CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) published a new national research agenda on libraries and teens, updating its 1994 research agenda. The agenda is available online at www.ala.org/yalsa/researchagenda.

The YALSA Research Agenda was developed by members of YALSA’s 2010 and 2011 Research Committees. This group of library science educators, working in graduate schools of library science across the United States, surveyed the field to determine gaps in research and determine the questions that needed to be answered in order to fill those gaps. It also updates the agenda to reflect the many changes that have happened in teen services and libraries in the 17 years since the last update.

“YALSA members and YA researchers can use this research agenda as a guide for developing interesting and meaningful research projects related to young adults and young adult services,” said Don Latham, chair of YALSA’s current Research Committee and a contributor to the agenda. “The agenda should be seen as the beginning of the conversation, not the ‘last word,’ and researchers should use it as a framework for asking—and beginning to answer—their own important questions related to young adults and their information needs.”

The research that YALSA calls for in the agenda will help guarantee that librarians serving young adults are able to provide the best service possible as well as advocate for funding and support in order to ensure that teens are served effectively by their libraries. 

“I appreciate all the hard work that the Research Committee put in to creating this comprehensive research agenda,” said Sarah Flowers, YALSA president. “YALSA members will greatly benefit from the research about teens and libraries that comes out of this agenda. It will give all of us the information we need to advocate for teens and libraries and to build the future of teen librarianship.”

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.

To comment, share, or see related resources and images, go here.