Becky Spratford (she/her)
@RAforAll
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Matching books w/ readers thru the library esp Horror. Jersey Girl in exile. @AmherstCollege '97 P'24. @BlairSchool P'27. @HorrorWriters Sec. Rep @LaneHeymont
Chicagoland
Joined May 2014
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*Ahem* I have some news.....
Thanks to
@LaneHeymont
for believing in me and
@SagaPressBooks
@joemts
for taking a chance.
Coming Septemeber 2025!
Many of the authors and Lane and Joe will be at
@StokerCon
to celebrate for me!
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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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@LezaCantoral
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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@AwkwardImp
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.
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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.
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None of us want this. Please do not celebrate.
Apparently it’s national hug a librarian day???? Which one of us asked for this because it was NOT me.
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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.
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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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@Tuphlos
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.
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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.
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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:
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@leftistthot420
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.
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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.
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@veronikellymars
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.
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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.
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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!
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I am allowed to announce this now: I have officially been elected to the
@RAILSLibraries
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.]
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I had a little rant today. EDI Real Talk For Well Meaning White Ladies
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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.
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The July 1st issue of
@LibraryJournal
is available on the website [Digital Edition] but when my article and
@SGJ72
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
!
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Here is the direct link to the constantly updated, full of awesome lists and resources,
@SummerScares
Resource and FAQ page. You can use it to suggest
#HorrorForLibraries
all year long and for every aged reader.
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Started my day with an email from my editor
@LibraryJournal
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.
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Today the news is officially out. I will be joining the Executive Board of
@IllLibraryAssoc
for the next 3 years. I am honored to be chosen and VERY excited to begin working this July. Congrats to all.
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@veronikellymars
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.
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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.
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I have just been informed by my oldest that I am now the parent of a college graduate! All classes finished, all papers turned in, last exam just completed!
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I am so excited that this news can be shared with the world. There is NO BETTER human for this important job.
Awesome announcement time! I'm the new horror columnist for the
@nytimes
. It's a dream come true. Can't wait to bring you all the horror goodness starting in January. Long live horror.
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I really think the non-library world thinks we make this stuff up.
"I'm requesting the book for you now. Which library location would you like to pick it up from?"
"I'm really busy this week -- could you bring it to my house?"
"I'm sorry, we don't have the capacity to do that."
"I understand, that makes sense. How about my neighbor's house?"
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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.
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At a literary book fest but lots of people want to talk to me about Horror.
They are finally catching on.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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My article is ALIVE!!!!
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Official press release about my newest book- THE READERS' ADVISORY GUIDE TO HORROR, Third Edition with
@alaeditions
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One of those 1,000 kids is my son who graduated high school tonight.
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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.
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I not only voted today but I brought Mr 18 to register and vote!
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Hey hey I have some big news.
@HorrorWriters
have been working with the Author's Guild and now we can announce that we have been officially added. Re AI:
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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
@_jennykiefer
right this minute. January 2024
@quirkbooks
.
Just trust me.
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Statement from
@HorrorWriters
via our
@StokerCon
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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I may be old and married 24 years but we know how to have fun on a rooftop in downtown Chicago.
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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
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I am excited to have Lane on my side as I work to bring more books directly to readers.
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My horror reading roots began here
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Tonight our college senior told us she is accepting a job in publishing. So excited for her.
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And even if you think you live in a tolerant place. Trust us.
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.
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Look at what is in the cover of the
@chicagotribune
A&E section this Sunday!!!
@cinapelayo
’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
@ChicagoHWA
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How dare you Libby. Stop telling me to return my hold and let someone else read it. Yes It is due in 7 days and I haven't started it yet but I have 7 hours in the car tomorrow and 7 more Thursday. It is only 10 hours long.I've got this. Ye of little faith. 🤣
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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
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Look at HORROR on the cover of
@nytimesbooks
and it’s my friend
@DanielDKraus
’ amazing novel. Proud of you friend but also stop sleeping on Horror!!!! It’s front and center and ready for its closeup.
