Current YALSA Task Forces

A task force is an action-oriented membership group whose charge is to address specific goals, complete a specific task, or to consider a particular issue. There may be a designated time frame defined by the nature of the task or set forth in the function statement. Functions of a task force may include the following:

  1. Gathering information and making recommendations
  2. Studying an issue and preparing a report
  3. carrying out a specific project or activity
  4. Conducting programs at conferences
  5. Establishing committees or other subunits.

A task force is used to address critical, urgent, or ongoing situations which require a strong, visible organizational effort and/or activist response. Any parent body may establish a task force, determine its duration, monitor its progress, and terminate its function. (ALA Policy Manual, Article 6.9)

Many, but not all, YALSA task forces complete all of their work virtually and members are not required to attend conferences.

Advocacy Resources Task Force

Provide a means for identifying advocacy experts and connecting them to members to enhance their advocacy efforts. Engage members in advocacy through contests and incentives. Promote subscriptions to the YAdvocacy listserv, post regular tips on everyday advocacy and encourage discussion. Model use of social media as an advocacy tool to members and encourage them to use it at the local and state levels, such as Google maps, Storify, and Scoop.it. Encourage the use and awareness of existing internal and external advocacy tools such as YALSA's Advocacy Toolkit and Advocacy Benchmarks, ALA resources, and others, including organizing and maintaining those resources on YALSA's wiki (http://ow.ly/sCzrX). Task force size: 5 - 7 virtual members, including the chair.

Community Connections Taskforce

Compile existing and, as needed, develop new resources for members on the topic of using community engagement and partnerships to address teen needs.  Resources must address the following key topics: rationale for pursuing community partnerships; strategies for assessing teen and community needs and identifying possible partners; examples of organizations that could serve as potential partners; asset mapping of library resources to determine what the library can bring to a partnership; and turn-key resources libraries can adapt and use, such as sample email messages to potential partners, community needs assessment tools, asset map checklist, etc.  As completed, promote the community connections resources with the assistance of YALSA staff and member leaders through a variety of YALSA and other channels, including but not limited to: YALSAblog posts, webinars, Academy videos, Google Hangouts, and presentations at conferences.  Size: 5-7 virtual members, including the Chair. Term: from August 1, 2015 to January 31, 2017.

Competencies Update Task Force

Review the current document called "Young Adults Deserve the Best: Competencies for Librarians Serving Youth" and update the language and content, as needed, to ensure it reflects the mission and core values of teens services as described in The Future of Library Service for and With Teens: A Call to Action. Provide a draft by December 15th for the Midwinter meeting in January, a revised draft for the Spring Executive meeting, and submit a final report with recommended changes for Board consideration by Annual 2015. Task force size: 5 - 7 virtual members, including the Chair. 

Cultural Competence Task Force

Adapt existing exemplary resources, and as needed, create new ones to help members learn how to incorporate cultural competence into their everyday work and how libraries can strengthen competence in order to increase their relevance and value as a partner in their community. Activities include: creating a cultural competence toolkit; maintaining the diversity page on YALSA's public wiki and encouraging members to contribute to the content there; creating a cultural competence self-assessment; as requested by the YALSAblog Manager & YALS Editor, identify individuals to create cultural competence-focused content; and increase member awareness of existing cultural competence resources from the ALA Office for Diversity and ALA Affiliates. Task force size: 5-7 virtual members, including the chair.

Mentoring  Task Force

Review applications submitted for the YALSA 2014 - 2015 mentoring program to determine applicants' eligibility. Using information provided in mentor and protégé applications select and match mentors and protégés from those applicants who are eligible. Submit selections/matches to YALSA's Program Officer for Continuing Education.  Committee size: 5 - 7 virtual members. 

President's Program Planning Task Force

The function statement of the Member Group is:  To work with the YALSA President and Program Office for Conferences & Events to plan, organize and implement the YALSA President's Program at the next Annual Conference. Committee members aren't expected to attend Midwinter, but are expected to attend Annual.  Committee size: 5-7, including the chair.  Term: 1 year, commencing after Annual and ending after Annual.

