ALAN Online

Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of NCTE

The purposes of this assembly are to promote communication and cooperation among all individuals who have a special interest in adolescent literature; to present programs and conferences on this subject; to promote and increase the number of articles and publications devoted to it; and to integrate the efforts of all those with an interest in this literature. Members receive three issues annually of The ALAN Review, a journal emphasizing new books, research, and methods of teaching adolescent literature.

The annual ALAN Breakfast was held on Saturday morning, November 20, during the NCTE Conference in Indianapolis. The keynote speaker was award-winning young adult author E. L. Konigsburg. The following Assembly business was also conducted during the Breakfast: The ALAN Award for distinguished contribution to the field of young adult literature was presented to Jacqueline Woodson; the Ted Hipple Service Award was presented to John Mason of Scholastic, Inc; two ALAN Foundation grants for research in the field were awarded, and the Don Gallo Grant to help new teachers attend the ALAN Workshop was given to Tara Stitle from Southeast High School in Ravenna, Ohio and Nathan Phillips from Lone Peak High School in Highland, Utah.

On Sunday evening of the Conference members and guests enjoyed the annual ALAN Reception, which was sponsored by 13 participating publishers and coordinated by Angus Killick of Hyperion.

The annual ALAN Workshop took place on Monday and Tuesday, November 22 and 23, immediately following the NCTE Convention. ALAN President Michael Cart chaired the Workshop. The theme was �The Art of Young Adult Literature.� Keynote speaker was Stephen Roxburgh of Front Street Books. A total of fifty-one authors made presentations to the 400 attendees, and leading teachers and librarians led a choice of 17 small group sessions on trends in the field.

In other action during the year, the ALAN Board approved the selection, by a Search Committee headed by Don Gallo, of MaryAnn Wedde as treasurer, to replace Bill Subick. Ms. Wedde took office on July 1. Later that month the Board voted to incorporate ALAN, and the treasurer was instructed to prepare and file the necessary documents.  

Also, under the co-editorship of James Blasingame and Lori Atkins Goodson, three issues of the ALAN Review were published.

The officers and directors of ALAN for 2004-2005 are: Patty Campbell, President; Michael Cart, Past President; Diane Tuccillo, President-Elect; Gary Salvner, Executive Secretary, Joan Kaywell, Membership Secretary; David Gill, ALAN Webmaster; MaryAnn Wedde, Treasurer, and Directors Jean E. Brown, James Cook, Carolyn Lott, Pamela Sissi Carroll, Christie Jo �CJ� Bott, Edward T. Sullivan, Mary Arnold, Catherine Balkin, and David Gill.  

Patty Campbell, Chair