Teen Literature Day April 16th, 2009

Support Teen Literature Day
From YALSA

Librarians all across the country are encouraged to participate in Support Teen Literature Day on April 16th, 2009 by hosting events in their library or through their web site on that day. The purpose of this new celebration is to raise awareness among the general public that young adult literature is a vibrant, growing genre with much to offer today's teens. Support Teen Literature Day also seeks to showcase some award-winning authors and books in the genre as well as highlight librarians' expertise in connecting teens with books and other reading materials.

YALSA celebrated the first annual Support Teen Literature Day in Chicago at the Benito Juarez Community Academy in Chicago, IL. The celebration featured author Tiffany Trent, a performance by the band High Strung as well as several of the High School's students who discussed teen literature they enjoyed.

Things You Can Do To Support Teen Literature Day

1. Become aware of the multiple Teen/YA book awards. Every year, committees select the YALSA sponsored Printz, Edwards, Alex and Odyssey award winning books. In addition, committees work to compile various booklists representing the year's best books in several categories: Quick Picks, Best Books, Great Graphic Novels, Popular Paperbacks, etc. Each fall Teens pick their top ten favorite books for the Teens' Top Ten. Teens' Top Ten nominations are posted on the YALSA web site in April, so teens can be reading them all summmer. In addition to all of these, many states have their own awards that highlight books reflecting them. Visit the Awards & Booklists page on the YALSA site for more details.

2. Read a book that has been honored

3. Set up a display of award winning books

4. Recommend an award winning book

5. Highlight award winning books or the latest Teens' Top Ten nominations during your Summer Reading programs.

6. Feature an award winning book on your web page.

7. Booktalk an award winning book.

8. Talk to teens about what they are reading and why. Find out what they think is good literature.

9. Celebrate Support Teen Literature Day (the Thursday of each National Library Week).

10. Hold a mock- Printz award contest, inviting teens to talk about what makes a teen book award winning.

11. Talk to area teachers about what is new in teen reading.

12. Talk to parents of teens about what is new in teen reading.

13. Recommend a teen book to an adult looking for something new and good to read. Try the Alex Awards--the top ten adult books with teen appeal.

14. Create a list of cross-over books (teen books that appeal to adults)

15. Highlight the number of adult authors that also write for teens

16. Create a display of teen authors (authors who were published when they are in their teens)

17. Visit YALSA's wiki for a list of the 100 best summer reads for teens

18. Celebrate Banned Books Week

19. Celebrate Teen Read Week

20. Include in your webpage, MySpace page and bibliographies teen lit author websites

21. Host a teen author at your library

22. Host a chat with a teen author

23. Survey teens on their favorite teen book

24. Host a cover art contest and ask teens to create a cover of their favorite book

25. Highlight the different genres of teen lit (don't forget the graphic novels!)

26. Create a video where teens booktalk their favorites (check out

27. Create a YA book discussion blog.

28. Share YA books with adults - there's good reading here, no matter what your age!

29. Send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Create your own or use the sample letter from YALSA: http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/Letter_to_Editor.doc

30. Encourage local schools to add modern teen literature to their summer reading lists.

31. Print up some bookmarks of your favorite YA titles and distribute them in your library.

32. Ask teens to create their own book trailer: http://www.thebookstandard.com/bookstandard/events/teen_book_video/index.jsp

33. Host a teen movie night and show movies made from YA novels.

34. Start a teen book group.

35. Ask your teens to design posters for their favorite books.

36. Hold a fundraiser for libraries affected by disasters such as Hurricane Katrina.

37. Throw a book release party for a popular YA title.