Children and Young Adult Services

Youth Services may be for YOU, if you:

• Love literature for children and young adults
• Enjoy working with youth by presenting group programs, providing reading motivation, and answering individual questions
• Enjoy working with parents, teachers, and community leaders
• Want to introduce library users to Cyberspace

SLIS offers a Specialization in Children's and Young Adult Services librarianship.

Job Outlook for this field:

• IU SLIS graduates are offered jobs all over the U.S.
• There aren't enough SLIS graduates to fill positions in Indiana.

Qualities employers seek:

• "people-oriented"
• "storytellers"
• "comfortable with technology"
• "understand developmental stages of youth"
• "strong management and public relations skills"

Opportunities to gain experience in this field:

• Paid internships in children's reference and young adult services at Monroe County Public Library, the local public library near IU.
• Volunteer opportunities in local schools.

Professional Associations:

• American Library Association - student chapter membership available through SLIS
• Association for Library Service to Children - Division of ALA
• Young Adult Library Services Association - Division of ALA
• Indiana Library Federation

Interested in knowing more? Contact:

Dana Backs, Adjunct Lecturer, Director of Children's and Young Adult Services Specialization