If you haven’t explored the new CAYAS site yet, take a moment to check out the meetings and events page. There you will find all of the upcoming workshops and events sponsored by CAYAS like the Spring Worshop and the upcoming iYouth workshop at UW.

Do you know someone who has been providing amazing and relevant library programs and services for children and/or teens? Consider nominating a colleague for the 2009 CAYAS Visionary Award.The CAYAS Visionary Award is presented each spring during the CAYAS Breakfast at the WLA Conference to a person who is dedicated to excellent service for children and teens at the public, special or school library, and who provides leadership and inspiration for others who serve children and teens in libraries. Examples can be providing a new type of programming, collaborating with other community organizations to reach out to children and/or teens outside of the library, or a career focused on meeting the needs of children, teens and other staff working with these age groups.

Whitney Edwards, the winner of the 2008 CAYAS Visionary Award, was nominated in part for her broad range of programs and her methods for reaching out to teens. The Visionary Award recognizes talent and dedication. We are always looking for new, fresh inspiring ideas, so take a look at your colleagues and the work they are doing and share their work with the rest of the Washington state library community.

If you would like to nominate a colleague and give them the recognition they deserve, please take a few minutes to fill out the nomination form (click here to download form) and return it before February 9th, 2009 by mail or email to:

Darcy Brixey
Bellevue Regional Library, King County Library System
1111 110th Ave NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
Email: dbrixey@kcls.org