Review of Advocacy for Trustees
Each year the Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) Committee of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) selects several books considered to be the best written for teens within the past 15 months. The committee is composed of librarians, teachers and publishers. Criteria for selection include outstanding writing and popularity. According to an article in Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) the selection criteria for the BBYA are outstanding writing and popularity (Kranke). While librarians decide which books to purchase, based on what they consider to be the best material for their public, it is the nature of the adolescent to question almost anything an adult says is best for him. The title "Best Books for Young Adults" begs the question: "Who says it's the best ?" Readers must decide. Mrs. Tengwall, the librarian at the Block Island library has planned a book discussion program for the teens in her community based on the BBYA book list. The program will be called:
"Best Books for Young Adults??? YOU Decide." The primary goals of the program are:
encourage teens to read quality literature.
provide an opportunity for them to share their reactions and opinions about the books with their peers.
Rationale
There are several reasons for offering a teen reading group program in the library. These include:
Provide social interaction among teens in a safe, inviting environment
Encourage teens' involvement in the library
Promote library services
Promote recently published books
Support students' continuing language development
Block Island is a community of 1010 year-round residents. There are 23 students in grades six through eight, the target audience for the teen book discussion group. The youth services librarian at the Block Island Library developed a book discussion program in an effort to encourage island teens to read for pleasure. The program will introduce participants to books that are considered by librarians and teachers, to be the best written during 2000. The teens will be encouraged discuss the books among their peers and to offer their own opinions on the questions "Is this a 'best' book?' Why? Why not?"
Take a Look Promotion Book List
Book Summaries BBYA Criteria Bibliography