YALSA at ALA's 2015 Midwinter Meeting

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View the complete schedule, with locations, for all YALSA meetings and programs on this YALSA Schedule.

General Conference Tips

Visit General Conference Tips for information about attending an ALA conference, including tips on finding funding for attending the conference, what to do before you attend, and how to make the most of the conference when you get home.

For specific, up to date information about the ALA Conference beyond YALSA's slate of programs and events, please visit the ALA Midwinter Meeting Website.

Registration, Travel and Hotel Information

  • Bundled registration for ALA Annual and ALA Midwinter will open on Sept. 2.
  • United Airlines is offering special meeting discounts for attendees of the ALA Annual Conference. Simply call the United Special Meeting Desk at 800-521-4041 and refer to Meeting ID Number 500CR to receive a 2-10% discount off applicable fares, including First Class. If you purchase your ticket at least 30 days prior to travel, you will receive an additional 5% discount. This special offer applies to travel on domestic segments of all United Airlines, United Express, TED and United code share flights (UA*) operated by US Airways, US Airways Express and Air Canada. There are no fees to use the 800 number. International attendees will receive a 10% discount off the lowest applicable fare (excluding First Class), or a 15% discount off the fully refundable, unrestricted coach fare when they call their local United Airlines reservation number and refer to meeting ID number 500CR. An additional 5% discount will apply when tickets are purchased at least 60 days in advance of your travel dates. Discounts apply to United and Lufthansa (code share) flights. You can also make your reservation online at www.united.com, using ALA promotion code 500CR (click on "More Search Options" to enter the code).
  • Consider staying with local Chicago residents who are renting out futons and private bedrooms. They have individual reviews too.

Shuttles at ALA Chicago

A free shuttle will run from McCormick Place to many of the official ALA hotels. Click here to access the 2015 Midwinter Meeting shuttle schedule.

Roommates

Looking for a roommate for the symposium? Leave a message looking for someone in this space. Please include your contact information!

Convention Center Information

  • Location: The 2015 ALA Midwinter Meeting will be held in Chicago's McCormick Place convention center at 2301 S. Lake Shore Dr. This is a pretty huge convention center, so be sure you know where your meeting rooms are, or you could waste a lot of time wandering around.
  • Maps: You can access the web for maps and floor plans of McCormick Place at www.mccormickplace.com (click on Facilities, then Floor Plans).

Selected YALSA Events

Please check back often for updates! Download the full schedule with room locations here.

Friday, January 30

Tour Chicago Public Library's YOUmedia 1-2pm Tour the recently renovated YOUmedia space at the Harold Washington Library Center and learn more about YOUmedia's programming model. YOUmedia is located on the first floor in the northeast portion of the Harold Washington Library Center at 400 S State Street just south of the State and Van Buren intersection. Attendees can enter at the State or Van Buren entrances and follow the signs for YOUmedia. There is no fee to tour the space, but advanced registration is required.

Saturday, January 31

Selection Committee Chair Leadership Development - 8am, breakfast, meeting 8:30-10am. McCormick Place Convention Center W185a. This is a leadership training session for YALSA's Selection & Award Committee Chairs. All current and out-going Selection & Award Committee Chairs are expected to attend. In-coming Selection & Award Committee Chairs are welcome to attend, but are not required to do so. Directors on YALSA's Board are also expected to attend. Never been a Selection or Award Committee Chair, but thinking about being one? Come to this event to learn the leadership basics for these particular types of committees. A continental breakfast will be served. This event is generously sponsored by Blink.

Partnering Strategically to Reach Beyond Library Walls 8:30-10:00am. McCormick Place Convention Center W185c. YOUmedia and Chicago Public Library Staff will host an interactive panel discussion highlighting their effective partnership strategies and partner projects. Attendees are encouraged to interact with the panel and share explore new ideas together. Brought to you by YALSA and the the Future of Teens and Libraries task force: www.ala.org/yaforum

YALSA 201 - McCormick Place Convention Center W176C 8:30-10am Are you a YALSA member who's familiar with the basic programs, services and opportunities that the organization has to offer? Are you interested in becoming more involved in the association or are you ready to step up to a leadership position? If so, this event is designed for you! Come learn how to be more involved!

