Become a Friend of YALSA

91´«Ã½

Our Mission

Friends of YALSA was created in 2005 to ensure excellence in the Association's traditional programs and services to library workers serving teens and to support growth in new directions as our profession meets the exciting challenges of the 21st century.

Each year, FOY funds are used to support over $16,000 in member , including a and . When additional FOY funds become available, YALSA's Board also directs FOY funds to support the following areas:

  • Advocacy: educating members, library workers, the general public and policy makers about the importance of providing excellent library services to teens, and the critical role that library workers and libraries play in helping teens develop key literacy skills and a lifelong appreciation of reading.
  • Continuous Learning: creating opportunities for all members and library workers to grow through grants, providing scholarships to those in need and offering distance learning and institutes.
  • Planning for the Future:helping to attract new members and retain existing ones, creating public awareness campaigns, planning and carrying out new initiatives to pursue excellence in library service to young adults, and more.
  • Research: guiding and promoting research in the field of young adult librarianship through grants, publications, and other means to ensure that the field of librarianship has the necessary knowledge to meet the needs of teens.
  • Teen Literacies: sponsoring literacy initiatives such as Teen Read Week, YALSA’s booklists and book awards, and guaranteeing YALSA's place in the forefront of our nation's adolescent literacies campaigns.

Check out this infographic to learn more about the member awards and grants FOY funds.





2021 Giving Tuesday

For every to Friends of YALSA on Tuesday, November 30, the donor will be entered into a raffle to win one of the following prizes:

  • Virtual YA Author visit from (there will be a selection of date options)
  • A set of 4 signed books from YA author, Brenden Kiely

Winners will be notified by Friday, December 3, 2021.

View the list of donators.

To Become a Friend:

You can become a Friend of YALSA in any giving category.

  • Platinum Circle $1,000 or more
  • Gold Circle $500-$999
  • Silver Circle $250-$499
  • Bronze Circle $100-$249
  • Friends' Circle $10-$99

How to Donate

Make your tax-deductible donation in either of the following ways:

  • at the 91´«Ã½ Development Office's secure website. (Fill in the amount you would like to donate in the YALSA box of the "91´«Ã½ Divisions and Offices" section).
  • Send a contribution by mail, using the (PDF). Complete the form and mail it back with your donation to: Friends of YALSA, 225 N Michigan Ave, Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60601.
  • Set up a recurring donation via the Network for Good's . (In the "Designation" box, type "YALSA").

How Funds Are Used

The Friends of YALSA supports $15,095 worth of member grants, awards and scholarships each year. Since 2007, the Friends of YALSA gave more than $70,000 to support efforts such as:

  • sponsoring Spectrum Scholars (listen to between Linda Braun, YALSA past president, and Hoan-Vu Do, YALSA's 2010-2011 Spectrum Scholar)
  • sponsoring Emerging Leaders
  • sending YALSA members to 91´«Ã½'s Library Advocacy Day
  • launching YALSA's to honor the best writers, bloggers and researchers in the field

Special Recognition for Friends of YALSA

  • A letter from 91´«Ã½/YALSA recognizing your generous donation for your tax records
  • Special listing in YALSA E-News, YALSA's monthly e-newsletter
  • Special listing on the YALSA Web site
  • Friend of YALSA conference badge ribbon
  • Reserved seating at the YALSA Membership Meeting, Edwards Luncheon (for ticketholders) and Printz Program and Reception (for ticketholders) at 91´«Ã½’s Annual Conference
  • Acknowledgment at the annual Membership Meeting
  • Platinum and Gold Circle members receive a special invitation to meet with the Edwards Award winner at a reception at 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference

For More Information

Request a Friends of YALSA packet to be mailed to you by contacting the YALSA office at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4390, or via email at yalsa@ala.org.

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