in college. the given show and the audience that is youth-oriented Touched by an Angel in On the other end of the spectrum, being sought. Children of the last several Joan of Arcadia; the fact that a network is One Tree Hill and The O.C. hit the “sex, generations have grown up with a steady willing to present a series with a religious drugs, and rock n’ roll” themes quite hard. diet of accessible TV, so the youth of orientation in this society is in itself a In both shows, high school students (who today are well versed in what to expect. bold move. CBS, in Judging Amy, also all look to be about thirty years of age) The programs surveyed for this arti- presents a show that is not afraid to appear to be living almost independently cle generally provide both educational tackle such current events as teen of their families. In one episode of One and entertainment value, but none are exploitation in the music industry, teen Tree Hill, various athletic teams were purely educational. Sitcoms generally pregnancy, and child abuse. With these chaperoned to an out-of-town weekend exist to provide escapism, and in modera- shows, CBS seems to be the network event, where oddly, it was no problem for tion there is value in that. However, the most willing to cater to an audience con- the males to go drinking in a bar, and perceived worth will vary tremendously cerned with and willing to think about there were plenty of references to having depending on one’s value system. the challenges of today’s world rather sex. In a nod to The Graduate, a recent For example, this adult finds shows than gratuitous violence, sex, or fake real- episode of The O.C. started with a scene from The Simpsons and King of the Hill to ity. Despite, or perhaps with, the mature whereby a high school student sleeps with Friends and Frazier to be highly entertain- content, these shows would be of great his girlfriend’s mother. Meanwhile, later in ing, because of the intelligently presented value for a family to watch and discuss the show, a group of teens goes to a humor; other adults may be offended by together. However, an informal survey of Hollywood party in a strip club, and certain sexual or political content. On the teens reveals that these shows are not par- cocaine is prominently displayed. Clearly, other hand, The Osbournes was incompre- ticularly popular. Fox and The WB networks are intention- hensible to this viewer, and not because of Popular TV shows appear to segment ally pushing the envelope by providing trouble understanding British accents; by gender with female youth being more teens the opportunity to see mature adult rather, there appeared to be only the flim- consistent in their viewing habits. Weekly situations. Disturbingly, a recent local siest of plots with considerable swearing, serials such as Everwood, Gilmore Girls, news interview with One Tree Hill stars fighting, and yielding of guns in between One Tree Hill, and The O.C., essentially noted that they are proud to present any actual dialogue. Similarly, while South the equivalent of prime time soap operas, teenage life so “realistically.” Hopefully, Park subtly presents some serious issues, are considered “must see” by large seg- these shows are also providing an oppor- such as single parenting, through rather ments of the female population. It is con- tunity for family discussion, or alterna- creative and humorous situations, the sidered quite important to be able to tively, that teen viewers are mature enough swearing certainly pushes the envelope of discuss what happened on the latest to understand that what they see is not episode during school the next day. These necessarily reality or worthy of emulation. shows all provide certain doses of themes Male teens appear less interested in Active for many years as a volunteer important to teens, such as dating, friend- TV viewing, but will gravitate primarily with her local public library, Leslie ship, and good times, but in varying ways. toward sports, comedy, or shows with Marlo received her MLS from the Of these four shows, Everwood seems the shock value. Surprisingly, poker on ESPN University of Pittsburgh in April 2004. most family-oriented and serious, tackling is quite popular, as are more traditional She currently works as a consulting actuary while searching for a profes- issues such as dating, teen depression, and sports viewing opportunities such as foot- sional library position. college admissions, but always emphasiz- ball. Comedy Central’s Chappelle’s Show is ing family relationships. The Gilmore Girls considered worthy of watching, because of

