Here is the direct link to the constantly updated, full of awesome lists and resources, Resource and FAQ page. You can use it to suggest #HorrorForLibraries all year long and for every aged reader. raforallhorror.blogspot.com/p/summer-scare
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Becky Spratford (she/her)
@RAforAll
Matching books with readers thru the library esp. #HorrorForLibraries. Jersey Girl in exile. '97 P'24. P'27 Sec.
Becky Spratford (she/her)’s posts
So Netflix telling me that the kids who I pay for their college tuition and room and board and health insurance can’t use the Netflix account because they live in another state to attend said colleges. Yeah, no. You’ve lost my business.
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And Mr 18 said what about kids who have divorced parents and bounce between houses? They can’t use Netflix on one account. Yeah no.
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Again Mr 18: sounds like they are trying to go out of business.
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I can pay 7.99 a month for each of them. On top of my access. That’s not how families work. They are still dependents. They live at college but still have legal residence at my house.
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You’re fine if it isn’t over a month. Once a month you have to login at home. My one kid hasn’t been home since January.
Look I love all the people talking about library books being free to read but please note, they are NOT free. They are prepaid with taxes. When we call them free we forget that the library pays for those books. Over pays in the case of e books and audio.
Tomorrow I am going to stand up in front of the MO librarians and explain to them why they need to be actively anti-racist. Wish me luck. I’ll need it. Cc:
Because it came up yesterday- reminder that your library card applications do NOT need a section on “gender.” Seriously, what does that have to do with borrowing privileges? Address, name, a form of contact, yes. Gender, no.
Today I learned that someone left one of my webinars because I denounced TERFS and a specific best selling author for being one.
I call that a win!
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As a library trustee in an area with high taxes I am constantly flabbergasted by my neighbors who love our excellent schools and library but complain about their property taxes to me. You can’t have both. Teachers need to make a living. They don’t teach our kids as a hobby.
You want to help schools and libraries battle the censors-- speak out and show up at your board meetings. Run for the open positions. The other side is running more people. I say this as a 21 year, elected Library Board Trustee.
The word is officially out. I am on the 2023 Selection Committee for the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction. I was honored to be asked and am already loving the work. Our committee is great.
Press release w/ details: ala.org/news/press-rel
Hey well meaning library people, especially those of you in ALA and division leadership-- saying the dues are worth it for those who pay for themselves because you are "investing in yourself,"-- stop and check your privilege.
Answer: None of the above. I have lived in Chicago for 23.5 years now and still I don’t understand why you all cut a circle into squares!!! This is so wrong. Slices ppl, slices. Signed a Jersey girl stuck in pizza hell.
Last time I checked the first rule of #ReadAdv is NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR YOUR READING TASTES. I revoke your MLS if you can’t follow that. Yes, I have that right. Ppl pay me to teach this stuff. I will accept returns anytime.
raforall.blogspot.com/p/beckys-ten-r
LIBRARIES ARE NOT NEUTRAL! Stop using neutrality as a shield to uphold systemic racism. ACT. Make the world a better place by being intentionally, actively anti-racist every single day. Also your collections are not neutral now. hey are overwhelmingly white. hetero and racist.
I am allowed to announce this now: I have officially been elected to the Board of Directors! Hold on to your hats IL Librarians! [Well technically only those of you from Peoria to the WI state line, but still, a lot of you.]
I had a little rant today. EDI Real Talk For Well Meaning White Ladies raforall.blogspot.com/2020/12/edi-re
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This is why I am screaming for people who love libraries to stop just sitting around and RUN FOR ELECTION-- schools and libraries. If you don't someone there for the wrong reasons certainly will [and already are].
Hey publishers- I am not sure why we need to keep telling you this, but I’ll do it for the 100th time. This study shows that library users buy more books. Access to “free” books at the library actually makes them book buyers for life! pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014
This program is fascinating. A report on an actual reclassification project. I will blog about it. I am also going to ask presenter for permission to post her handouts. But such a great hands on doing the anti-racist work example. #PLA2022
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OMG!! I hate these ppl. Give them what they want and when they finish them suggest something else but if they want to reread who cares?!?!? What is wrong with ppl. If someone did this to them they would go all “Karen” on them.
The July 1st issue of is available on the website [Digital Edition] but when my article and interview go live I will post on blog. In the meantime, look at this cover and first 2 pages of the 6 that they gave to #HorrorForLibraries!
Today is a HUGE day. For me and for all of my Library followers. I will be able to share why VERY soon and you will be able to use that I share to help readers. I am very excited but also nervous.
Today the news is officially out. I will be joining the Executive Board of for the next 3 years. I am honored to be chosen and VERY excited to begin working this July. Congrats to all.
ila.org/news/2459/ila-
Why are libraries closed tomorrow? Sunday I get. But tomorrow? Lots of us non-Christians have had to use personal time for our high holy days. Why not you too? Oh wait, I forgot. Systemic oppression and the false narrative that white, cis, hetero, Christian, is a norm.
Thread- I will be posting on the blog later today to remind all the well meaning white library ladies how they are part of the problem. It's a topic I teach about frequently and I use myself and my missteps as my main examples.