YALSA Trends Impacting YA Services: Designing the Library Of The Future For And With Teens: Librarians as the "Connector" in Connected Learning 10:30-11:30am - Hosted by YALSA Past Presidents. Dr. Mega Subramaniam is an Assistant Professor at the College of Information Studies, and Associate Director of the Information Policy and Access Center (iPAC) at the University of Maryland. Her presentation explores the use of participatory design approaches to design space, programming and services for diverse youth to promote connected learning.

Best Fiction for Young Adults Teen Session 1-3pm. McCormick Place Convention Center W190b. Come hear local Chicago area teens talk about their favorite picks for the 2015 BFYA list.

YALSA Happy Hour - Tavern Tap Pub at the Congress Plaza Hotel located at 520 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60605. Drop in any time between 5:30 and 7pm. Mingle with other YALSA members and supporters. Cash bar.

Sunday, February 1

Coffee with the Candidates - 10:30 - 11:30am. McCormick Place Convention Center W475b. Meet and mingle with the candidates who are on the ballot for the 2015 election, including President-Elect and Board of Directors at Large. Candidates will have the opportunity to talk about why they want to serve on YALSA's Board of Directors and attendees will have the chance to mingle with the candidates and ask questions. Light refreshments and door prizes.

Moving YALSA Forward 1:00-2:30pm. McCormick Place Convention Center W192b. This is session is open to anyone who would like to participate in the development of YALSA's new strategic plan. YALSA values your opinion, so please come to this event and let us know where you think YALSA should be headed in the next 3 years in order to best meet member needs and advance our mission. Light refreshments will be available.

Advocacy Support Task Force 1:00-2:00pm. McCormick Place West W474a. You know the importance of library services for and with teens, but does your boss, your board and your community? The Advocacy Support Task Force wants to help you amp up your advocacy efforts, but we need to hear from you! Join us to contribute your feedback to the upcoming #Advocacy365 campaign.

Monday February 2

McCormick Place Convention Center W375a/Skyline

It's the most exciting day in youth literature, as the annual Youth Media Awards are announced, from 8-9:15am (central) Monday morning. Be there to find out who wins the Printz Award for literary excellence, the Edwards Award for for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature, the Alex Awards, honoring the top ten adult book with youth appeal, the Morris award honoring a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens, YALSA's Nonfiction Award for excellence in nonfiction, and the Odyssey Award for excellence in audiobook production for youth. Never been to the Youth Media Awards before? See what it's all about via these highlights from last year's event!

Can't attend the Youth Media Awards? You will be able to watch it live online or follow via Twitter with the hashtag #alayma

Be sure you get your ticket for the Morris & Nonfiction Award Program & Presentation from 10:30am to noon. McCormick Place Convention Center W181

Come celebrate the 2015 honorees and winners for the Morris Award and the YA Nonfiction Award! Enjoy coffee, tea and danish and listen to the winners and finalists speak about their honored titles. After the speeches, mingle with the authors and pick up free copies of their books. The Morris finalists and Nonfiction finalists were announced the first week of December. Tickets are $19 and include a continental breakfast and 2-3 free books, generously donated by the publishers. Authors attending the event (Morris finalists: Jessie Ann Foley, E.K. Johnston, Isabel Quintero, Len Vlahos, and Leslye Walton) will be available to sign attendees' books. Purchase your ticket via the ALA web site. A limited amount of tickets will be available at the door.

Finish the day at the ALSC/YALSA Member Reception from 6-7:30 pm at the Blackstone Hotel in the Crystal Ballroom. Hors d'oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available.

