Dig deeper with the new readers’ advisory guide to horror

CHICAGO — Vampires, zombies, ghosts and ghoulies: there are more things going bump in the night than ever. So how do you wend your way through all of them to find the ones that interest a particular reader? As both an introductory guide for librarians just dipping their toes into the brackish water of scary fiction, as well as a fountain of new ideas for horror-aware reference staff, “The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Horror, Second Edition” published by ALA Editions, is infernally appropriate. RA expert Becky Siegel Spratford updates her advisory to include the latest in monsters and the macabre, including:

• Lists of recommended titles, authors and sub-genres, all cross-referenced for quick reference;
• Tips for effectively practicing horror RA, with interview questions for gauging a reader’s interests;
• An expanded resources section, with an overview addressing the current state of horror lit, and suggestions of how to dig deeper.

Spratford co-authored the first edition of "The Horror Readers' Advisory: The Librarian's Guide to Vampires, Killer Tomatoes, and Haunted Houses." She has been a Readers' Advisor since 2000 at the Berwyn (Illinois) Public Library. She is currently an adjunct faculty member at Dominican University's Graduate School of Library and Information Science, teaching Readers' Advisory Service two semesters a year. Spratford also contributes Read Alike articles for NoveList, is a member of the Adult Reading Roundtable Steering Committee and is the author of the blog RA for All: Horror.

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide. ALA Editions publishes resources used worldwide by tens of thousands of library and information professionals to improve programs, build on best practices, develop leadership, and for personal professional development. ALA authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a growing range of print and electronic formats. Contact ALA Editions at (800) 545-2433 ext. 5418 or editionsmarketing@ala.org.