Becky and Robin's NEW Actively Anti-Racist Readers' Advisory Services Debuts on ALA eCourses Next Week (w/ access to my new slides)

Click here for slide access

On February 18 and 20, Robin and I debut our brand new version of our Actively Anti-Racist Readers' Advisory Services programs. 

Robin and I are very excited to offer this class through ALA eLearning. Not only do we have our books with ALA Editions (which comes into play with some new information below) but we also have their support to do whatever we want, however we want. They trust us to decide how people best learn and are giving us the space to do our thing. Also, the price is WAY more affordable than hiring us on your own-- $116 members, $129 non-members. It is 3 hours of class with 2 chances to ask both of us questions for that price. And as you will see below, this new version comes with BONUS material.

Speaking of here are a few details to share and clarify.

1. You can do this program live or as a recording. For each talk, both of us will be there to answer questions live, but if you can't make the live, register anyway because you will have access to the recordings and....

2. This class will be the first time Robin and I are offering worksheets for participants to use after the class to not only keep their learning going, but to give you tangible exercises to bring back to your places of work. Anyone who signs up gets access to a 6 page workbook. The goal here is to beta test this content with all of you and then work toward a longer workbook to offer through ALA Editions in the future. If you want access to the worksheets you MUST signup. They come for free. Honestly, it is an excellent deal to get access to the recordings and worksheets for the price. Robin and I will not be offering 

3. We are often asked if these classes are only for those serving adults. The answer is no. While most (not all) of our examples are from adult books, the concepts and principles we are teaching work throughout the entire library and for all service areas. Please send your YS staff. They need to hear this all as well. Maybe even more as censorship usually begins (but does not end) in the Children's area.

4. We will probably offer this class again in the Fall, so if you would rather do live and this timing isn't perfect, you could wait. But honestly, I would get in now. We are both refreshing our material and you get a first look at the worksheets. We have contact info available to reach both of us in case you have questions after the events. We will answer those for free.

5. In the face of recent real world events, Robin and I are committed to making this training even stronger. We are not backing off on our strong language; in fact, is anything we are getting more vocal and will challenge you all to work harder. Notice the title slide for my portion says "now featuring 100% more anger." This is a promise, not a threat. I have updated my language to be as sorting and clear as possible.

Here are the details from their page with registration links:

Actively Anti-Racist Readers’ Advisory Services

A two-part webinar series taking place on Tuesday, February 18 and Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 2:30pm Eastern/1:30pm Central/12:30pm Mountain/11:30am Pacific.

Increasing the collection and circulation of titles written by underrepresented authors is not just a trend. Providing robust readers’ advisory service that values equity, diversity, and inclusion principles is essential to all library services.

Moving from being a neutral, well-meaning library where systemic racism is acknowledged to an actively anti-racist organization involves in-depth work, some of which can be challenging. In this program you will begin that work and learn tangible skills to help build enthusiasm for reading and strategies for diversifying your materials. You’ll learn how you can strengthen your RA service through thoughtful discussion of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging principles in all interactions with leisure readers and how to be a steward of the anti-racist mindset for your organization.

In this two-part series, collection development and readers’ advisory experts Robin Bradford and Becky Spratford will move your team from talk to action. You’ll learn how to help your entire organization craft an actionable plan to seamlessly incorporate the values of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging into your regular RA practices. 

Through your participation in this program, you will learn:

• The distinction between not racist and anti-racist. 
• How to identify more diverse titles to add to your collections.
• How to use anti-racist principles in your displays, book talks, and organization of titles.
• Promotion strategies for diverse titles and authors.
• Basic strategies to address politically motivated requests to remove books from your collection.

Robin Bradford has earned a BA and MA in English, an MS in Library Science, and a JD, but has found a home in building reader-focused, popular collections in public libraries. She was recognized as RWA’s 2016 Librarian of the Year and Emerald City Library Conference's Librarian of the Year in 2022. She is addicted to books and dedicated to helping others discover a love of reading. She has worked with authors to help get their titles into these collections and wrote the Readers’ Advisory Guide to Romance Fiction to further help libraries with their romance collection. She also worked with libraries to push for equal treatment of genre fiction and worked with readers so that they can find their favorite authors on their library's shelves.

