Fall 2007 - YALSA - American Library Association

Koelling
the BBYA committee meetings are like a
biannual potluck that hosts folks from different
parts of the book world, including
teen readers themselves, so that they may
look over, promote, discuss, select from,
and relish the most delectable literary fare
on the table—and all leave full and hopefully
satisfied.
The guests at this party are all essential
in making the BBYA committee and
its lists possible in the first place. Authors
need to conceive and write quality books
that appeal to and engage young readers;
editors need to help authors polish
and present their stories in the best possible
way; publishers need to get those
stories packaged and out on the market;
dedicated, teen-serving professionals need
access to the books so that they might
evaluate and recognize them; and teens
need a resource that narrows down the
publishing market in a way that provides
them with a neat annual list of high-quality,
high-appeal reading choices.
In addition to helping create and
maintain a higher profile for outstanding
teen literature and for the importance
of that literature in the lives of teens, as
well as endorsing the professional role of
YALSA in general and the BBYA committee
in specific in the lives of teens, following
are some benefits past and current
BBYA members find in the connection
between the committee and the publishing
industry.
“The publishers are active in watching
what is being discussed and what the
teens think of the books,” said McMillen.
“It provides an important way for them to
discover more about their audience. The
cache of the list also propels some of their
books forward that may otherwise have
had a weaker debut.”
Diana Tixier Herald, consultant and
author of Genreflecting, adds, “Publishers
want their books to be named to the list
because it really does seem to increase
the marketability of the titles. This makes
additional good YA books available.”
Kimberly Paone sums up BBYA’s
influence perfectly: “It’s obvious that more
books are being published for teens, books
of better quality; I’m sure that BBYA
has had some influence as far as that’s
concerned.”
Colleen Macmillan addresses the benefits
of this connection from the perspective
of a publisher by saying:
With the diminishing numbers of
independent children’s bookstores
and the accompanying decline
of hand selling, publishers who
endeavour to select projects of
a high editorial standard deeply
appreciate the extraordinary time
commitment and devotion to
reading countless numbers of books
that takes place in the various
youth-related committees of the
ALA. Through the committees’
work, publishers receive the
encouragement that is essential
to publish the best books for
youth. There was a time when
publishers could look to two
strong constituencies of support—
independently owned children’s
bookstores and the institutional
market. While we are grateful
for the tremendous efforts of the
remaining independent bookstores
and others who promote new
releases and backlist for young
readers, we can’t fail to recognize
the critical role of youth librarians.
It is not uncommon to find authors
sitting quietly in the audience during
BBYA discussions. They may have one or
more books on the current nomination list,
or they may just be regular participants
in ALA conferences and enjoy the discussion
of all books written or recognized for
their potential power in the reading lives
of teens. Whatever the case may be, they
appreciate the committee process and see
its value in their lives as authors.
“I think recognition by ALA is
almost vital. Being a BBYA choice is even
better,” said Gail Giles, a multiple-title
author for teens whose book Shattering
Glass appeared on the 2003 BBYA list and
on the 2005 Best of the Best list. “Making
the list is great for sales, for buzz, and—
face it—for your own ego. It validates
your book.”
Giles continues, “Do I think the
BBYA list is valuable? You bet. Some
libraries with small funding might be able
to order nothing more than the books on
BBYA. And to those lunatic authors like
me that value the craft just a tad more than
the sales—yes, the list is important. It says
something to me about my work.”
All in all, there are a lot of people
from all aspects of the book industry and
teen services profession who are involved
in, important to, and invested in the BBYA
committee. This committee plays an essential
role in showcasing outstanding and
appealing books for teen readers across the
nation and beyond its borders, and also is
a player in the larger world of books that,
through its process, is dedicated to ensuring
there will be more and more outstanding
and appealing books for teen readers to
recognize over and over again. YALS
Fall 2007 | Young Adult Library Services | YALS 31