42 FALL 2004 YALS MARLO AN UNSCIENTIFIC STUDY OF TEEN TV PROGRAMMING its irreverent, controversial, and sometimes commercials for both Scooby Doo 2 and bathroom humor—politically correct, it’s Jersey Girl, while also running ads for a Log of Shows Surveyed not. Similarly, Family Guy still has a follow- birth control pill and candy. Meanwhile, ing despite no longer being in production; food, cars, make-up, and retail stores are CBS this show is full of pop culture references common to all programming. Alcohol Joan of Arcadia (e.g., Woolly Willie and Raiders of the Lost advertisements crop up occasionally— Judging Amy Ark) and ridiculous situations. This viewer teenagers are very familiar with Skyy found the show to be quite humorous and Vodka and Bacardi ads—but the token NBC entertaining, but it does tackle subjects antidrug public service announcement is such as masturbation and drinking. Even included as well. Each of the networks is Frazier Jackass (also no longer on the air), while understandably self-serving in promoting Friends exceedingly absurd and dangerous, was other shows, such as Fox’s The Swan, popular for just those reasons. where “unattractive” females are made ABC Music and video montages comprise over and then voted off the show from Monday Night Football a significant portion of all of these pro- week to week— presumably a show well The Lizzy McGuire Show grams. The purpose seems to be trendi- geared toward giving young girls another ness mixed with a presumption of opportunity to feel inadequate about attention-deficit in the audience. Given their bodies. Fox the MTV and video game generation, this Keeping with the attention-deficit Family Guy should be no surprise; both The Lizzy presumption, commercials presented as King of the Hill McGuire Show and Malcolm in the Middle videos are prevalent in all of these ven- Malcolm in the Middle included videos of what was essentially ues. Additionally, technology sells; the The O.C. filler material, while One Tree Hill and chance to win both cell phones and PDAs The Simpsons The O.C. are offering CDs of music are regularly used as enticements for buy- played during the shows. It was some- ing the product at hand. In fact, cell The WB what surprising to find the same video phones are displayed prominently even treatments in shows such as Judging Amy on the shows, to the point where it Everwood and Joan of Arcadia. Monday Night becomes annoyingly obvious who the Gilmore Girls Football has turned its opening sequence sponsor of the show is. Other products One Tree Hill into a video, and the half-time show is are also well represented in shows such as Smallville not about scores and highlights but The Osbournes and One Tree Hill. The rather a battle of the bands with NFL promotion of consumerism is clearly ESPN2 stars as participants. Apparently, the alive and well even during economic Best of Poker video age has been in existence long downturns. However, advertisers may be enough that all viewers also have the disturbed to know that this informal sur- need for fast-paced video sequencing, or vey of teens revealed that TV commer- MTV the writers and producers want us to cials are not particularly effective, unless Jackass think so. These sequences can be enter- a big star such as Britney Spears is The Osbournes taining, but shows that are well written involved. do not need such supplemental diver- The predisposition of a young viewer Comedy Central sions, at least not week in and week out. toward particular programming, or any The commercials selected for various programming at all, may well be predi- Chappelle’s Show programming are telling in terms of the cated on both their inherent interests and South Park audience being reached. Obviously adver- personality as well as external influences. tisers are paying very strict attention to The external influence of peer pressure audience demographics, though there becomes particularly important in the existence of teen book discussion groups does appear to be some confusion over teen years, as evidenced by the following and advisory councils are a well- whether certain prime time commercials of serial programming by young females ingrained step in this direction. From all should be geared toward youth or adults and the current interest in poker by aspects, it is increasingly important that or both. Advertising on The O.C. appears young males. Perhaps libraries could take caregivers, and perhaps in some ways the to be the most conflicted in terms of note of the interest teens display in cer- community, monitor or at least take some desired demographics, surprising given tain types of media and offer forums for interest in what their children are watch- the very mature themes addressed. discussion. This would not need to be ing, from the earliest ages through the However, advertising included movie limited to TV or video programming; the teen years.

