YALS Summer 2021 Issue Call for Articles

Theme: Adulting 101: Building Life Skills for Teen Futures

Theme Description: Once upon a time, when home economics classes were prevalent, nearly every teen learned how to balance a checkbook and sew on a button. While the skills deemed necessary to enter adulthood have become significantly more complicated ("How can I improve my credit score?"), some basic knowledge has remained the same ("How DO I sew on this button?"). Our Summer 2021 issue will examine the theme of “adulting,” whatever that means!

For this issue, we seek articles that address the skills--social, emotional, and practical--that equip teens to enter adulthood with confidence. From lesson plans to contemplative essays, we want to hear it all. We hope to include a variety of perspectives from youth-supporting staff from inside and outside the library world (public, school, academic, rural, tribal, etc), so please feel free to share this call widely.

This issue is open for articles that provide broad and specific discussions that address questions such as:

• What does it mean to be "ready" for adulthood in 2021? How do adulting skills vary for teens from different backgrounds? (Consider interviewing a teen!)
• How can we best prepare our teens for what comes after high school, whether work or school or some other path?
• What "Adulting 101" programs or resources have you provided for teens?
• Can you offer any best practices or guidelines for those planning life skills workshops?
• How can the library work with community partners to support our teens’ transition to adulthood?

We are also seeking articles for our "Future Trending" column, which highlights new, up-and-coming ideas, perspectives, and initiatives that are somewhat out of the box. Examples of focuses include the following themes (or another theme you want to address):
• Adjusting to COVID
• Equity, diversity, and inclusion in youth services
• Citizenship and immigration
• Civic engagement
• Online engagement and virtual fatigue
• Environmental advocacy

Please note that this is a volunteer writing opportunity with no monetary compensation. YALSA has the right to first refusal.

If you have an article idea for this themed issue, please submit article proposals by April 6, 2021.

If you know someone who has experience on this topic and would be interested in writing for YALS or have questions, please contact YALS' guest editor, Tess Wilson at tesskwilson@gmail.com.

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  • Contact Information

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  • Proposal

  • 250 words or less

  • Experience

  • If you do not have any writing experience, please say "N/A."