Louis Shores Award for excellence in book reviewing names Brad Hooper of Booklist as winner

CHICAGO — The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association, has selected Brad Hooper of Booklist as the recipient of the 2015 Louis Shores Award, which recognizes outstanding book and media reviewing for libraries.

The Louis Shores Award recognizes an individual reviewer, group, editor, review medium or organization for excellence in reviewing materials for libraries.

Hooper has been on staff at Booklist for 40 years. Over his tenure at Booklist, he has moved from a full-time reviewer to editor. Through his work at Booklist, Hooper has proven he a true leader in the field of reviewing for libraries. He is a skilled reviewer, reviewing in a wide range of subjects and genres. Not only is Hooper an expert reviewer, he is a mentor and teacher. Hooper has provided workshops for librarians interested in honing their reviewing and readers’ advisory skills. He has helped many in the profession to move from novice to expert reviewers.

Brad Hooper’s book Writing Reviews for Readers’ Advisory is a standard in the field of reviewing for libraries. Additionally, he has published works of literary criticism. His forthcoming book, The Librarians Guide to Book and Adult Programs will be published by ALA Editions in 2015. 

Brad Hooper will be presented with the Louis Shores Award at the RUSA Achievement Awards at the 2015 American Library Association Annual Conference in San Francisco.

The winner was selected by the Louis Shores Award committee, whose members include Emily Hamstra, chair, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.; and Lucy Lockley, St. Charles City-County Library District, St. Peter’s, Mo.

The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association, represents librarians and library staff in the fields of reference, specialized reference, collection development, readers’ advisory and resource sharing. RUSA is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need. Learn more about the association at www.ala.org/rusa.