Getting shushed by a patron is one of those library worker achievements many of us strive to unlock. As you can probably guess, I've unlocked in multiple times. twitter.com/LadyOfCheese/s
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Started my day with an email from my editor with great news. Not only is my #Horror Genre Preview the cover story for July (with a great cover you will see soon) BUT the entire reviews team said it was their favorite part of the issue.
I just need to be happy for a moment as something I have been working on for 2 full years, even when others discouraged me to keep fighting for it, telling me to wait my turn, well it was just approved in the IL state budget for FY 2024. When governor signs I will share more.
Official press release about my newest book- THE READERS' ADVISORY GUIDE TO HORROR, Third Edition with
ala.org/news/member-ne
For an upcoming project- Who are your favorite Horror Book Cover Artists? They need at least 3 covers each. Preferably 6 or more. Please feel free to retweet.
The fact that ALA has to have like 8 meetings to condemn racist LCSHs is why it is problematic. Why can't we just say, hey here are all the racist subject headings. Let's just stop using them. m'kay
One of those 1,000 kids is my son who graduated high school tonight.
Just a librarian out here begging Costco to stop picking titles to highlight that EVERYONE ALREADY LOVES. Use your power to promote a book that people would never discover without you. Also seriously, like we need more holds on THE PARIS APARTMENT right now.
I may be old and married 24 years but we know how to have fun on a rooftop in downtown Chicago.
Or, you can simply go to your local public library where they ALL do this for a living. And they actual know you. #readadv
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For Match Book, a new literary advice column, The New York Times Book Review wants your questions
I just hit send.....
My final chance to do anything to my new book is now over!
It is out of my hands and going into production. I can still critique the graphics and layout, but....
Phew
And even if you think you live in a tolerant place. Trust us.
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If you've visited your local library and appreciated their Pride Month display, let them know. Because people who don't like it aren't shy about saying so.
I not only voted today but I brought Mr 18 to register and vote!
Reminder to all of my followers. There is no reason you should follow me and JK R*wling. Zero. There are a lot of you though (over 500). Check your follows. Her positions on trans folks, are atrocious.
Look at what is in the cover of the A&E section this Sunday!!! ’s CHILDREN OF CHICAGO. And I was one of first to review it and give it a star!!!! Thanks for catching up Tib. So happy for Cynthia. Cc
Hey all of you people who like me loved THE RUINS by Scott Smith and have had trouble finding something comparable in the last 20+ years. Well here is a hot tip: Pre-order THIS WRETCHED VALLEY by right this minute. January 2024 .
Just trust me.
Statement from via our channels. Thank you everyone who spoke up by sending statements and for your patience while we handled this in an official manner.
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ALT
So I am turning in my election statement to be on the state library association executive board and I am being VERY CLEAR that frontline library workers need more of a voice. This will make some people mad, but it is the right thing to do.
I have no interest in proposing programming for ALA because I am tired at yelling at everyone to do better on the same damn topics over and over again and watching nothing change.
And here is my much anticipated Top 20 #HorrorForLIbraries of the Decade with some explanation. Huge thanks to for looking it over and engaging in discussion about the list. raforallhorror.blogspot.com/2019/12/beckys
My plan worked. I stayed off here and turned in the final text chapters of the new book today. Now it’s just polishing up the lists. There is a new cover all designed too. Moving forward. You should all have it in time for Halloween 2021!
Damn you . I have to write a review of WAYWARD and I keep stopping myself from giving spoilers and then I realized everything is a spoiler. Also damn you for all of the emotions in this book. It has all of them and now I am forced to relive them all.
Today on the blog I have a long, slightly off topic rant, but also a common problem people ask for help with. Some of you will not be happy with me but I don't really care: How to Take A Stand and NOT Allow Hate Groups to Use Your Programming Space
raforall.blogspot.com/2023/07/how-to
Noting like a tornado touching down just blocks away from your house. We are fine. Waiting for reports to those just east of us.
I am working on a series of posts about how to get your smaller press books reviewed in the library pubs and how to get your books onto library shelves. I answer this question a few times a month to individuals. Time to make posts I can point ppl to.
My daughter’s college housing for summer and her final year is literally in the back yard of the Emily Dickinson homestead.
Since we all have online catalogs now, stickers are not necessary. put the keywords you want a sticker to denote into the catalog. Then users can click the terms and see all of those books at once. Stickers are leftover from the card catalog days and ppl just won't let go.
This is true at most libraries. I used to be one of the people who organized this at my library.
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My local library has a summer reading program where even the adults can earn prizes by reading books, and I love them for this.
Oh my good!!! The prelim ballot came out and ahhhhhh!!! So many books I got to review and loved @ejlarocca
So excited for all.
Look at HORROR on the cover of and it’s my friend ’ amazing novel. Proud of you friend but also stop sleeping on Horror!!!! It’s front and center and ready for its closeup.
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Here’s what hitting me this morning about the @nytimesbooks cover.
THEY PUT A HORROR WRITER ON THE COVER.
We’re doing it, horror folks. 
