YALSA to Launch Awards for Audiobooks, Young Adult Librarians, and First-Time YA Authors

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Debra Lau Whelan -- School Library Journal, 2/16/2006

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) plans to unveil an audiobook award at the American Library Association's (ALA) annual conference in New Orleans in June, says Beth Yoke, YALSA's executive director.

At ALA's January midwinter meeting in San Antonio, TX, a YALSA joint taskforce—made up of members of the Association of Library Service to Children, Booklist, and audiobook makers—developed a proposal, which they hope will be approved by ALA's awards committee. If approved, the award would be given beginning in 2008.

YALSA's board accepted a proposal to establish an Outstanding Achievement Award in Young Adult Librarianship. Pending approval from the awards committee, this prize will also first be offered in 2008.

YALSA's board also voted to establish a taskforce to plan and implement an award for a first-time YA author. This would be funded through funds YALSA received from the late William Morris, who managed library promotion for HarperCollins Children's Books and its predecessor, Harper & Row.

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