YALSA Governance at Conference

YALSA's Board of Directors has three meetings at the ALA Midwinter Meeting. Board meetings are open meetings and any individual who is registered for the conference may sit in on the meetings. The first 10 minutes of each meeting are set aside for visitors and board members to use as an 'open forum' where anyone can share information, ask questions, etc. All board meetings are in room W175b of the convention center. The meeting schedule is as follows:

  • Board of Directors Meeting I, Saturday 1:00 to 5:00
  • Board of Directors Meeting II, Sunday 4:30 to 6:00
  • Board of Directors Meeting III, Monday 1:00 to 2:30

The Board agenda and documents are finalized two weeks prior to the conference and posted online. Anyone interested in viewing the agenda for the Board meeting, as well as the documents that accompany the agenda items, may view or download them from the Governance section of the YALSA web site. To learn about past Board meetings and actions, visit the Governance page on YALSA's web site to read the minutes from past meetings. If you have questions about governance matters or want to share an idea, comment or question, please feel free to contact YALSA'sPresident, or Beth Yoke. To stay up to date on the latest governance and Board issues, check out the YALSAblog. The President will post regular updates during and after the conference.

Meetings of the Board of Directors are open to all members in good standing who wish to listen and observe proceedings. Members are asked to respect the fact that directors have an agenda to discuss and there may not be time for new business. Members are welcome to sit in the chairs around the perimeter of the room so that directors can be seated together for conversing and vote tallies. Members are welcome to share their comments, ideas, requests, etc. during the “Information Forum” that begins each meeting. If there are a number of guests wanting to speak, it may be necessary to set time limits for speaking. Members may not introduce new topics or speak during the board's general business, unless called upon by the President for input.

If you're a YALSA member, that means you're an ALA member, too! You are also welcome to check out the ALA governance meetings that are going on. All meetings are held in the Hyatt Regency Chicago's Comiskey room:

  • ALA Executive Board Executive Committee Thur. 4:00pm - 5:00pm
  • ALA Executive Board Meeting I Fri. 8:30am - 11:00am
  • ALA Executive Board Meeting II Mon. 2:00pm - 4:30pm
  • ALA Executive Board Meeting III Tue. 1:30pm - 4:30pm

YALSA Online at Conference

  • The official hashtag for the conference is #alamw15. When tweeting about YALSA at the conference, be sure to add @yalsa as well
  • The YALSAblog will cover some events at the conference.
  • Tweeting about YALSA's book award winners? Then use the hashtag #ALAyma (for the ALA Youth Media Awards)
  • Here's a handy list of tips for Tweeting in a conference setting (scroll down towards the end of the blog post)

YALSA in the Exhibits

  • Visit YALSA's booth #5037 in the exhibit hall to get stocked up on everything you need for Teen Tech Week, including free posters, bookmarks and a Making in the Library Toolkit. We'll also have our usual swag, too, like badge ribbons. Teen Tech Week will be celebrated March 8 - 14, 2015 with the theme "Libraries are for Making..." Best Buy is the 2015 National Sponsor for Teen Tech Week.

YALSA Office Area & Staff On-Site

  • ALA provides an office area to all units where members can go to get badge ribbons, fliers, etc. Location TBD.
  • Staff are typically not in the office area, but are assisting with the various member programs and meetings.

Other Events of Interest

ONGOING

  • ALA Kitchen Table Conversations, Hyatt Regency McCormick, Boardroom from Sat, Sun. & Mon., Feb. 2, with four options per day: 8:30 - 10 a.m., 10:30 - noon, 1 - 2:30 p.m. and 3 - 4:30 p.m. The focus of the 1.5-hour conversations at Midwinter is professional and leadership development. Spaces are filled on a first-come basis, and attendees are welcome to join without signing up provided there’s space. To ensure a seat, please register in advance at http://vols.pt/Eab9qU

