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AZ YA Summit 2023

Spring into Library Services for Teens

April 4 – 6, 2023

Chandler, AZ

 

The AZ YA Summit will provide opportunities for Arizona’s library professionals that serve teens, to network with each other and learn from experts.

Through a collaboration with the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records and the Arizona Library Association, the AZ YA Summit will connect and enlighten library staff in public and school libraries on best practices for meaningfully engaging teens. Our objective is that library staff will feel supported in the important work they do and through continuing education, library staff will be positioned to support teens to develop 21^st Century Skills and transition to adulthood.

 There are some great sessions scheduled from your Arizona library colleagues plus a few additional special guests.

Tuesday

• Arizona Dreams - Naomi Bishop
• This session will focus on culture and community and helping youth and young adults see themselves reflected in their local library. 
• Naomi Bishop (Akimel O’odham) is a member of the Gila River Indian Community and grew up in Mesa. She works as a health science librarian at the University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix.

Wednesday

• Keynote: Nurturing Readers in Turbulent Times: Creating and Sustaining Inclusive Library Spaces - Julia E. Torres
• Connecting with Every Reader: Strategies to Increase Student Engagement and Support Curriculum Connections - Julia E. Torres
• Julie E. Torres is a language arts teacher-librarian in Denver, Colorado, and author of Liven Up Your Library: Design Engaging and Inclusive Programs for Tweens and Teens.

Thursday

• A Place to Belong: Supporting Neurodiversity and Mental Health in Your Library – Ashleigh Torres and Adriana White
• Ashleigh Torres is chair of the Youth Services Interest Group for the California Library Association and branch manager at Yolo County, California.
• Adriana White is an autistic librarian, writer, and public speaker.