This course prepares school and youth service librarians to take leadership in creating cultures of literacy for young people aged 12-18. Students will explore both traditional and emerging social/digital strategies to match readers with books across genres and media formats, plan and implement reader-centered activities, model critical thinking relating to the reading of nonfiction and fiction, and celebrate authors and reading.   

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate the practiced ability to separate their personal responses to reading materials from their professional role in selecting and sharing writing and art with young adults
  (NJAC VII)
• Show their ability to analyze Young Adult literature, including realism, fantasy, and nonfiction in the context of our diverse multicultural society and the changing experiences of adolescents (NJAC VII)
• Manifest an ability to obtain, select and utilize appropriate evaluation tools including critical commentary from reputable publications, comments from teenagers, and insights from peers (NJAC III)
• Demonstrate an understanding of the Common Core ELA standards (and current state variants) and how they relate to the needs of teenagers and the nature of YA collections. (NJAC II)
• Present an engaged and nuanced evaluation of a major Young Adult author as a model for book talks and other presentations. (NJAC VII)
• Show the ability to plan and budget book-related activities for a YA library through specific fully-realized examples. (III)