CHICAGO – At 1 p.m. Central on December 7, the Public Library Association (PLA) will host “Sure Bet Bests: Matching Readers With Their ‘Best’ Reads,” exclusively for PLA personal members. This free webinar will take you down this year’s "best" list rabbit hole, make sense of the larger reading trends it illustrates, and start you off on crafting your plan to help your patrons find the right read for them.
During this hour-long presentation, Becky Spratford, Readers’ Advisory specialist, will look at how to turn the excitement of “best” season into an actionable plan where you, your entire staff (from public service to behind the scenes), and even your patrons themselves can get in on the act, suggest books to each other, and allow you to have the “best” service to readers all the year through.
Registration for this webinar is required and exclusively for PLA personal members. Space is limited.
Want to know more about Becky Spratford, MLIS? Becky is a Readers' Advisor in Illinois specializing in serving patrons ages 13 and up. She trains library staff all over the world on how to match books with readers through the local public library. She runs the critically acclaimed RA training blog RA for All, and is on the steering committee of the Adult Reading Round Table. She is under contract to provide content for EBSCO’s NoveList database and writes reviews for Booklist. Becky is also known for her work with horror readers as the author of The Reader’s Advisory Guide to Horror, Second Edition (ALA Editions, 2012) and is a proud member of the Horror Writers Association—which is honoring her as a special guest of honor at StokerCon 2017 for her contribution to the genre. You can follow Becky on Twitter @RAforAll.
The Public Library Association (PLA) is the largest association dedicated to supporting the unique and evolving needs of public library professionals. Founded in 1944, PLA serves nearly 9,000 members in public libraries large and small in communities across the United States and Canada, with a growing presence around the world. PLA strives to help its members shape the essential institution of public libraries by serving as an indispensable ally for public library leaders. For more information about PLA, visit www.pla.org.
Contact:
Kara O'Keefe
Manager, Marketing and Membership
Public Library Association (PLA)
kokeefe@ala.org
Featured News
March 15, 2025
ALA statement on White House assault on the Institute of Museum and Library Services
An executive order issued by the Trump administration on Friday night, March 14, calls for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the nation’s only federal agency for America’s libraries.
February 10, 2025
American Library Association launches public supporter program
The American Library Association launched a new supporter program on February 10, 2025, inviting the public to join the fight to protect libraries and library professionals at a pivotal moment in our country’s history.
January 26, 2025
ALA to U. S. Department of Education: Book bans are real
The American Library Association responds to the Department of Education's dismissal of complaints about censorship and discrimination: the "effort to terminate protections... advances the demonstrably false claim that book bans are not real."
January 22, 2025
New ALA Initiative Asks Advocates to “Show Up for Our Libraries”
Today the American Library Association (ALA) launched Show Up for Our Libraries, a campaign to harness the collective power of library advocates to influence elected leaders and policymakers.
January 13, 2025
American Library Association extends support to libraries affected by Los Angeles wildfires
The American Library Association extends our deepest sympathies to those who have been affected by and to those who have lost everything during the Los Angeles area fires.
December 10, 2024
PLA provides funding to more than 100 public libraries as part of $2.7 million effort to boost digital literacy
The Public Library Association (PLA) has selected more than 139 public libraries across 42 states to host digital literacy workshops, powered by a generous $2.7 million contribution from AT&T.
December 9, 2024
The American Library Association Receives Transformational Gift to Fund Scholarships
James W. Lewis has made the largest individual bequest to the American Library Association in the association’s history.
December 5, 2024
Telgemeier, McCloud chosen as National Library Week honorary chairs
Award-winning author and illustrator Raina Telgemeier and cartoonist and comic theorist Scott McCloud have been selected Honorary Chairs of the American Library Association’s National Library Week, April 6-12, 2025.
November 14, 2024
American Library Association launches national search for executive director
The American Library Association (ALA) has reopened its search for an executive director in partnership with executive search firm Isaacson, Miller. The search will be led by a steering committee comprising ALA member leaders.
November 11, 2024
Cronk, Jamison, McCauley seek ALA presidency for 2026-2027
Lindsay Cronk, Tulane University, New Orleans; Andrea Jamison, Illinois State University; and Maria McCauley, Cambridge Public Library, Cambridge, Massachusetts, are candidates for the 2026-27 presidency of the American Library Association.