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. 🐳👹
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And here is my much anticipated Top 20
#HorrorForLIbraries
of the Decade with some explanation. Huge thanks to
@CoreyFarrenkopf
for looking it over and engaging in discussion about the list.
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Noting like a tornado touching down just blocks away from your house. We are fine. Waiting for reports to those just east of us.
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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
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Damn you
@ChuckWendig
. 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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It's happening..... 15 of 18 essays are in and 3 remaining are accounted for. Time for me to prove that
@joemts
and
@LaneHeymont
's faith in me was worth it.
*Ahem* I have some news.....
Thanks to
@LaneHeymont
for believing in me and
@SagaPressBooks
@joemts
for taking a chance.
Coming Septemeber 2025!
Many of the authors and Lane and Joe will be at
@StokerCon
to celebrate for me!
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So there are library articles about visits being down. Our visits were up 33,000 in 2023 (in a town of only16,000). In my area visits are up most places. Some still below 2019 levels but all are going up from year to year. Library twitter, what say you at your library.
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My daughter’s college housing for summer and her final year is literally in the back yard of the Emily Dickinson homestead.
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This is true at most libraries. I used to be one of the people who organized this at my library.
My local library has a summer reading program where even the adults can earn prizes by reading books, and I love them for this.
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Disappearing to go figure out how to explain why HORROR MOVIE by
@paulGtremblay
is one of the best books you will read in 2024 in 200 words or less (for
@ALA_Booklist
)
Or as my husband calls it, that book you ignored everything else for the other day.
Yes, that book
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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!
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Or, you can simply go to your local public library where they ALL do this for a living. And they actual know you.
#readadv
For Match Book, a new literary advice column, The New York Times Book Review wants your questions
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Oh my good!!! The prelim
@HorrorWriters
ballot came out and ahhhhhh!!! So many books I got to review and loved
@cinapelayo
@vlatinalondon
@HaileyPiperSays
@claymcleod
@SGJ72
@laquiglette
@grady_hendrix
@see_starling
@ejlarocca
@ericjguignard
@PhilipFracassi
So excited for all.
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@nleisten70
@kelseybogan
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.
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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.
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Today I have been happily married for 20 years. We are celebrating by waking up early to catch a flight to
@AmherstCollege
where we met. Taking Ms 15 on an admissions tour on this day is more special than anything could have imagined 20 yrs ago.
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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!
@HorrorWriters
Here’s the
@HorrorWriters
statement on Tom Monteleone. There’s no place for bigotry in horror.
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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.
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Congrats to
@ChuckWendig
for his Bram Stoker Award nom for THE BOOK OF ACCIDENTS. A immediate entry into the classic horror epic subgenre. Well deserved.
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Libraries Are Not Neutral: More Arguments and an Important ALA Program Coming Next Week:
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Calm before the Awards. In the room setting up. Getting ready. See you soon in person or on YouTube:
#StokerCon
#BramStokerAwards
.
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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: including how your local library can hire me.
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My pre-order of HOUSE OF BONE AND RAIN
@Gabino_Iglesias
is finally here!
And I was wearing my
#JadeShirt
when it came.
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@NoetheMatt
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.
@Tuphlos
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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!"
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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.
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Look what arrived today….THE BEAST YOU ARE by
@paulGtremblay
. Out July 2023. My review will be in the June issue of
@LibraryJournal
. The issue will also have my interview with Paul.
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Today was an excellent
#BookMail
day because I received an early copy of MY HEART IS A CHAINSAW by
@SGJ72
. Thanks
@alsoknownasLJ
.
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Guess what book is next up in my review queue.....
ALL THE HEARTS YOU EAT by
@HaileyPiperSays
.
So excited. Thanks
@TitanBooks
for the ARC. Sometime soon I will be giving it away to a lucky library worker.
Enter the giveaway anytime here:
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Shout out to
@EllenDatlow
and
@Gabino_Iglesias
for making sure
@locusmag
corrected the list to include the nominees and winner of the FIRST EVER Stoker Award for Middle Grade
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