YA Section Strategic Plan
The New Jersey Library Association’s Young Adult Services Section
Core Purpose:
The Young Adult Services Section encourages and supports library services and literature for teenagers throughout the state of New Jersey.
Our three main goals are:
- Promote library materials and events to teens
- Promote best practices in teen services
- Support teen librarians
Goal 1: Promote Library materials and events to teens
Objective: Garden State Teen Book Awards
Participants from the section read and evaluate YA books for inclusion in one of three categories on the Garden State Teen Book Awards ballot: Fiction Grades 6-8, Fiction Grades 9-12, and Non-fiction Grades 6-12. The section prepares and distributes the ballot, gathers and tallies votes cast by New Jersey readers, and honors the winners at the Garden State Luncheon at the annual NJLA Conference.
Objective: Teen Advisory Board Forums
Teen Advisory Board Forums demonstrate teenagers’ support of their local libraries to the teens themselves, libraries, and the press. Teen Advisory Board best practices are shared while encouraging teens to both be proud of their accomplishments and to further develop library programming and activities.
Goal 2: Promote best practices in teen services
Objective: NJLA Conference
Prepare and present current, quality programming pertaining to service to teens.
Objective: NJASL Conference
Prepare and present current, quality programming pertaining to service to teens with a focus on school libraries.
Objective: Youth Services Forum
Prepare and present current, quality programming pertaining to service to teens.
Goal 3: Support teen librarians
Objective: Network opportunities
The section meets six times per year and members are encouraged to share (in person and virtually) their successes and issues in all aspects of library service to teens. Members work together to decide on conference programming, to prepare the GSTBA ballot, and plan and promote additional events.
Objective: Leadership opportunities
The section invites members to gain leadership experience by serving on its Executive Board and by being a presenter or panelist for conference programming.
Objective: Continued education
During our six annual meetings, members are updated on pertinent information in New Jersey libraries and opportunities for relevant continued education are highlighted.