Becky Spratford (MLIS) 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. She writes reviews for Booklist and a horror review column for Library Journal. Becky is a 24-year locally elected Library Trustee (still serving), a former Board member for the Reaching Across Illinois Library System, and currently on the Executive Board of the Illinois Library Association. Known for her work with horror readers, Becky is the author of The Reader’s Advisory Guide to Horror, Third Edition (ALA Editions, 2021) and the forthcoming Why I Love Horror and You Should Too (Saga Press, Sept 2025). She is on the Shirley Jackson Award Advisory Board and is a proud member of the Horror Writers Association, where she currently serves as the Association’s Secretary and Co-Chair of their Library Committee. You can follow Becky on Bluesky @raforall.bsky.social

This event will be hosted in Zoom. Automatic captions will be enabled for this event. This event will be recorded, and registrants will receive access to the recording within a day after the event ends.

If you have questions or requests regarding accessibility, contact us at ce@ala.org or at 312-280-5100.

Using Awards Lists As a RA Tool: Libby Book Awards Edition

This is part of my ongoing series on using Awards Lists as a RA tool. Click here for all posts in the series in reverse chronological order. Click here for the first post which outlines the details how to use awards lists as a RA tool.  

Let's kick off the week with a newer award list announcement, but one you should not sleep on because it is handpicked, proven winners as chosen by librarians!

 

Announcing the finalists for the 2025 Libby Book Awards

Roll out the red carpet—award season is here! While Hollywood celebrates the best in film, TV, and music, we’re honoring the best in books from the 2024 publishing season with the second annual Libby Book Awards, aka The Libbys.

A panel of librarians have meticulously narrowed it down to five finalists in each of the 20 categories, spanning genres, formats, and age groups. Across North America, librarians and library workers will then cast their votes to determine the year’s best books.

We’ll reveal the winners on March 5! Be sure to subscribe to Libby Life for the reveal of this year’s top picks.

Want more insider scoop? Tune in to our latest podcast episode where we unveil the finalists and go behind the scenes with expert commentary on these powerhouse titles.

And now, without further ado, the nominees are...

Click through to see the MANY categories for this award-- 20!. Any or all of these books are great sure bets for their categories. There are genres, nonfiction split-up into many categories, including cookbooks, graphic novels, books for kids,...and more!

Remember, as it says above, these titles were chosen by a panel of librarians...not critics. These books are proven winners with the toughest audience-- library workers who suggest books to their patrons. As we know, our patrons let us know when they love a book but also when they hate it. 

And because it is Libby's award, there is a link to the eBook and the eAudio for each title.

Did I mention ALL the genres and categories here? Oh yeah, I did, but I need to repeat it again. If you cannot find something for your readers, you haven't scrolled through the entire list.

Just grab all of these titles, the books that are on your shelves right now, and put them on display and call it "2024 Proven Winners That You May Have Missed." Yes, I know this award is for the e-versions, but who cares? You should also make a QR code to send people to Libby to read them there, but you are not going to library jail if you put the physical books up for the Libbys on display. Your patrons don't care who said these books are awesome, they just want to know that that someone, somewhere, said they are great reads.

This is only the second year for the Libby's so the backlist is short, but you can access it here.

Keep this list, and last year's in your pocket to pullout when you have a hard to please patron or your mind goes blank-- all year long!

Library Lovers Week with EveryLibrary (and Me): RSVP Today

Next week EveryLibrary is celebrating Library Lovers week with a series of author interviews. You can click here for the details and to register.

I am excited to announce that I will be moderating two, live event on Tuesday night:

7pm EST with Jennifer E. Hilt & Sara Rosett (Alliance of Independent Authors - ALLi) - "Pyramids to Plot Twists: Crafting Stories That Captivate"on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/1129658792042176
on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE-Srqv34lE

9pm EST with Mary G. Thompson & Sarah Beth Durst (Tachyon) - "Imagined Worlds and Reimagined Lives"
on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/3971479529730575
on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWWUOASCRTc

For those who do not know EveryLibrary, here is their mission statement from their "About" page:

EveryLibrary helps public, school, and college libraries win funding at the ballot box, ensuring stable funding and access to libraries for generations to come. We also support grassroots groups across the country defend and support their local library against book banning, illicit political interference, and threats of closure.

