FYI,

Very interesting news regarding future ALSC/YALSA annual events such as ALA’s Youth Media Awards in case you’re interested - Sharon

ALSC is thrilled to announce that, beginning in 2028, the biennial ALSC National Institute conference will shift: it will become both an annual conference inclusive of programming for children and teens reflecting the reunification of ALSC and YALSA, and move to late January. This shift will allow us to combine a top-tier library services professional development event focused on children and teens with the biggest announcement in youth literature!

What does this mean for the coming years?

2027: For 2027, we anticipate another stand-alone YMA event in late January – open to the public – formatted similarly to the 2026 event.

2028: For 2028, National Institute will move annually to the late-January slot, coinciding with the Youth Media Awards Announcements

• Awards committees that typically confer in person will do so Tuesday and, if necessary, Wednesday.
• National Institute will open Wednesday morning and run through Friday midday.
• The YMA announcement will shift from Monday morning to Friday morning and serve as the conference’s closing general session.
• The YMAs will continue to be livestreamed, as well as celebrated in-person.

As ALSC and YALSA manage the upcoming reunification effective September 1, 2026 as well as this shift in our association calendar, conference attendance, and organizing capacity, we anticipate running both 2028 and 2029 National Institutes in Chicago; we will reassess shifting the conference location beginning in 2030.

We are excited about this opportunity to align the YMAs with an inclusive youth services conference, connecting youth library staff with quality children’s and teen books, and providing our publishing partners with the opportunity to showcase their award-winning and forthcoming titles. 

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Maggie Reagan
Program Manager
American Library Association
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 All the best,