YSS is focused on promoting and improving library service to young people and is open to anyone interested in supporting this work.
For more information or to join, please contact chair Danielle Fortin at mla.youthlibrarians@gmail.com.
YSS also oversees two awards for excellence in children's literature: the annual Lupine Award for best picture or youth books with a Maine connection, and the Katahdin Award to recognize an outstanding body of work by a Maine author/illustrator of children's or youth literature.
Maine Student Book Award (MSBA) - The Maine Student Book Award is designed to expand literary horizons of students in grades 4-8 by encouraging them to read, evaluate, and enjoy a selection of new books and to choose a statewide favorite by written ballot each spring. The MSBA is a joint project of the Maine Library Association, Maine Association of School Libraries, and Maine Literacy Council.
North Star Book Award - The North Star Award is designed to encourage young adults to read for fun. Our goal is to help teens feel empowered by selecting a statewide favorite to share with the world. The North Star Award is a joint project of the Maine Library Association, Maine Association of School Libraries, and Maine Literacy Council.
Read our group bylaws, approved April 13, 2018.