Horror Readers' Advisory: How to Help Your Scariest Patrons
A recent poll of thousands of library workers identified Horror as on the 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! And just in time for the start of Spooky Season. Becky will break it all down for you so that you can 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.
Presenter:
Becky Spratford
Recording:
This program is being recorded. Materials from the webinar may also be available during and/or following the webinar.
Who Should Come?
Perfect for anyone finding themselves doing Readers Advisory officially or unofficially, and especially for those wanting to be more knowledgeable about the Horror genre.
Accessibility
This webinar will be captioned. If you require another access service to participate fully, please use the Accommodation Request Form at least 7 days prior to the event.
- Date:
- Tuesday, October 21, 2025
- Time:
- 10:00am - 11:30am
- Presenter:
- Becky Spratford
- Categories:
- DLD Online Webinar
Event Accessibility for Guests with Disabilities
We want to provide what you need to participate!
If you require access services to participate fully, please use the Accommodation Request Form at least 7 days prior to the event.
If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact Gail Hurley at gail.hurley@ct.gov or (860) 704-2223.
You can also see our Library and Accessibility LibGuide for more information.
Registration Eligibility
To register for a DLD workshop or webinar, you must be one of the following:
- current library staff member
- undergraduate or graduate library student
- Friend or Board Member/Trustee*
- retired or unemployed library staff
Please contact Gail Hurley at gail.hurley@ct.gov or (860) 704-2223 with registration questions.
*Unless otherwise specified that a Friend or Board Member/Trustee is not eligible for a training or workshop.
Note: paid consultants are not eligible to attend DLD workshops or webinars.
Cancellation Policy
If you cannot attend a workshop you have registered for, please remember to cancel at least 3 days in advance so we can give your spot to someone else. You can cancel via the link in your confirmation email, or by contacting Gail Hurley gail.hurley@ct.gov | (860) 704-2222.
Those who miss (without cancelling) 3 events within a 6-month period will be placed on the waiting list when registering for future events. Be sure to sign in when you arrive for any workshop.
Inclement Weather Policy
For all in-person workshops offered by the CT State Library, Division of Library Development:
If the public schools in the town where the workshop is to be held close due to weather, the workshop will be canceled. If the schools have a delay, the workshop will go on as scheduled.
For the most up-to-date information, call us at 860-704-2200.
Continuing Education workshops and the professional development collection are funded in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Connecticut State Library.