YALS FALL 2004 43 THE UPDATE The Update

Annual Report of the rural and urban areas. Over one thou- this award. This newly appointed YALSA YALSA President: sand librarians registered on the YALSA committee is also responsible for moni- Audra Caplan (2003–04) website as participants in this Teen Read toring the very successful YA Galley proj- Week. In addition, YALSA cosponsored a ect that enables publishers to send galleys survey with SmartGirl.org that had 3,600 to teen reading groups across the country It’s amazing how quickly a year passes; it teen respondents. ALA Graphics success- for discussion and evaluation. seems like last week when I was ponder- fully sold a line of products including In June 2003 YALSA members and ing the implementation of my presiden- bookmarks, posters, and magnetic poetry staff selected the division’s new dynamic tial theme, “Leading from Any Position.” kits with the slammin’ theme. logo. Since that time we have used it to In hindsight, this was certainly a theme YALSA also cultivated a number of brand all of YALSA’s print materials. In that was earmarked for success in YALSA corporate sponsors for Teen Read Week addition, in April 2004 YALSA previewed because this organization has a great per- including HarperCollins, Scholastic, and our newly organized Web site using the centage of active members willing to take Harcourt, Inc. publishers and Morningstar logo as the focus for the design. We on leadership positions. It was also my Foods and Barnes and Noble. We devel- believe the logo graphically symbolizes goal to begin focusing on how Young oped a collaborative partnership with New the energy and cutting edge quality that Adult Librarians could take a leadership Line Cinema, who in addition to a finan- reflect the division and the membership. role in convincing administrators and cial sponsorship agreed to send posters During the month of October, in funding bodies of the importance of hav- with educational projects related to Lord conjunction with Teen Read Week, ing Young Adult Specialists and active YA of the Rings (connecting the books and YALSA rolled out its new Teen Advisory programs in all libraries. I believe we are the movie) to all members of YALSA, Group (TAGS) section on the website. well on our way to accomplishing this AASL, ALSC, and PLA. This addition was the result of more than goal and many more. YALSA also developed a partnership seven hundred survey responses asking This has been a pivotal year for with The N, a cable television network, to for information and assistance in forming YALSA as an ALA Division. We are on the produce poetry PSAs and an activity and maintaining teen advisory groups. As cusp of becoming a non-subsidized divi- sheet related to the slammin’ theme. So a result of the survey YALSA has created a sion and are stronger in membership and many librarians have responded to Teen TAGS committee. This group’s charge is financial health than we have ever been. Read Week that the YALSA office is regu- to monitor and update this sub site of the For the first time we have broken the larly being asked for programming and YALSA Web site that focuses on the needs 4,000 mark in membership; we now training tips on how to implement suc- of teen advisory groups in libraries. stand at 4,201 members and growing. cessful activities and highlight the week. YALSA members have been busy pre- This is quite remarkable in a difficult eco- In response to these requests the 2003 senting workshops all across the country. nomic climate. We have developed a new Teen Read Week Committee suggested a The Power Up With Print Institute was Business Plan (FY05–08), which calls for preconference, and I am pleased to say presented at three different sessions in the division to increase our revenue that we will be presenting this preconfer- Kentucky in September 2003. A Graphic stream enough to support operations ence at the 2004 Annual Conference in Novel workshop was presented at the without the assistance of the ALA sub- Orlando. The new theme for 2004, “It’s AASL National Conference in October sidy. In addition we received a bequest Alive @ your library®,” will be high- 2003. This proved to be so popular that from our dear friend William Morris, and lighted; and in addition to a great day of we are developing a Graphic Novel a task force was appointed to examine training and marketing ideas, we will Institute to premier in the fall of 2004. In how the yearly interest from this money have a number of authors who write in addition, our Serving the Underserved could fulfill Bill’s wish that it go to honor the horror or mystery genres speaking. initiative marks its ten-year anniversary Young Adult Literature. The report will These include Amelia Atwater-Rhodes this summer, 2004. Since the inception of be presented to the YALSA Board at this and Jane Yolen. this program, SUS trainers have trained annual conference. For the first time this year during more than 20,000 library staff. The YALSA celebrated our fifth annual Teen Read Week, YALSA sponsored the demand for trainers is so high that we are Teen Read Week in the fall of 2003 with Teens’ Top Ten. This was the first time anticipating training a new group of the teen relevant theme “Slammin’ @ teens voted nationally for their favorite trainers at ALA Midwinter Meeting 2005. your library.” Slammin’, a form of theatri- books published during the previous Last year a number of the current cal poetry, is being embraced by teens year; 1,700 votes were cast. The Young SUS trainers received additional training (and adults) all over the country, in both Adult Galley Committee implemented to reflect the tenets of New Directions for