Presidential Advisory Task Force

To provide support, guidance and advice to the incoming YALSA President during his first two years (President-Elect and Presidential) of service, when requested.  Activities may include working with the President-Elect to review YALSA's goals, initiatives, and strategic plan to develop an appropriate Presidential theme, goal(s) and/or initiative(s). As requested, provide support and oversight of the implementation of any Presidential initiatives. Task force term: 2 year term starting in July. Task force size: 4- 6 virtual members, plus a chair.  Representation from diverse backgrounds is encouraged. Chaired by the President-Elect.

Literacies Task Force

The taskforce will create a variety of resources to help members learn about expanded literacies and how libraries can embrace a role in helping teens increase literacy skills in order to increase their value in their community. Activities include: creating a literacies toolkit to be released in conjunction with 2014 Teen Read Week; creating Academy videos that explain the various literacies; expanding and maintaining the literacies page on YALSA's public wiki on an ongoing basis and encouraging members to contribute to the content there; as requested by the YALSAblog Manager, identify bloggers to regularly create literacy related posts; as requested by the YALS Editor, identify authors to write literacy related articles; identify topics for issue and position papers and work with the Publications Advisory Board to find authors. Task force size: 7- 9 virtual members, including the chair. 

Summer Reading/Learning Task Force

To work with YALSA's Communications Manager to promote the applications for summer reading grants.  To vet the applicants for the summer reading mini grants and by Feb. 3, 2014, choose the 20 applications that best convey a plan to help teens build literacy skills over the summer according to eligibility requirements and responses to questions on the application form.  To vet the applicants for the summer intern grants and choose the 20 best by Feb.17.  To compile and/or create resources focused specifically on assisting library staff implement summer reading and learning programs and activities and add them to YALSA's wiki as they are developed.  To seed discussions and share resources on the summer reading Ning.  Taskforce size: 5 - 7 virtual members, including the chair. 

2015 YA Services Symposium Marketing & Planning

To assist YALSA’s Program Officer for Conferences & Events with the planning, marketing and implementation of YALSA's YA Services Symposium, including the creation and maintenance of an online social networking site (via Ning) that will be the primary marketing tool for the event, vetting symposium papers and proposals, vetting scholarship applications and more. Members will regularly add content to the social networking site in order to build excitement for and share information about the event. Members will work with YALSA's Communications Specialist to create and assist with the implementation of a marketing plan. Members will work with presenters leading up to the symposium to ensure high quality programs. Members conduct task force work virtually, but are expected to attend the symposium.  Size: 5 to 7 members, including the chair. Term July 1, 2014 through January 31, 2016. Members conduct task force work virtually, but are expected to attend the event

 

2016 YA Services Symposium Marketing & Planning

To assist YALSA’s Program Officer for Conferences & Events with the planning, marketing and implementation of YALSA's YA Services Symposium, including the creation and maintenance of an online site that will be the primary marketing tool for the event, vetting symposium papers and proposals, vetting scholarship applications and more. Members will regularly add content to the site and post to social media in order to build excitement for and share information about the event. Members will work with YALSA's Communications Specialist to create and assist with the implementation of a marketing plan. Members will work with presenters leading up to the symposium to ensure high quality programs. Members conduct task force work virtually, but are expected to attend the symposium (location TBD by Sept. 2015).  Size: 5 to 7 members, including the chair. Term Dec. 1, 2015  through Dec. 31, 2016. Members conduct task force work virtually, but are expected to attend the event

Qualifications:

  • Knowledge of current topics and trends of interest to library staff serving teens

  • Strong organizational skills

  • Excellent marketing skills, including use of social networking tools for marketing purposes

  • Ability to attend the symposium (location TBD by Sept. 2015)

Size: up to 5-7 members:

Qualifications:

  • Knowledge of current topics and trends of interest to librarians serving teens

  • Strong organizational skills

  • Excellent marketing skills, including use of social networking tools for marketing purposes

  • Ability to attend the symposium

Size: up to 5-7 members:
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