FRI

SAT

  • A Conversation with ALA President-Elect Sari Feldman from 8:30 - 10:00am in room W192b of the convention center: Join Sari for a conversation about her presidential platform and key areas of focus for the 2015-2016 presidential year. Your input and guidance is welcome as Sari and her presidential advisory team map out a plan for effecting change during her term.
  • Superhero Showdown: A Bracket For Debate - 10:30 to 11:30am, McCormick Place West W474b: In 2014, Richland Library hosted three debate-style programs for teens having to do with the heroes and villains of DC and Marvel comics. Join Thomas Maluck as he describes what went into the planning of these programs as well as teens' debate styles that determined the fates of Earth's mightiest heroes. Predict the final results, if you can! Sponsored by the ALA Graphic Novels & Comics in Libraries Member Interest Group
  • Saturday Ignite Sessions - Noon to 12:30pm, McCormick Place West W183a
    • 20 Kids/Teens Titles To Diversify Your Collection Today: We all know we owe it our our patrons to have collections that more accurately reflect the diversity of their lives. So, let's cut right to the chase with 20 flash booktalks for amazing titles for children and teens to diversify your library's shelves right this second.
    • The Kids Are Not All White: Some 43% of Millennial adults are non-white and the U.S. Census Bureau projects that the full U.S. population will be majority non-white around 2043. Kidlit publishers do not reflect these population dynamics. Do library shelves and programs? All young readers need mirrors and windows that both reflect and open to the world around them. Library materials and programs are important in helping children make cross-cultural connections and developing skills necessary to function in a pluralistic society. Resources are readily available for librarians to meet these needs.
    • Geek Culture & Diversity in Library Spaces: will discuss ways in which librarians can use geeky interests like comics, movies, fanfiction, and more to engage patrons of all backgrounds and life experiences, who might otherwise feel marginalized or underrepresented in popular media. This will include tips on purchasing graphic novels that feature characters of color, different gender identities, and varied backgrounds, comics that speak to LGBTQ issues, and ways to create programming around these materials that make your patrons feel that their library is a safe and welcoming space for geeks of all kinds.
  • ALA Candidates’ Forum from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. in room W375c/Skyline of the convention center. Meet and participate in a Q&A session with ALA's four candidates for President-Elect, Joseph Janes, James LaRue, JP Porcaro, Julie Todaro
  • ALA-APA Networking Reception and Fundraiser at 6:00-8:00 pm. ALA facilitates your learning, ALA-APA facilitates your earning! This year’s event will be a wine and cheese reception. Tickets cost $50 each. To register for the event online, visit: http://alamw15.ala.org/ticketed-events#ALA . You may also send a check to: ALA-APA, 50 East Huron, Chicago, IL 60611. Your financial contribution makes it possible for ALA-APA to continue its mission of promoting the mutual professional interests of librarians and library workers.

SUN

  • Children and Youth Technology Policy Initiatives, 10:30-11:30 in room W185a of the convention center: After two years of investigating the intersection of information policy with youth and technology, the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy formalized its work last fall. Through support of our Advisory Committee, OITP is designing the focus for the next few years and they need you! Please attend this session and tell OITP about your experiences as practitioners in integrating technology into children's and teen services. This foundation will help OITP determine where the intersection with national policy falls and where OITP can make a contribution.
  • Performance Outcomes Measures for Public Libraries, 10:30 - 11:30 in room W183b of the convention center. Learn the latest about the outcomes measurement developments from PLA’s performance measurement task force. Task force members will share early results and best practices from survey implementation tests. You’ll also find out about next steps and how your library can get involved.
  • Sunday Ignite Sessions - Noon to 12:30pm, McCormick Place West W183a
    • Kitchen Creations: My renovated YS dept has a kitchen, tv monitors, and computers. With the use of videos and the kitchen, I aim to show kids and teens how to make healthier options for after school snacks, meals. The kitchen is another way to bring families together. With our busy world, we forget to take time with family. Food is a great way to bring people together. Images of events will demonstrate how families come together. Kids, teens, and parents work together to make mealtime fun again!
    • Crossover readers' advisory: Teens enjoy reading adult published books just as much as adults enjoy reading teen stories. Yet few librarians know the best ways to reach these crossover audiences. A rapid overview of best practices and recommended titles for both age groups.

MON

  • ALA Executive Board Candidates' Forum, 12:30 - 1:30 in room W375c/Skyline of the convention center. Candidates are nominated from within and selected by ALA Council. The ALA Executive Board is the governing body of ALA. Executive Board members serve a three year term, beginning in July. Come hear what the candidates say are a priority for addressing within ALA in the next three years.

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