44 FALL 2004 YALS THE UPDATE

Library Services to Young Adults. This year tive that will encourage public libraries Consultants) has interviewed many “Young Adults Deserve the Best: and schools to form partnerships. YALSA members and a full day was set Competencies” was also updated to YALSA also selected a recipient for aside at Midwinter with a group repre- reflect the philosophy of New Directions. the Great Books Giveaway; the winner sentative of YALSA leadership to hammer These are posted on the YALSA Web site. this year was a joint use public/school out the outline of the plan. The executive These competencies should prove to be library in Prairie Lea, Texas. We also held committee anticipates that the final plan indispensable to both librarians and another “Excellence in Library Services to will be approved and implementation managers who serve young adults. Young Adults” recognition project. The started during the 2004–2005 year. The YALSA and the other youth divisions YALSA Executive Committee selected new plan will be a document that will (AASL and ALSC) worked closely this year twenty-five “best practice” winners. These lend itself to change and incorporate the in a tremendous spirit of collaboration. projects are being highlighted in the new ability to take advantage of opportunities The leadership of all three divisions recog- revision of the YALSA publication as they arise. This will truly be a plan that nizes how important it is to come together Excellence in Library Services to Young is representative of all areas of member- to represent youth and youth librarians. Adults (June 2004). ship, but will also fit nicely with the goals There were two events that highlight this All of YALSA’s selection committees of ALA. collaboration; the first was the jointly continue to take on the stewardship of Finally, there will be two programs in sponsored memorial service for William choosing the best Young Adult materials Orlando that reflect the theme of leader- Morris at the Midwinter Meeting in San for teens whether it is the selection of the ship: the President’s program, “The Leader Diego. In addition, the three division pres- new Printz winner Angela Johnson for in the Mirror: New Visions of Leadership idents visited a number of elected repre- First Part Last, or the list created by the for Young Adult Services,” featuring noted sentatives and federal department Selected DVD’s and Videos committee. author Esme Codell; and “It’s Not representatives during Library Legislative This year the Outstanding Books for the Fantasyland: Directors Speak about Young Day in May 2004. Having all three presi- College Bound Committee completed Adult Services.” I am proud to say that dents participate in these meetings sent a the revision of this list, and it has been YALSA is attracting many new librarians strong statement about the essential serv- produced in an attractive new pamphlet into our ranks with new perspectives and ices we provide in developing healthy and format. new energy and enthusiasm. It has been a educationally successful youth and the dire One of the accomplishments of pleasure this year to work with all of the need for more funding for these services. which I am personally most proud, members and the staff. It is because of The youth divisions have also formed a YALSA embarked on a new strategic these hard working people that YALSA has joint Public Library/School Cooperation planning process this year. Over the made the exceptional progress we have in Committee in hopes of creating an initia- course of the year a consultant (Tecker the last year, and it has been my honor to

