Franklin Escobedo begins term as YALSA president for 2022-2023

CHICAGO — Franklin Escobedo began his term as president of the Young Adult Library Service Association (YALSA) in June 2022 and will remain active on the board for one year as past president in 2023. Escobedo has been supportive of the YA Librarians role in crisis intervention with teens in libraries and while also supporting YALSA’s new strategic plan and commitment to equity, diverstiy and inclusion.

“As I assume the role of President, I am resolved to continue the work of incorporating YALSA commitment to Equity Diversity and Inclusion that we began several years ago, to make sure that we continue to shape YALSA with our strategic plan to make sure that we continue to be nimble and responsive to the needs of our membership,” said Escobedo. “We are members of YALSA because we are committed to providing and sharing the best practices for working with teens in all libraries.”

Highlights of Franklin Escobedo’s involvement in YALSA include:

• Serving as Chair on the YALSA Organization and Bylaws Committee
• Serving as Chair on the YALSA Social Media Marketing Taskforce
• Serving on the YALSA Financial Advancement Committee
• Serving on several YALSA committees including Michael L. Printz Award Committee, YALSA YA Symposium Evaluation Taskforce, YALSA President’s Program Planning Committee and YALSA Executive Committee

In addition to the president-elect position, YALSA members have also elected Joel Shoemaker as Secretary and Josie Laine Andrews, Matthew Layne, and Melissa Malanuk as Directors-at-Large. All four positions will serve three-year terms.

Learn more about YALSA elections at www.ala.org/yalsa/workingwithyalsa/election.

The mission of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) is to support library staff in alleviating the challenges teens face, and in putting all teens ‒ especially those with the greatest needs ‒ on the path to successful and fulfilling lives. For more information about YALSA or to access national guidelines and other resources go to www.ala.org/yalsa, or contact the YALSA office by phone, 800-545-2433, ext. 4390; or e-mail: [email protected].