Please click through to see everything they do and consider making a donation to help them fight for all of us.

Back to Library Lovers Week specifically. We could all use some joy in our lives right about now, and book joy is the best joy. Go to this page to RSVP for Library Lovers Week 2025. As is explained on that page and below, when you RSVP you will get the links to join each live conversation and you will also receive links to watch said conversations after the fact. It's a win-win with one click.

I hope you can join us live or at a time that works better for you. Just be sure to RSVP so you don't miss the book joy.

RSVP to Library Lovers Week 2025 Book Fest from EveryLibrary Live!

Celebrate Books, Authors, and Libraries This Library Lovers Week!

Join us for an unforgettable celebration of reading, storytelling, and the magic of libraries during Library Lovers Week, February 11–14, 2025! EveryLibrary Live! is thrilled to bring you an exciting lineup of renowned authors and literary stars, supported by some of the biggest names in publishing.

Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with your favorite authors, explore fresh perspectives, and dive into engaging conversations about books, the art of writing, and the incredible impact of libraries.

Event Highlights

12 Dynamic Author Panels
Meet over a dozen incredible authors from diverse genres, including Neal Shusterman, Sandra Brown, Jami Attenberg, Rochelle Alers, Joe Finder, Sara Rosett, and more! Topics range from thrilling mysteries to heartwarming stories that will captivate readers of all kinds.

Live & On-Demand Access
Catch the live broadcasts on Facebook Live and YouTube Live every evening—or watch on-demand at your convenience.

Major Publisher Support
Enjoy exclusive content from participating publishers, including Gibbs Smith, HarperCollins, Hachette, Kensington, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Tachyon, and more.

A Joyful Celebration of Reading

Help shift the focus from censorship to the pure joy of books, the creative process, and the transformative power of libraries.

When you RSVP, you’ll receive the full festival schedule the evenings of February 11–14, 2025 directly in your inbox. Sign up now to get daily reminders to make sure you don’t miss your favorite panels. Get exclusive updates and insider information about the event and participating authors. 

Meet the Authors:
Here’s the list of amazing talent you’ll encounter:

• • Lisa Genova, Neal Shusterman & Lynn Painter (Simon & Schuster)
  • Sandra Brown & Robyn Harding (Hachette)
  • Rochelle Alers & Kemper Donovan (Kensington)
  • Jennifer Adams & Alison Oliver (Gibbs Smith)
  • Jami Attenberg, Anna Montague Joe Finder, & Christopher Bolen(HarperCollins)
  • Jennifer E. Hilt & Sara Rosett (ALLi)
  • Mary G. Thompson & Sarah Beth Durst (Tachyon & Tor)
  • Samantha M Clark, Naima Simone, Angelina M. Lopez (AABB)
  • Chris Bohjalian, Fiona Davis & Jennifer Ryan (Penguin Random House)
  • Kathleen Fuller, Melissa Furguson, & Amy Clipston (HarperCollins Christian)

RSVP now to secure your spot for the live events and gain access to all the links to watch the 'on-demand' sessions whenever you like. Don’t miss out on this exciting celebration of literature and libraries!

Invite your friends and fellow book lovers to join us for this unforgettable event. Spread the joy of Library Lovers Week by sharing on social media using the hashtags #LibraryLoversWeek2025 and #EveryLibraryLive.

RSVP now and be part of the celebration!

Click here for the full schedule.

What I'm Reading: Booklist February 2025 Issue Edition

The February 2025 issue of Booklist is live and I have two reviews in the magazine. Before we get to those, I do want to mention that the Booklist Online site has had a refresh and there are exciting things to share about that. I have invited Booklist to the blog to tell you all about that as well. So look for that sometime next week.

Now back to my reviews. As usual, I am posting my draft review here on the blog with bonus appeal info.