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YALS FALL 2004 45 THE UPDATE serve with each and every one of them. annual Teen Read Week theme Whereas Amy is a contributing through the process of voting on the writer for YALSA and ALA publications Web site, as suggested by the Teen promoting young adult services to the Major Motions from the Read Week Committee. The TRW profession at large, and Meetings of the YALSA Committee will supply several Whereas Amy has served the Board of Directors at the themes for the vote. Association with dedication as a Serving Annual Conference 2004 Accepted resolutions for Sheila the Underserved trainer and advocate, in Orlando, Florida Anderson, Amy Alessio, Caryn Sipos, training hundreds of library employees, William (Bill) C. Morris and Cathi and Adopted a measure to send the Dunn MacRae. Whereas Amy’s beliefs and values in YALSA president, or a representative, regard to teen library services have led to to Legislative Day on an annual Resolution for Sheila YALSA’s strong organizational conviction basis, and directed staff to make to “do the right thing,” and, every effort to provide a minimum Anderson Whereas she has approached her duties and responsibilities as a board stipend for the YALSA participant. Whereas Sheila Anderson has served for member with a strong focus on teenagers Accepted the report of the Electronic three productive years on the Young and the librarians who serve them, and Discussion List Ad Hoc Committee Adult Library Services Association Board, Whereas Amy, the proud and selfless and agreed to implement the and mother that she is, was willing to share Internal Policy for Electronic Mailing Whereas during that time Sheila has her new son Josh with the world via an Lists and Mailing List Policy sections never failed to volunteer for a project or ALA bookmark, and with revisions as discussed. task force, and Whereas her criminal justice back- Voted to move forward on four spe- Whereas Sheila has shown unfailing ground in dealing with offenders gave her cific suggestions for the use of the passion and dedication to providing the experience she needed to work with William C. Morris Endowment and excellent service to teens wherever she the YALSA board and other such miscre- to establish a task force to pursue a has worked, from Allen County to Dover, ants. name, focus and structure for a per- Delaware and parts between, and Therefore, be it resolved, that the manent committee to oversee use of Whereas Sheila has written numer- board of directors of the Young Adult the funds. ous articles and edited books on all Library Services Association acknowledge Voted down the proposal to adminis- aspects of young adult services, and the tremendous service and contributions ter the Amelia Walden Award for Whereas Sheila has served as a dedi- Amy Alessio has provided to the ALA. cated and fearless member of the Association, and Voted to hold an SUS Institute at Professional Development Committee, Be it further resolved that the board Midwinter in Boston and to look at and of directors of the Young Adult Library effective cost-saving methods and Whereas Sheila has never shied away Services Association gratefully thank Amy measures. from controversy or irreverence and has for her contributions and look forward to Directed the YALSA councilor to alluded to various fellow YALSA directors her continued involvement as a YALSA vote her conscience as to whether to and comrades as “the Seven Dwarfs,” and member. support the Intellectual Freedom Whereas Sheila Anderson is ALWAYS policy revision. the life of the party, Voted to accept the Organization and Therefore be it resolved that the Resolution for Caryn Sipos Bylaws Committee report and estab- YALSA board commend Sheila for all of lish a Regional Institute Task Force her hard work and dedication, and will Whereas Caryn Sipos has been an out- with the following charge: “To select sorely miss her outrageous sense of standing member of the Young Adult a training topic and to develop con- humor and unpredictable and imagina- Library Services Association board for tent and curriculum for a YALSA tive social directress skills. seven years, and Regional Institute. A report and pro- Whereas Caryn devotes enormous posed curriculum will be presented energy to advocating equity of access and to the YALSA Board at Midwinter Resolution for Amy Alessio diversity through YALSA programs and 2005.” Whereas Amy Alessio has served on the initiatives, and Accepted the final slate of programs YALSA board of directors for three years, Whereas Caryn persuaded the ALA for Annual 2005 as presented by the and President to mention the Michael L. chair of the Program Clearinghouse Whereas as a Chicago-area resident, Printz Award on national television along Committee. she has provided assistance and counsel with other ALA awards, whose names Voted to adopt the FY06 budget. to the YALSA office, and escape us for the moment, and Voted to allow teens to select the

