Webinars & Events

Upcoming Events

CAYAS Storytime Share

March 31 2022, 2 pm - 3 pm
Join us to celebrate all things youth services through resource sharing, networking, and troubleshooting to further library programming for children!

March: Let's talk about storytime outside! Since many of us might soon be transitioning to more outdoor programming this summer it's a great time to share ideas and best practices.

Click here to register.

Book Award Author Breakfast --WLA Annual Conference 2022

Saturday, May 7 2022, 8 am - 9:45 am
Sponsored by WLA School Library Division & CAYAS (Children & Young Adult Services) Section

Past Events

Best Practices for Serving LGBTQ+ Youth Panel
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 2 pm – 3:30 pm

A panel of service providers who work with LGBTQ+ youth will share best practices for creating inclusive spaces for queer youth and planning LGBTQ+ youth programs.

Book Award Author Breakfast --WLA Annual Conference 2021
Saturday, October 2, 2021 9 am - 10:15 am

Presenting the award-winning authors of the WCCPBA, Towner, Otter, & Sasquatch!

Sponsored by WLA School Library Division & CAYAS (Children & Young Adult Services) Section

ScLD & CAYAS Spring Roundtable

Saturday, September 22, 2021 7 pm – 8 pm

The co-hosted ScLD/CAYAS Roundtable is here again to chat about what life is like on the 'other side', comparing school and public librarian life. Gather with other youth librarians to talk about what it's like in your day-to-day work. We'll be focusing on how to better understand the differing librarian work demands so collaboration can be more aware and effective.
We'll start off with an introduction from the hosts about Teacher Librarian and Public Librarian work then open the floor for comments and questions.

ScLD & CAYAS Spring RoundtableSaturday, March 27, 2021 10 am – 11 am
The co-hosted ScLD/CAYAS Roundtable is having its first meeting of 2021! Gather with other youth librarians to learn about advocacy and how you can have an impact on legislation affecting your library.
Welcome WLA's lobbyist, Carolyn Logue! She will be joining us to speak briefly about the legislation that affect librarians who serve youth and how to get involved.
Whether you're new to how our legislative process works or want to connect with others on the topics you're passionate about we hope to see you there!
Come with questions in mind for discussion. There will be a recording for anyone who can't attend on March 27th.

Book Award Author BreakfastSaturday, October 10, 2020, 9:30 am–11 am

Sponsored by WLA School Library Division & CAYAS (Children & Young Adult Services) Section

Join WLA’s School Library Division and the Children and Young Adult Services Section (CAYAS) for a Book Award Breakfast! BYOB – Bring Your Own Breakfast, that is – and come celebrate our 2020 WLA Book Award Winners. WLA Book Award-Winning authors will join us to accept their awards and do a Q&A with attendees. This event is free to conference registrants!

CAYAS Summer Workshop: Best Practices for Serving Trans Youth
Wednesday, August 12, 2020, 10 am-12 pm
WLA's Children & Young Adult Services (CAYAS) Section is excited to invite you to an online workshop where we'll be strengthening our knowledge and compassion for the struggles of our young transgender patrons! Aiden Key from Gender Diversity will help with your confidence around trans needs by reviewing what questions and conversations you may encounter, how to stay respectful when faced with topics of faith and politics, learning about current medical and mental health research, and simple steps you can take to create safe spaces for youth to grow. The workshop covers needs for children & teens and there will be time for Q&A at the end.

Fall Workshop: Diversify Your Services, Refocus your STEM Lens

Friday, November 15 2019, 10am–4pm

Join public and school library professionals for a day of learning! Discover strategies for using Children’s & Young Adult Literature to engage readers of all ages with discussions about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Be introduced to new story time practices and new books for youth. Learn about providing STEM programming in a library setting. This workshop is appropriate for anyone serving ages 0 through 18 in libraries. Breakfast and snacks provided. Lunch on your own.

CAYAS Webinar: Serving Teens with Disabilities in the Library
Friday, May 3, 2019, 11am (PT)
Learn how to more effectively serve teens with a wide range of disabilities in public and school libraries. We will cover best practices for interacting with this population, how to help them access information that is relevant to them, programming ideas, how to build accessible and inclusive spaces, and discuss some funding opportunities. Run time will be 60 minutes, with time for questions afterward.
Presented by students in the UW iSchool program as part of their capstone project
View the recorded webinar

WLA Annual Conference 2018

Thursday, October 18, Books & Brews, Sports Center Pub, 6:30pm

CAYAS Author Breakfast with Mitali Perkins
8:30–9:45 am
Mitali Perkins has written ten novels for young readers, including You Bring the Distant Near (nominated for the National Book Award, Walter Award honor book), Rickshaw Girl(chosen by the New York Public Library as one of the top 100 books for children in the past 100 years), Bamboo People (American Library Association's Top Ten Novels for Young Adults), and Tiger Boy (winner of the Charlotte Huck Honor Award and the South Asia Book Award). She has been honored as a "Most Engaging Author" by independent booksellers across the country and selected as a "Literary Light for Children" by the Associates of the Boston Public Library. Mitali was born in Kolkata, India, before immigrating to the United States. She has lived in Bangladesh, India, England, Thailand, Mexico, Cameroon, and Ghana, studied at Stanford and U.C. Berkeley, and currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Ticketed event.

Friday, October 19, 11:15-11:45: CAYAS Board meeting -- room 100 (Yakima Convention Center)

CAYAS Winter Workshop: Spanish Language Boot Camp for Youth Services Library Professionals
January 9, 2017, 10am - 3pm
Kick off the year at this fun, interactive workshop designed to give you the confidence and vocabulary to talk to Spanish speaking patrons about why libraries matter to youth. This workshop was developed by a librarian for those working in libraries who have little to no Spanish language skills. You will learn mini-conversations you can use as a starting point for outreach to patrons who may not be aware of the full scope of services your library offers. You will leave with a set resources to help remember what you learned, and tools you can use to continue learning Spanish on your own. Presented by Kathy Smargiassi, Children’s Librarian and Translator for Sno-Isle Libraries.

As a result of this event, participants will understand and/or be able to:

Communicate with Spanish speaking patrons about why libraries matter for kids and teens
Make Spanish speaking patrons feel more welcome in the library
Engage patrons in simple conversations in Spanish
Use youth services-oriented library vocabulary
Have a set of tools to support continued learning
Develop language skills and a community of fellow learners!

Location: Bothell Police Station Community Room | 18410 101st Ave NE | Bothell, WA 98011

CAYAS Books and Brews
Wednesday, November 2, 2016, 5 to 6:30pm
Big Time Brewery - 4133 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105
Join CAYAS in our first quarterly Books and Brews Event. This is a great opportunity to meet new people in the field, share resources, and sip on adult beverages all at the same time! This meeting's theme is "Mirrors and Windows" where you bring one book that is a window for you or the children and teens you serve and one book that is a mirror, to share and discuss.

CAYAS Breakfast
The CAYAS Section hosts a breakfast at the WLA annual conference with a keynote from a children's or teen author. Past authors include:

2020: Aron Nels Steinke, Elizabeth Rusch, Shannon Hale & LeUyen Pham, and Troy Cummings
2018: Mitali Perkins
2017: Martha Brockenbrough
2016: Kelly Milner Halls
2015: Justina Chen
2014: Marissa Meyer
2013: George Shannon
2012: Brent Hartinger
2011: Chris Crutcher
2010: Ellen Witlinger
2009: Karen Cushman
2008: Rick Riordan