Posted by BAYA’s final meeting of 2025 took place on Tuesday, November 18th, over Zoom. The annual November meeting is reserved for electing new leadership, approving any new changes to the organization, and determining the meeting schedule and topics for the 2026 line-up.
November Meeting Recap
Program Spotlight
Gingerbread House Competition: A program hosted by the Monterey Public Library Teen Advisory Board (TAB), hosted in December. The TAB events usually have 20 to 30 participants. They will buy 5-6 kits, plus any extra supplies. Teens will pick the theme of the contest that they think they can complete in an hour. Library adults will be the judges of the competition. It was recommended to not have this type of program in a room with carpet and to put plastic table clothes on and above the tables being used for the competition.
Professional Communication Skills for Teens: San José Public Library’s TeenHQ will host a program for middle and high schoolers with the goal of setting up their own professional email accounts and practice setting up and leaving voicemail messages. This will be a workshop with hands-on practice and best practices when it comes to setting up email accounts, writing and responding to emails, and handling voicemail.
Book Recommendations
The Male Lead’s Little Lion Daughter – Korean Webtoon – by Ttona Latine
The Leaving Room by Amber McBride – Publisher’s Summary: Gospel is the Keeper of the Leaving Room—a place all young people must phase through when they die. The young are never ready to leave; they need a moment to remember and a Keeper to help their wispy souls along. When a random door opens and a Keeper named Melodee arrives, their souls become entangled. Gospel’s seriousness melts and Melodee’s fear of connection fades, but still—are Keepers allowed to fall in love? Now they must find a way out of the Leaving Room and be unafraid of their love. In a novel that takes place over four minutes, National Book Award finalist Amber McBride explores connection, memory, and hope in ways that are unforgettable and poignant.
BAYA Member’s Reflection: This title is middle grade appropriate.
BAYA Business
Report: 2024-2025 Annual Report Released to Membership
The Annual Report was presented by Megan Maloy, current President, and Jessica Lundin, current Secretary. The report can be viewed here. The report was unanimously approved and adopted by present membership.
Resolution: Adoption of Proposed New BAYA Bylaws
The proposed new BAYA Bylaws were briefly reviewed and approved unanimously by present membership. The now approved BAYA Bylaws can be viewed here.
Election of Directors: Nominations & Vote
Although BAYA was looking to fill two vacant positions, we were able to fill one. Lindsey Timpone nominated herself to voted in as a new Board of Director. Jessica Lundin seconded the nomination and it was a unanimous vote among present membership to elect Lindsey as a new Board of Director. The current BAYA Board of Directors can be viewed here.
Note: The Board of Directors met earlier in December to discuss duties and determine who would act in which roll. Please see the About BAYA page for more details.
If you are a current member of BAYA and interested in filling the remaining vacant Board of Directors position, please email bayalibrarian @ gmail.com.
2026 Meeting Schedule Discussion
The below meeting dates and topics were approved by present membership. All meetings are virtual, from 10-12PM except for the March meeting, where it will be a hybrid meeting, with available Zoom option as well as in-person.
- January 27: Teen Library Spaces & Their Potential: Displays, Passive Programs, and more
- March 24: What’s New in YA
- Hybrid, Book Sale @ Fremont Library
- May 19: Teen Advisory Board: How to make best of your TAB
- July 28: Teen Mental Health Supported by Teens
- September 22: Collection Development & Maintenance
- November 17: Annual Meeting, Board of Directors Election & Business
BAYA 2026 Priorities
As discussed, the present membership agreed to move forward with outreaching to new events, such as YA Nov Con 2026 and potentially CLA YSIG’s Summit. Mini-grants were also discussed and two individuals volunteered to start working on the process of setting them up.
Next Meeting
Next Meeting will be Tuesday, January 27, 2026 from 10-12PM over Zoom. This meeting will cover Teen Library Spaces & Their Potential: Displays, Passive Programs, and more. If you’d like to submit a space, either to show case or receive help with, please reach out to bayalibrarian @ gmail.com.
You can send us your photos about space in your teen areas that you’ve used for displays, passive programs, and more, or (awkward) spaces you’d like help utilizing better.
Bay Area Young Adult Librarians 