First up, the hotly anticipated follow-up to White Horse

The Haunting of Room 904

By Erika T. Wurth

Olivia is the most sought after paranormal investigator in Denver, but her successful business is rooted in deep personal trauma– her sister, Naiche, committed suicide in room 904 of the Brown Hotel almost five years ago. When the hotel contacts Olivia to prove that Naiche’s death is part of a cycle of violence that goes back generations, repeating exactly every five years, Olivia and her partner agree to take on this time-sensitive case. However, it is more dangerous than Olivia realizes as there are multiple forces at work, connected to a massacre of Native women and children in 1864, and these forces will stop at nothing to get what they want, even if it destroys Olivia and everyone she holds dear. Readers will eagerly follow Olivia’s investigation, getting to know her diverse and endearing friends, as this harrowing story twists and turns, winding its way from past atrocities right up to the present. For fans of emotionally charged supernatural thrillers, such as Shutter by Emerson and Forgotten Sisters by Pelayo.

Three Words That Describe This Book: supernatural thriller, great characters, emotionally charged

Further Appeal: First of all this is NOT White Horse. That was a straight up Horror novel and I think some people may be frustrated that this is different. They should not be though. This is a very well done supernatural thriller. It will appeal to horror fans because there are some serious monsters here, but it is has a huge investigative element-- one that I hope leads to more books in a series (because there is room for that).

The heart of the story is the trauma of the Native experience in America in general AND in the Denver area, specifically. The entire book is framed by a real historical event-- an awful one-- the Sand Creek Massacre. The tendrils from this slaughtering of Native women and children (who were told they were safe) are reaching out into the present. But it is also the story of a personal trauma-- Olivia's-- as she is coming upon the 5th anniversary of his younger sister's suicide and how it changed her life forever.

The past is reaching into the present from both sides of the massacre. Wurth provides resources to learn about the real event at the end of the book, but out of respect to the survivors she does not name it in the narrative itself. It is just “the massacre.”

One of the best things about this book are the charcaters-- the awesome, diverse (in every, realistic way) and loving friends who work together here. Olivia is the main character and the only narrator, but her best friend and business partner in her paranormal investigation business, her ex, a Jewish paranormal investigator, her two best friends, and even her mother-- all of them make a great team of flawed, but believable characters who love each other. I loved spending time with all of them in this story and I want a sequel to spend more time with them.

Further Readalikes: The two in the review above are STELLAR examples of emotionally charged and thought provoking supernatural thrillers. I would also add Cranberry Cove by Piper and anything by Simone St. James as readalikes as well. 

Last year I also read and reviewed What Grows in the Dark by Evans. That novel is also a good match here, but every other book I have mentioned, including the Wurth is better. The Evans was a good debut though and worth a try if thrillers reaching supernatural investigators is something you or your readers are particularly interested in.

Next up a SF-Horror hybrid that is sure to terrify you.

The Perfect Stranger

By Brian Pinkerton

Pinkerton presents a fast paced, near future, earth set AI-Horror nightmare that will chill readers to the core. Linda works as the PR professional for the public energy company in Chicago. With everyone mostly remote, finding and keeping new employees has been difficult. When her latest assistant quits, Linda immediately hires the most promising applicant, without a background check, Alison. However, she quickly regrets this decision as Alison appears to not only be too good at her job, but she is also working behind the scenes to not only push Linda out but discredit her through fake messages through the work portal. Also why are all the smart devices in her home acting weird? Readers beware as this story goes from general unease to terrifyingly realistic, quickly, hitting very close to home. For fans of earth based SF-Horror as written by Blake Crouch generally, but more specifically stories where AI becomes a sentient monster such as in Daemon by Suarez, Sea of Rust by Cargill, or the Robopocalypse series by Wilson.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Rise of machines, terrifyingly realistic, fast paced

Further Appeal: You want real world inspired near future terror-- Pinkerton has you covered. 

More plot based than character centered-- with just enough character to get the reader invested-- this is the story of a work place where everyone has stayed remote and an AI infiltrates as an employee masquerading as a real person not only the workplace (which is a public utility!) but also attacks its boss, our main character,

This has everything a good AI/horror crossover story should including the 2001: A Space Odyssey turn/twist, but having it set in a very real feeling Chicago, following very real life things from remote work to smart homes, to deep fake viral social media posts and more... makes it more chilling.