46 FALL 2004 YALS THE UPDATE

Whereas Caryn has never shied away an ongoing component of Teen Read Bill Morris was called “the last civilized from controversy and demonstrated that Week, man,” and by having two teens who were not Therefore be it resolved that the Whereas Bill’s commitment to young allowed to present for another division YALSA board commend Cathi Dunn adults, literature and libraries survives in escort her into the start of her presiden- MacRae for her creativity, her dedication the generous testamentary provision he tial year, and to Youth Participation and for the foster- made for YALSA and its future work, Whereas Caryn has served as an ing of a YALSA project which allows teens Now, therefore, be it resolved that exemplary and tireless voice for young themselves to proudly create their own the Young Adult Library Services adults, and “Top” books list on an annual basis. Association—its members, officers, and Whereas Caryn showed her great staff—express and record boundless grat- personal strength by faithfully serving itude to William C. Morris, who was YALSA through a period of personal loss, Resolution for William C. vastly more than the “mere middleman” Therefore be it resolved that the (Bill) Morris he modestly dubbed himself; he was a YALSA board offer their heartfelt grati- Young Adult Library Services Association Whereas, the Young Adult Library tude and admiration to Caryn Sipos for a original, an arbiter of excellence in both Services Association lost a devoted and difficult job very well done. style and substance, an influential advo- deeply committed friend with the death, cate for youth, for literature, and for on September 29, 2003, of William C. libraries, a publishing institution, and a Resolution for Cathi Dunn (Bill) Morris, Vice President and Director man of such signal achievements that MacRae of Library Promotion for publisher they—like the man himself—have HarperCollins, and become legendary. More than most, his Whereas Cathi Dunn MacRae, as a mem- Whereas Bill Morris was, for nearly life made a difference and that is his liv- ber of the Young Adult Library Services half a century, a stalwart advocate of ing—and enduring—legacy. Association, has taken the concept of young adults, their literature, and the Youth Participation to a new dimension by library services developed for them, and promoting a partnership with more than Whereas, Bill Morris was the inven- YAttitudes Editor Named twenty publishers to place galleys of young tor of modern marketing of books for adult books in the hands of teens, and young readers, whose forty-eight-year Amy Alessio, teen coordinator at the Whereas Cathi Dunn MacRae has association with Harper—known vari- Schaumburg Township District Library, spent more than a decade developing the ously as Harper Brothers, Harper & Row has been named the 2004–2007 editor for idea of an annual national teen-generated and HarperCollins—was more than a YAttitudes, the Young Adult Library “Top Ten” booklist, and career: it was a calling, distinguished by Services Association electronic newsletter. Whereas Cathi Dunn MacRae served a passionate commitment to excellence Alessio brings more than six years of as the original Project Coordinator for in books, an encyclopedic knowledge of direct experience working with teens and the Teens’ Top Ten Project, which led to literature, and a brilliant capacity for is a popular Serving the Underserved the first “teens only” booklist during Teen bringing together books, authors, and (SUS) trainer as well as being a YALSA Read Week 2003, and librarians (and if they were Harper Board Member. She has publishing cred- Whereas, in that capacity, Cathi books and authors, so much the better!), its through ALA Editions, VOYA and Dunn MacRae provided teen group advi- and YALSA, and has also published many sors and teens themselves with guidelines Whereas Bill Morris’s commitment articles in professional journals. Alessio is for reviewing and evaluating books, and to excellence extended beyond books to a book reviewer for Public Libraries, Whereas Cathi Dunn MacRae cre- embrace music (mostly by Mozart), neck- VOYA, and Teenreads.com. ated and managed a discussion list wear (largely by Liberty), vodka (always According to Alessio, “Spring Lea involving over twenty publishers and fif- by Absolut) and the art of hosting ALA brought a lot of great energy and ideas to teen teen groups to seamlessly place the entertainments that were distinguished YAttitudes. I am excited to work on such aforementioned galleys in the hands of not only by their understated excellence a fun and useful publication. YALSA is teens, and but also by their manifestation of his gen- bigger than it has ever been and I look Whereas Cathi Dunn MacRae has uine fondness for the librarians whom he forward to soliciting articles, bibliogra- diligently worked with YALSA’s YA Galley invited and greeted, personally, at the phies, teen input and program write-ups Committee and the YALSA office to pro- door, and from school and public libraries all over vide operational guidelines to enable the Whereas, in his self-effacing but inef- the country. My Teen Advisory Board has YA Galley/Teen’s Top Ten project to move fable sense of personal style, in his love of given me several strong suggestions and forward, and literature and all the humane arts, in his advice about this already!” Whereas Cathi Dunn MacRae has devotion to his adopted city, New York, YAttitudes is the quarterly online launched the YA Galley/TTT project to be and in his caring commitment to culture, newsletter for YALSA members. It

YALS FALL 2004 47 THE UPDATE

Sarah Flowers, County of Santa Clara, San Jose, Calif. Margaret A. Edwards 2006 Award Committee Barbara Blosveren, Stratford (CT) Library Association Molly S. Kinney, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Judy T. Nelson, Pierce County Library System, Tacoma, Wash. Michael L. Printz 2006 Award Committee Michael Cart, San Diego, Calif. James Edward Cook, Dayton (Ohio) Metro Library Jennifer Hubert, Little Red Schoolhouse/Elizabeth Irwin High School, New York, NY Betsy J. Levine, San Francisco (Calif.) hyperion Public Library Membership Survey island A membership satisfaction survey was administered electronically April 22 through May 31, 2004, to 3,277 YALSA 48 members. There were 306 responses, a 9.3 percent rate of return. The survey con- sisted of sixteen values propositions, neu- tral statements about YALSA goods or services, that members were asked to rate separately on their perceptions of how important the item was to them as well as how well they thought YALSA was per- forming on that item. The difference between the perceived importance and perceived performance of a proposition is an interval known as the ‘gap.’ The six highest gap scores for all YALSA responses have been provided in parentheses below with the corresponding tag. According to James G. Dalton, a man- agement consultant to the nonprofit com- munity, a gap greater than 1.0 on the 5.0 scale indicates the need for close strategic attention in that programmatic area. A gap includes current information of interest the top of the page, at ww.ala.org/YALSA. of less than 1.0 but greater than zero indi- to library staff who work with teens. cates that the focus should remain on con- Regular features include programming YALSA Election Results tinuous improvement in that area; while a ideas, reviews, member profiles and negative gap indicates that a program may upcoming events. Alessio’s term will Vice President/President-Elect require less attention and resources, or begin with the November edition of Pam Spencer Holley, Assawoman, Va. perhaps suggests that the program might YAttitudes. Access YAttitudes through the Board of Directors be a candidate for “organized abandon- YALSA Web site by clicking on the Sarah Cornish, Warren (NJ) Township ment,” both allowing for a reallocation of orange “For Members Only” button at Library resources to more critical areas.

48 FALL 2004 YALS Listen to a Classic

THE HEART IS THE GREAT GATSBY DEATH IN VENICE A LONELY HUNTER F. Scott Fitzgerald Thomas Mann Carson McCullers 0-06-009891-0 • $29.95 0-06-072752-7 • $22.00 0-06-076486-4 • $39.95 Performed by Tim Robbins Performed by Simon Callow Performed by Cherry Jones

SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE FAHRENHEIT 451 Kurt Vonnegut Ray Bradbury 0-06-057377-5 • $29.95 0-694-52627-4 • $29.95 Performed by Ethan Hawke Read by the Author

Caedmon Audio HarperAudio Imprints of HarperCollinsPublishers www.harperaudio.com THE UPDATE

Following are the value propositions tions for HarperCollins, passed away hosting it, contact the YALSA office at in the survey: September 29, 2003, leaving a significant 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4387. financial gift to YALSA. At the 2004 Puts a national spotlight on the American Library Association Annual importance of teen reading. (Teen Conference, YALSA’s board of directors YALSA Adopts Electronic Read Week, Gap Score: 0.82) made the decision to pursue certain Discussion List Policies Provides face-to-face opportunities to activities using funds from this endow- create connections with others inter- The YALSA board of directors voted at ment. Over the next several years, ested in young adult library services. the 2004 ALA Annual Conference to YALSA will be developing an award to (Networking, Gap Score: 0.78) institute a code of conduct for all YALSA recognize a first-time author writing for Provides learning opportunities in a discussion lists. The following is the pol- young adults and also creating a national variety of formats that address the icy for posting materials to any YALSA institute with a heavy emphasis on knowledge and training needs of electronic discussion list. Please direct young adult literature. In addition, some library staff working with young any questions to the YALSA staff. of the funds will be tapped for use in adults. (Continuing Education, Gap connection with Teen Read Week. A Score: 0.77) committee will be appointed to flesh out Posting Policy Publishes a newsletter that informs the details of the two projects and members about resources, services All messages should relate to the progress will be reported as it occurs. and activities of interest to those general topic of the particular list. The board will reevaluate how the funds serving young adults in libraries. Only subscribers to a list may post are assigned on an ongoing basis. (See (Newsletter, Gap Score: 0.67) on the list. page 45 for the YALSA Resolution hon- Promotes and publishes research to Solicitations and advertisements for oring Bill Morris.) improve and further advance the cre- non-YALSA publications and other ation of a full range of library serv- commercial purposes are not ices for young adults in every library. permitted. (Research, Gap Score: 0.68) Graphic Novels Come Announcements of conferences, Publishes a periodical that addresses to You workshops, new publications, and the knowledge needs of library staff position openings appropriate to the serving young adults. (Journal, Gap As a result of the demand at conferences topic of the list are allowed. Score: 0.58) and institutes in the past, YALSA is Virus warnings (not bug reports), are developing a traveling institute on strongly discouraged, and ONLY These scores echo the priorities that graphic novels. The one-day institute official CERT or CIAC advisories are have emerged from discussion during the includes information about the history acceptable. In addition, before for- revision of YALSA’s strategic plan. The and current publishing of comics and warding any virus information you fact that this similarity exists between the graphic novels, uses in the classroom as may wish to check Internet Hoaxes newly emerging strategic plan and mem- well as in library programs, intellectual and Virus Hoaxes for hoax informa- ber perceptions helps insure cohesive freedom issues and information about tion and how to spot hoaxes. focus as YALSA moves forward in the bibliographic control. Robin Brenner, Attachments may be included in an planning process. creator of “No Flying, No Tights” e-mail, however they should not be See the YALSA Web site for a com- (www.noflyingnotights.com), and larger than 40KB. plete report of the results. Philip Crawford, author of numerous Personal attacks such as name-calling articles on graphic novels, have com- and personal insults will not be tol- YALSA Receives Bequest bined their talents to help YALSA create erated. the curriculum for this workshop. For Any messages posted about YALSA William C. (Bill) Morris, former vice information about the cost of the committee business must be sent by president and director of library promo- institute, or to make arrangements for the appropriate committee chair. List

