You can attend a free, daylong SLJTeen Live online virtual conference on August 15, 2018: it will "... feature high-profile and up-and-coming YA authors talking about their latest titles for teens. You'll also have the chance to get advice from innovative librarians tackling timely issues relevant to your teens and services."

Register here ("Registration includes access to the SLJTeen Live! archives for on-demand viewing at your convenience.")

Schedule (Central Daylight Time):
8:00 – 9:00 AM: Explore the exhibits
9:00 – 10:00 AM: Opening keynote, presented by Elizabeth Acevedo, Author, The Poet X (HarperCollins, 2018)
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM: Two panels running concurrently:
1) Mental Health in YA. #EndTheStigma. Mental health and mental illness are finally getting more attention, but everywhere from healthcare to media still struggle with how to treat, identify, and represent it thoughtfully. These authors will discuss how they craft characters and write stories that present authentic experiences of mental illness that can be validating to readers who share them and eye-opening to readers who do not.
2) Creativity Unbound: The Arts in YA. STEM gets the attention, but the arts are just as valuable for teens' development and future plans. That goes for producing it and loving it. These authors will discuss how they created stories that star teen-aged characters who appreciate or participate (or both) in the arts.
11:15 – 11:40 AM: Break, explore the exhibits
11:40 AM – 12:00 PM: Lunch speaker: Sabaa Tahir, Author, "An Ember in the Ashes" series (Penguin/Razorbill)
12:00 – 1:00 PM: Two panels running concurrently:
1) Stories Retold and Worlds Reimagined: Fantastical YA.
2) Detoxing Masculinity. "Toxic masculinity" is the stringent adherence to gender roles and stereotypes, governing and defining what are "acceptable" emotions and behavior. In the age of #MeToo, school shootings, and incels, how do we redefine what it means to be men and boys? These authors will discuss how they interrogate and unpack masculinity in their work and consider their responsibility as authors for young people of all genders.
1:00 – 2:00 PM: Two panels running concurrently; the afternoon programming panels will feature librarians and professionals sharing trends, tips and practical solutions to engage your YA patrons
2:00 – 2:15 PM: break
2:15 – 3:15 PM: Two panels running concurrently; the afternoon programming panels will feature librarians and professionals sharing trends, tips and practical solutions to engage your YA patrons
3:15 – 3:45 PM: Closing keynote presented by Dhonielle Clayton, Author, The Belles (Disney/Freeform, 2018)

Join thousands of librarians for the seventh annual SLJTeen Live! virtual conference, without leaving the comfort of your home (or desk).

This free, daylong event will feature high-profile and up-and-coming YA authors talking about their latest titles for teens. You'll also have the chance to get advice from innovative librarians tackling timely issues relevant to your teens and services.

This year's theme is Speaking Truth to Power. The youth of Generation Z have shown themselves to be powerful agents of change who won't tolerate silence, indifference, or oppression. Today's young adult literature and youth services librarians must rise to meet their needs and passions.

The conference's author panels and library programming sessions will give you tools and ideas on how to engage teens and support them as they continue to make their mark on the world. Trends in publishing are beginning to acknowledge Gen Z's unique positioning in today's fast-paced and highly politicized society, and even evergreen topics in library services deserve a second look to see how they can support teens coming of age in this era. These panels will equip you with the tools, information, and book savvy you need to re-energize your programming and collections.

Explore the virtual exhibit hall, download materials, enter contests, hear directly from publishers about their newest books as well as live chat with staff, authors and peers.

Source: SLJTeen Live!