This is a must read for fans of the space where near future/earth based SF and Horror overlap. You want a seriously terrifying (to the core) AI Horror novel...this is it.

But again, I need to stress-- it is terrifyingly realistic. You need to be ready to have this book's terror follow you off the page.

Just Say No To AI: Add the F Word to Your Searches and Google's AI "Insights" Disappear

This post is part of a series entitled, "Just Say Not to AI." Click here to pull up all the posts in this series (in reverse chronilogical order). For the first post in this series, click here.

So the other day, I was just minding my own business when I was alerted to this viral Tumblr post where someone asked how they can stop the AI results from coming up first in  their search results, and someone replied: 

I added alt text, but that screen shot reads:

"Swear in your search request. I know it sounds ridiculous, but the most effective way I've found of it not doing the AI summary is just to add "fucking" go my search."

Click through because the post includes examples of the same search with and without the word "fucking."

This is HUGE news for everyone trying to avoid "AI Insights" when you do a Google Search. 

Now being a librarian, I did not simply trust a person on Tumblr, so I did my own quick search for reliable information and it appears, that at least for Google, this information is 100% accurate.

It turns out that Google's AI is programed specifically to avoid generating offensive content. Makes sense. But, a direct result of not generating offensive content is the 100% avoidance of offensive content. Meaning you curse and Google's AI won't look at your question let alone answer it.

Now as this article in LifeHacker points out, there are many ways to disable the AI results in Google but none is more fun than cursing at it. 

Interestingly, this makes cursing an act of resistance against AI. It also this leads me to think about whether or not we should be creating content with cursing so that cannot be scraped by AI as well. 

But I am not sure we, as libraries, can or should go that far. By including cursing we do alienate some suers. However, this entire situation provides a glimpse into a serious limitation of AI (of which there are many limitations). Clearly, this loop hole makes a lot of sense from a programming perspective. But it leads me to ask-- 

What other limitations in how AI models are built can we exploit to make sure we don't feed the AI machine and/or don't inadvertently use it?

So yes, this is fun to have a post telling you all to curse, but if that was the only reason I had to post this, I would not have wanted my time or yours.

Use the provocative example here to think more like a computer. How can we do better at avoiding AI as we act as the conduit between people and information? Thinking about how AI actually works-- which is very literally-- can help us try to stop it being applied in every instance.

As you can see by clicking on the link in this post's header, I am mad at how so many library workers and organizations are telling us that AI is inevitable and instead of avoiding it, we should embrace it-- eagerly and all the time.

NO.

Look, I have made my entire career out of refusing to accept what "they" tell me I have to do, use, or believe. I changed the entire field of RA because I refused to provide service to readers in a way that required those doing it needed a Masters Degree AND because I refused to leave my personal reading tastes out of the interaction. 

I have nothing but time and no one stopping me because I work for myself. I am not backing down, which means, yes, I am going to be typing a whole lot more curse words into my searches, but I am also going to spend some time thinking about what this loop hole means as part of the larger generative AI picture. And use it while you can because now that they know we know about the loophole, you better bet they are working on closing it as I type this.

In the meantime, I am going to be on the lookout for more ways that you can resist AI as you help your readers.

Resource Alert: 2024 Locus Recommended Reading List

Each February, Locus Magazine comes out with their Recommended Reading List. It is an exhaustive list of all the best Speculative Fiction of the last year. Literally it is one stop shopping for your Speculative Fiction readers...all of them.

This is an excellent resource to help readers and develop your collections for a variety of reasons. 

First, take the list itself, and check your collections. Do you own these books? You should. These are some of the best titles in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror from 2024-- I personally reviewed quite a few of them.

Second, use it to help readers who want books in these genres, but also, to help readers who want to give these genres a try-- especially the stories and novellas. These are proven winners, titles you can suggest with ease as they were vetted by a group of experts. [see below for a list of those experts]

Third, especially in the collections, anthology, and all of the shorter fiction categories, pay attention to the authors producing these stories. Many will become the novelists whose books you will be clamoring to get soon. I know this because...

