Young Adult Round Table

About the Round Table

The Young Adult Round Tables (YART) brings together TLA members concerned with the reading habits of teenagers and young adults and promotes improved library service to these individuals.

The goal is achieved specifically by:

• Providing for and stimulating the professional and career development of personnel in public and school libraries;
• Facilitating effective cooperation among library personnel in public and school libraries;
• Identifying, developing, and maintaining library services that will meet the informational, cultural, educational, and recreational needs of young adults in Texas;
• Working cooperatively with other round tables, discussion groups, or divisions with similar or allied interests.

Executive Board

• Alexandra Cornejo, Chair, 2025-2026
• Misty Schattle, Chair-Elect, 2025-2026
• Lorrie Roussin, Past Chair, 2025-2026
• Dr. Rose Brock, Councilor, 2023-2026
• Jennifer Freeman, Alternate Councilor, 2023-2026
• Lauren Scott, Secretary, 2025-2028
• Jennifer Jones, Web Administrator, 2025-2028
• Rachael Welsh, Social Media Manager, 2025-2028
• Deborah Zeman, Publisher Liaison, 2024-2027
• Candace Neal, Texas Tea Coordinator, 2023-2026
• Melissa Rippy, Executive Board Liaison, 2025-2026

Reading Lists & Chairs

• Lone Star – A reading list for grades 6, 7, and 8
  (Jamie Henry, Chair, 2024-2027)
• Maverick – Graphic novels for grades 6 – 12
  (Dr. Rebecca Novotny, Chair, 2024-2025)
• Spirit of Texas (SPOT) – Encouraging students in grades 6-12 to explore current, quality books by Texas authors and illustrators
  (Deborah Zeman, Chair, 2024-2027)
• Tayshas – Fiction and nonfiction for grades 9 – 12
  (Lauren Claymon, Chair, 2027-2028)

Events

YART offers stipends to cover the cost of attending the Texas Library Association annual conference and the TALL Texans Institute. Learn more and apply.

Feel free to contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Volunteer

Thank you to all who volunteered! Please visit the Young Adult Round Table community on Engage to learn about new committee members and officers.

Ready to take your love of reading young adult books to the next level? Volunteering for one of YART’s reading committee lists allows you to help curate a diverse list of books that meet the needs of all young adults in Texas. You can also volunteer for one of YART’s executive board positions to help advocate for YA reading, publicize reading lists, work with publishers, and plan conferences.

Volunteer

Follow us

Stay up to date and follow us online @YARTxLA!

Nominate a library worker for the YARI Award

To learn more about the YARI Award, email [email protected].

Young Adult Reading Incentive Award