CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, won the Innovation Prize at the BoardSource Leadership Forum, which is funded through support from Prudential and the Prudential Foundation.  YALSA was one of 40 organizations that competed for the prize.  The Innovation Prize is an onsite competition designed to inspire and support innovative approaches to strengthening and building organizational impact through effective board leadership.

Executive Director Beth Yoke and President-Elect Jack Martin’s presentation, which took place in Atlanta on Sept. 23, focused on the approach that YALSA has taken toward increasing board effectiveness and impact, with an emphasis on recruitment, training, engagement and assessment.  YALSA’s Board of Directors will vote on how best to utilize the $10,000 cash prize.

“This award recognizes the hard work that YALSA's board has done in the past few years to make ourselves more responsive, strategic and innovative,” said President Sarah Flowers. “Our new board fellowship, our board member self-assessments and learning plans, our use of social media and our goal to have a junior board are just a few of the things we are doing to build the future for YALSA and to keep it relevant for our members.”

For more than 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videos and audiobooks for teens.  For more information about YALSA or for lists of recommended reading, viewing and listening, go to www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists, or contact the YALSA office by phone, (800) 545-2433, ext. 4390, or e-mail, yalsa@ala.org.

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