CHICAGO - More than 4,000 libraries across the United States celebrated Teen Read Week, Oct. 18-24, with teens crowding libraries for author visits, movie marathons, craft programs and book discussions. In addition, leaders from the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) took to the nation’s airwaves and appeared in newspapers, discussing the importance of teen literacy and teen library usage.

The American Library Association’s Public Information Office (PIO) worked closely with YALSA to support this year’s Teen Read Week publicity efforts. Media outreach resulted in hundreds of placements with, among others, WCBS-FM, Vocalo.org, Los Angeles Times, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Tacoma News Tribune, Auburn Citizen and the Mankato Free Press.

Highlights included YALSA announcing the 2009 Teens’ Top Ten, a booklist chosen entirely by and for teens, in which teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year. John Green’s “Paper Towns”came in atop the list, ahead of many other favorites. World Wrestling Entertainment Divas Brie Bella and Nikki Bella announced the winners, with a special appearance from Green, in a Webcast that can be viewed at www.ala.org/teenstopten.

Since its inception in 1998, Teen Read Week (www.ala.org/teenread), sponsored by YALSA, a division of the American Library Association (ALA) has encouraged teens to visit their public and school libraries to select their own reading material and read for the fun of it.

For more information on Teen Read Week, please visit www.ala.org/teenread or contact Jennifer Petersen at (312) 280-5043, jpetersen@ala.org.

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Join thousands as ALA , ALSC and YALSA unveil the best of the best in children’s and young adult literature and media.

The American Library Association (ALA) will provide a free live webcast of its Youth Media Awards, a national announcement of the top books and media for children and young adults, on Jan. 18, at 7:45 a.m. EST. The award announcements are made as part of the ALA Midwinter Meeting, which will bring together librarians, publishers, authors and guests to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center from Jan. 15 to 19.

Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, the ALA Youth Media Awards guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for children and young adults. This year’s announcement includes 18 awards including the Coretta Scott King Book Awards; John Newbery Medal; Michael L. Printz Award; Schneider Family Book Award; and the Randolph Caldecott Medal.

Unikron, a streaming content provider, will host the ALA Youth Media Awards Webcast. The number of available connections for the Webcast is limited and the broadcast is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Online visitors can view the live Webcast the morning of the announcements by going to http://alawebcast.unikron.com. Those interested in following the action live should bookmark the URL.

The ALA will instantly announce presentation results using Twitter. Members can view live updates on the ALA Youth Media Awards press kit and via tweets at http://twitter.com/ALAyma. Members can also follow live updates via the Youth Media Awards RSS and the ALA Youth Media Awards Facebook page.

The press release announcing all ALA Youth Media Award recipients will be posted in the Youth Media Awards Press Kit at http://www.ala.org/yma prior to 9:30 a.m. EST.

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Hundreds of libraries across the country are preparing to celebrate National Gaming Day @ your library on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009. How popular is gaming in libraries? A recent study shows that more than 75% of public libraries support gaming, by offering computer or board gaming, circulating games, or offering gaming events and programs.

A National Gaming Day @ your library publicity toolkit is now available at “http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/mediapresscenter/presskits/ngd09/ngd09mtk.cfm” to help libraries promote their gaming programs and events to the media. The Web toolkit includes downloadable artwork, customizable postcards, a sample press release, a sample letter to the editor and much more.

To learn more about National Gaming Day @ your library please visit http://ilovelibraries.org/gaming.

Contributed by Macey Morales, manager, media relations, ALA Public Information Office

Tags: ALA Membership, ALA Midwinter Meeting, ALA News, Libraries in a tough economy, National Library Week, PR tools, State of America's Libraries Report by admin
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