Halloween Week Links For Casual Horror Fans

As we get into the final days of October, we are all seeing an uptick in patrons asking for "scary" reads. Many are not traditional Horror readers and are seeking our help without truly understanding what they are looking for because besides Stephen King, they do not know what is out there. 

While I always have Horror help for all library workers to help every type of reader on the Horror blog, I realize that an entire website may be a little overwhelming as Halloween is on our doorstep.

So today, here on the general RA blog, I have a few key links, resources that can help you to serve patrons quickly, with a focus on the most general Horror reader.

Not only can these links help you serve these last minute, not generally Horror fans, to scratch their seasonal scary reads itch, but also remember that many patrons meant to read a spooky book this month, but life intervened and they didn't get to it. The best thing you can do to serve these patrons [of which there will be many] is to keep up Horror displays and list for AT LEAST 2 week after Halloween.

I purposely capped this list at only 4 options so as to not overwhelm you. However, if you need more quick pick, annotated lists, I did a link roundup each Sunday this month on the horror blog. Click here, here, or here to access these links quickly.

Good luck as we shamble toward Halloween. 

Here are those links:

• Speaking of Goodreads, use their Horror Week coverage from earlier in the month to get some ideas and suggestions from the top Horror authors, as well as lists of the site's most popular Horror titles right now.
• Kirkus had a great list of the scariest books of 2021. Not all are Horror. I like that as an option for this week's non-Horror reader requests.
• 10 New Horror Novels Perfect for Crime Fans via CrimeReads. All of CrimeReads Horror coverage is accessible here. This is a great go-to resource for non-traditional Horror fans looking for a scary read.
• Finally, a tangible example on how to make that Horror display go past Sunday, via a library worker on Twitter: Blind Date with a Book Display, "but make it spooky."
• This is a great idea for you to offer self service. Patrons will choose based on the appeal factors you list on the brown paper cover. Use a review from a 5 star reader on GoodReads. This is that book's best reader, and letting them speak for the books is a great [and easy] idea. Here is an updated picture from the one at the link above: