12:01 PM
Vance Holmes
The Conversation Electric
A Virtual Investigation of Adolescent Literature e-Mailing Lists
Contained in this report are observations made while attempting to develop a basic knowledge of young adult literature (YAL) electronic mailing lists through an examination of two specific organizations: the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) and Adolescent Books (AdBooks) e-mail lists. This rewarding investigation found that online discussion groups offer a rich resource for networking, information sharing and research. Inquiry findings and conclusions are here detailed in three sections: an overview of the two groups and the themes and core topics discussed, a summary of pertinent insights and perspectives presented, and new awarenesses gained from the overall experience of the investigation.
Discussion Topics
Adolescent Books List, created in 1998, is an online society that informally dialogues about young adult literature. A “welcome message” from AdBooks’ moderators mentions that subscribers select at least one book a month for debate “and sponsor an annual book award, the JHunt.” Examination of AdBooks included the nearly 100 messages posted between May 16 and May 30, as well as 300 randomly chosen messages from ten years of AdBooks archives.
YALSA discussion is dominated by issues mainly of interest to librarians, educators or other professionals concerned with connecting teens and books. Beyond title suggestions and ideas for themed teen booklists, there is currently fairly rigorous debate about controversial new titles, effective teen reading events, equitable library policies, the changing role of librarians, and censorship of YAL due to perceived age inappropriateness. The YALSA archives reveal user messages about favorite books and authors, searches for a certain title or a certain genre, news about various book awards, and speculation on casting choices for YAL-inspired films.
AdBooks is a less active e-mail list than YALSA, but its subscribers are no less dedicated to thoughtful discussion of YAL and matters related to teen reading. AdBooks seems to presently be a forum for folks to share book reviews and personal opinions about YAL issues. Conversation centers on prospective winners of AdBooks’ JHunt Award and titles nominated for other awards such as the Newbery and Caldecott prizes. Based on a perusal of the archives, AdBooks discussion has also involved requests for publisher information, news surrounding popular writers, updates about book events, and thoughts on reluctant readers and similar student reading issues.
People and Perspectives
YALSA’s mail list, with its distinguished and dedicated contributors, is a virtual university symposium on YAL and related matters. One archived message begins -- "a colleague and I are doing some research on YA fiction that includes a character on the autism spectrum." The writer received dozens of suggestions and responses that spun off from the main topic of autism spectrum disorders. Over the years, debate has produced insightful commentary on a wide variety of subjects such as teen pregnancy, crime, politics, and powerful book cover art.
YALSA List also serves as a kind of central bulletin board where people can post literary happenings, teen reading events and professional development opportunities. "Get the inside scoop on the hottest titles for fall, from the editors of Penguin Young Readers Group," announces one person, noting that "editors will be discussing their favorite books at the Sheraton New Orleans." A subscriber from Michigan's Chelsea District Library put out word of a free weekend of workshops revolving around "kids reading comics," "improv cartooning," and "graphic novel authors."
Along with the same sorts of event notices found at YALSA, AdBooks receives many posts pertaining to news articles and blogs. In a message titled "Status & Bullying," a subscriber links to "an interesting piece in the NYTimes which has relevance for high school life as portrayed in YA lit." Trends in teen books and publishing are frequently noted. "I read recently" says a group member, "that some publishers are thinking of a new category for 18-21."
At times, along with "read-alikes" and booklist requests, subtler issues arise. For instance, a message detailing a specific title elicited eye-opening opinions about the popularity of the often commercially successful but critically overlooked works packaged in book series. "I'm proposing the idea of having a series award list of some sort," says a subscriber, "because very often series titles do not make it as major award winners."
While YALSA's forum is mostly filled with professional opinions, AdBooks' messages tend to offer the equally important perspective of the amateur book-lover. Asked where to go for a listing of the "quintessential books" that "really stand out" in YAL, most responders at AdBooks seemed to agree that the Printz award listing was the place to start. AdBooks archives display many messages under the heading "Recent Reading." These posts usually contain good, quick, honest reviews. Topics of debate that illicit the most intense commentary center on YAL authors and awards.
The regular contributors in both groups speak with authority and bring a depth of knowledge and personal experience to the digital dialogues. The consistently respectful tone and tenor of debate inspires confidence in the validity of the participants’ determinations and opinions. Rarely do members wildly disagree, and there are none of the heated “flame wars” typical of so many online chat rooms and message boards. Certainly contributing to the agreeable atmosphere of these two particular groups is that the perspectives offered do not represent an especially wide range of diversity. Also, with the noted exception of fairly recent posts on Native American books and bilingual books, issues specific to cultural diversity have not been among the most popular discussion items. However, through the YALSA and AdBooks archives, I was easily able to locate the listserv addresses of several online organizations dedicated to diverse youth literature, multicultural books and urban learners.
Discoveries and Determinations
Participation in electronic mailing lists is found to be a worthwhile investment of time and energy based on several new awarenesses gained from this investigation. These awarenesses include discoveries about the opportunities, possibilities and power presented by membership in associations like YALSA and AdBooks.
Mailing lists provide an opportunity for direct communication with a wide variety of knowledgeable people. Based on my observations, the very responsive subscribers at YALSA are as polite and encouraging as they are smart. Thinking back on difficult research assignments and projects of the past, having access to a group of such distinguished and thoughtful people will be extremely beneficial to future professional endeavors.
Among the many potential uses for mailing lists, perhaps most valuable is that they can serve as a YAL newspaper. The continuing inflow of information provides a method for keeping abreast of new developments, trends and topics of controversy in teen reading. Emails deliver daily updates about authors, illustrators, entertainers and other newsworthy people connected to youth culture.
Through use of a dedicated email address, periodic sorting and a systematic filing process, the mail from YAL lists can become a powerful engine that generates a private digital database. By employing the file folder options and search features available from Google, Yahoo and most other email hosts, the list information becomes a personal archive that is searchable by book title, author, member name, date or specific combination of keywords.
Joining the Conversation Electric
Based on these new awarenesses – as well as the examination of topics and perspectives presented in the YALSA and AdBooks discussions – I have assessed electronic mailing lists to be an extremely powerful and empowering tool. Having found these YAL organizations to be a rich resource, useful for networking, information sharing and research, I fully intend to incorporate electronic mailing lists into future professional and personal projects.
Addendum
Multicultural YAL e-Mailing Lists
“Members explore a wide range of topics in contemporary literature for youth, including multicultural literature, translated books, outstanding, and award-winning books, equity themes and topics, the book arts and book publishing, and more.”
IB-PALMS -- International Baccalaureate Pan Asian Library and Media Specialists
"Supporting Librarians and Media Specialists in schools offering any of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) programs"
MCP -- Multicultural Pavilion
The purpose of MCP is “to facilitate dialogue and the exchange of resources among educators, students, and activists dedicated to multicultural education, educational equity, and social justice.”
NAME-MCE -- National Association for Multicultural Education
NAME “provides a forum to discuss multicultural education, share resources, post job openings, announce conferences or other events, and ask questions of educators and activists around the world.”
SILC-Asia -- International School Librarians in the Asian-Pacific Rim region
“The purpose of SILC-Asia is to provide cost-effective services and information to support interlibrary cooperative activities which will strengthen resource sharing and improve the effectiveness of member libraries.”
YA-URBAN / YALSA – “Serving YA’s in Large Urban Populations.”
Posted in: RESEARCH: YAL