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS

American Association of School Librarians 4 Hyperion 21, 48 Annick 27 Orca 19 BWI/Follett cover 4 Public Library Association 5 Continental Book Co. 45 Scholastic 32, 39 Farrar, Straus & Giroux cover 2 Tor Books 34 HarperCollins 49 Young Adult Library Services Association cover 3

50 FALL 2004 YALS THE UPDATE

members must not send postings the poster, address a new message to www.ala.org/yalsa by clicking on that suggest the message is being sent the individual’s email address, do not “Publications” from the menu on the left- with the approval or under the aus- reply to the message. hand side of the page and following the pices of a particular YALSA Take “conversations” off the list. links to “Author Guidelines.” Electronic Committee. When list interaction becomes two- submissions are preferable. All postings must be free of copyright sided (two individuals trading com- restrictions that limit distribution. For ments or arguments) it is a sign that example, posting a significant amount you should take the discussion off Membership Bundling of a copyrighted work verbatim the list and correspond with that Studied requires the permission of the copy- person directly. If the discussion was An ad hoc committee appointed by the right holder. To verify that such per- of interest to the general member- joint executive committees of the mission was obtained, all postings of ship you will see others posting on American Association of School this nature must include a statement the topic as well. Librarians (AASL), the Association for that this is the case. Agree to disagree. The likelihood of Library Service to Children (ALSC) and The YALSA executive committee has convincing someone to change a the right to remove members of the strongly held opinion is nil. State the Young Adult Library Services list who fail to participate as required your case, but give up on the idea of Association (YALSA), recently undertook by the policies stated in this document. converting the heathen. an informal study of costs associated with offering a joint membership package. Be civil. Treat others the way you wish to be treated. This research was done both as a result of Guidelines for Participation member interest in joining multiple Respect the rights of others. An elec- The following guidelines are offered as tronic discussion is a commons. Your youth divisions for a reduced member- advice on how to best participate in the right to post ends at the right of oth- ship fee and as an exploration of using discussion list in a manner that will both ers to not be insulted, badgered, or to this type of bundling as a membership contribute to the experience of all readers have their time needlessly wasted. recruitment tool. and also reflect well on you. Upon completing their data collec- tion, the group determined that the cost of Say something substantial. Simply YALS Expands to providing basic services to a member saying “I agree” (in so many words) Quarterly Publication exceeds current membership dues in each or “I disagree” (in so many words) Schedule of the divisions. Based on that research, does not meet this guideline. Specific the committee determined that such a technical questions are, however, Young Adult Library Services, YALSA’s multiple membership package should not quite appropriate, as are brief official association journal is now pub- be offered at this time. They also recom- answers to such questions. lished quarterly! The new production mended that the decision be revisited in Say something new. Mere redun- schedule for the journal means that three years. C. Allen Nichols, YALSA Fiscal dancy will not convince an opponent YALSA members and subscribers will Officer, served as chair of the ad hoc of their error. Explaining the same receive four issues a year, in October, group. Carrie Gardner, AASL Treasurer, argument differently in an attempt to February, April and July. Editor Jana Fine and Floyd Dickman, ALSC Budget and make them see the light has not been is soliciting materials for the newly Finance Committee Chair, represented proven to be an effective strategy. expanded journal and can be reached by their respective divisions. Be careful with the “Reply” com- e-mailing [email protected]. The mand. If you mean to reply only to submission guidelines are available at

YALS FALL 2004 51 Power Up with Print ad? OR Author Guidelines

52 YALSA Excellence ad

EBSCO: Please convert to BW

cvr3 BWI/Follet ad cvr4