Horror Readers’ Advisory: How to Help Your Scariest Patrons

A recent poll of thousands of library workers identified Horror as one of the Top 5 genres they were “most scared of,” and yet, the genre is basking in a popularity among our patrons that hasn’t been seen in decades. We cannot ignore it any longer. It’s time to stop worrying that your Horror readers are monsters, and start remembering they only like to read about them. The library world’s Horror expert, Becky Spratford, is here to help you conquer your own fears and walk you through today’s horror landscape. In this webinar she will explain how to talk to fans, break down the appeal of horror, identify what resources will serve you best, and most importantly, give you dozens of authors and titles to start suggesting with confidence, immediately! Get up to speed on this current Horror Renaissance without terrorizing yourself in the process. Let’s have some fun, talk about books, help patrons, and learn about the scariest genre together.

Instructor: Becky Spratford [MLIS] is a Librarian 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, writes reviews for Booklist and a Horror review column for Library Journal. Becky has been an elected Library Trustee and a former Board member for both the Reaching Across Illinois Library System and the Illinois Library Association. Known for her work with Horror readers. Becky is the author of three text books for library workers and the Bram Stoker and Locus Award Nominated Why I Love Horror [Saga Press, 2025].

Becky was named one of the Chicago Tribune’s Chicagoans of the Year in 2025. She is on the Shirley Jackson Award Advisory Board and is a proud member of the Horror Writers Association, currently serving as the Association’s Secretary and Co-Chair of their Libraries Committee. You can follow Becky on Bluesky @raforall.bsky.social.

To register for this webinar please follow this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9517769739160/WN_nzHlshdNR2yquKorEcTirA Sessions are free and available only to members of the Michigan library community. Registrants will receive instructions and a link to attend the session directly from PCI after they register.

PCI Webinars are recorded and available to members of the Michigan library community in the Library of Michigan's Niche Staff Skills Academy about a week after they air. New webinars will be in the New category for several weeks. You do not need to register for a webinar in order to view it later in the Staff Skills Academy.

This project is made possible by grant funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the State of Michigan through the Library of Michigan.