You know what I am sick of...expressing my no excuses policy for being actively racist in libraries being responded to with: "That's great passion Becky but you don't understand how it works actually!"
It has been a long few days but I am proud of the work we did as a board to clearly make this statement. I know some were frustrated it was not immediately but we needed to have a series of votes and follow by laws to make it stick. This will stick!
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Here’s the @HorrorWriters statement on Tom Monteleone. There’s no place for bigotry in horror.
Libraries Are Not Neutral: More Arguments and an Important ALA Program Coming Next Week: raforall.blogspot.com/2022/06/librar
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It isn't censorship because they are incorrect factually. We remove books that are not accurate all of the time. Do we have "flat earth" books? NO. We removed all the "Pluto is a planet books." This is not hard ppl.
Today I have been happily married for 20 years. We are celebrating by waking up early to catch a flight to where we met. Taking Ms 15 on an admissions tour on this day is more special than anything could have imagined 20 yrs ago.
That email goes to me. Please use it.
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Following Rae's lead here, with the hope that I can do what I can to help make the horror industry a safe environment for us to work/play anyone impacted or involved can email: Secretary@horror.org >> twitter.com/_Rae_Knowles/s…
Congrats to for his Bram Stoker Award nom for THE BOOK OF ACCIDENTS. A immediate entry into the classic horror epic subgenre. Well deserved.
I just heard Jerry Springer died. My connection to him was that I was a law librarian for the firm that represented his show (in Chicago). Their show was responsible for some of my most memorable reference questions...ever. Balance that info with my 15 years at a public library.
I just audited my genre basics program and I have 60 titles as examples and 31 can be considered "own voices." And all of them have won awards or been on best lists. In other words, I didn't have to work that hard to be inclusive.
Calm before the Awards. In the room setting up. Getting ready. See you soon in person or on YouTube: youtube.com/live/tPFz_a3Xx
#StokerCon #BramStokerAwards.
Today was an excellent #BookMail day because I received an early copy of MY HEART IS A CHAINSAW by . Thanks .
Welcome new Horror specific followers. This account is focused on serving leisure readers through the public library with a spotlight on #HorrorForLibraries. So a lot of general library content.
Details here: raforall.blogspot.com including how your local library can hire me.
Hot tip: when replying to a professional email sent to you (a man) by a woman, don’t start by complimenting her smile.
Today on both blogs:
It's ALIVE! The Readers' Advisory Guide to Horror, Third Edition.
Everything you need to know about #HorrorForLibraries.
Pre-orders open now. Book out Summer 2021.
raforall.blogspot.com/2021/02/its-al
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I’ll be at #StokerCon. My schedule is full and I may be rushing between things but I love to chat. Please stop me and say hi.
Final manuscript has been accepted. AND pre-orders are live soon. Like in a few days.
Current status, deleting snarky tweets about ignorant ppl getting upset that I am [mostly] unavailable for things during the High Holidays. I mean you all don't have to take meetings on Christmas, even when it falls on a Tuesday.
2020 could be my year of I told you so to all the library ppl who told me 5 years ago that no one wants #ReadAdv training, that libraries were repositioning as a "third space," focusing on our buildings, that we were "more than books," that no one would want or need my training
Shout out to and for making sure corrected the list to include the nominees and winner of the FIRST EVER Stoker Award for Middle Grade
After months of planning and work here it is! Learn With Presents: Actively Anti-Racist Service to Readers with and Me. 24/7 access to our training with 4 chances to interact with us live! Click through for details and a coupon or 🧵
raforall.blogspot.com/2022/10/now-li
Can we just fast forward to 5/13 when I get to be with all my Horror friends? Today was the pits. On every front. And that’s saying a lot since my husband is first gen Ukrainian American and we’ve been living in that hell for the last 2 mos.
Look what arrived today….THE BEAST YOU ARE by . Out July 2023. My review will be in the June issue of . The issue will also have my interview with Paul.
RA for All: The Get Even Better...They Have Added Me to the Advisory Board. Details below raforall.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-sh
Just finished writing my review of WHAT MOVES THE DEAD by & just a warning you all-- you will not want to eat mushrooms for a bit after. Also, obsessive brushing off of your skin might occur. No need to be alarmed. It will pass....hopefully.
The 2017 Bram Stoker Awards® Final Ballot horror.org/2017-bram-stok featuring Congrats to all nominees!
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Having both the time and the money to invest in yourself is NOT that easy for many & to say that the huge costs to be a part of the org and participate are about "investing in yourself" is coded language telling those who cannot afford it that they are not worth the investment
I don’t know who needs to hear this but I am recording my first Halloween themed podcast today. This one with my publisher.
My book is coming out in August. I can talk the enduring appeal of horror in general and its place in libraries specifically on your podcast if you are interested. Now booking appearances in August and beyond.
Proud mama. Ms 17 had a major goal this year. To make the ALL STATE band for flute. She found out this morning that she made it. We are so proud of her but also, even more proud of how hard she worked to achieve this goal.
First Board Meeting of the year in the can [our year begins 11/1]. 100% attendance! Notes filed, video uploading. It's official. Big thanks to our fearless leader .