Fourth, they make this list every single year, so there is a great BACKLIST! You know I love the backlist. Seriously though, you need to assess your collection, you want a suggestion that is on the shelf, you want to discover a newer voices in the genres, you want to make a display? For all of these things and more, you need to look back more than just one year. Don't worry. I made it easy on you.

Click here to pull up a list of each year's list beginning with the new 2024 list and going backward. It's a link that is RA and Collection Development gold. And it remains one of my favorite resources. One I eagerly anticipate every single February. Bookmark it and use it for guaranteed crowd pleasing suggestions for your speculative fiction fans all year long.

Below is the intro to the 2024 list by the editors of Locus Magazine. 

Welcome to the annual Locus Recommended Reading List…

We saw some fabulous books come out last year and are so pleased to let you know about them!

This list is compiled by the Locus editors and columnists, outside reviewers, and other professionals and well-known critics of genre fiction and non-fiction. This year we looked at 678 titles between short fiction and long fiction. Note: any one of our voting critics would have a different exact list – the list we end up with is our combined sum of opinions, assessed with a great affection and care for the field. We did not see everything that came out last year (though we tried!) and there will always be books that didn’t make it. It is especially hard for us to assess international books or books published in December that we didn’t see in time, or that none of us read, though as a group we read very widely. We do extend eligibility to the next year for some first-US editions, and allow for small-press and international constraints. No one in the group is allowed to vote for any titles they worked on or acquired.

The Locus recommending group this year included editor in chief Liza Groen Trombi; reviews editor Jonathan Strahan; Locus reviewers Liz Bourke, Jake Casella Brookins, Alex Brown, Paul Di Filippo, Sean Dowie, Paula Guran, Niall Harrison, Rich Horton, Gabino Iglesias, Paul Kincaid, Russell Letson, Adrienne Martini, Archita Mittra, Ian Mond, Colleen Mondor, Charles Payseur, Alexandra Pierce, Wole Talabi, Gary K. Wolfe, and Alvaro Zinos-Amaro; staffers Bob Blough and Tim Pratt; anthologist and editor Ellen Datlow, and outside critics James Bradley, Cheryl Morgan, and Graham Sleight. Input for the non-fiction section also came from John Clute, Mark Kelly, and Farah Mendlesohn. The art book section had counsel from Arnie Fenner, Karen Haber, and Locus senior editor Francesca Myman. Short fiction recommendations added in anthologists and reviewers John Joseph Adams, Maria Haskins, Allan Kaster, Nisi Shawl, Bogi Takács, and A.C. Wise.

You can let us know what your favorites were by voting in the 2024 Poll & Survey. The Poll decides the winners of the Locus Awards, planned for June 2025, and is open to all to vote on. The Survey helps us be a better magazine. Thank you for participating!

Click here to see the entire list. And consider voting in the Poll & Survey as linked in the paragraph above this one. Promote the link to your readers so they can participate as well. They will love to have the chance to advocate for their own favorites and they will remember that you were the one that brought them that joy.

Last Chance to Signup for Keeping Up With Books: Year in 2024 Review-- Happening Tomorrow!

Starting the week off here with a reminder that one of the best programs I put together every year is my annual Year in Review program. I have been doing this for various organizations for a decade now. This is my second year presenting this program in collaboration with NoveList and my friend Yaika Sabat. 

I am not exaggerating when I say that this is one of the best programs I put together. While I am always updating my standard programs and am sure to refresh the information and advice every time I give them, this program is special.

Why?

Because it is the only time of year that I dive into the data from all angles. I assess bestsellers, "best" critics picks, and library checkouts all at once. It was a labor of love for many years, but having a partner like Sabat to work with has been invigorating. 

As much as I loved last year's program, this one is even better. We have been looking at lists, data, and think pieces since October. We were including reports until late last week. We look at all of the individual pieces to paint you an overall picture with a focus on the real world applications of it all. Both of us are pros at putting together and presenting training programs, so trust me when I say, this is one of the best we have done. 

Below is the post from a couple of weeks ago when NoveList announced the class and opened registration. I have been assured that you can sign up until right before the event (tomorrow at 2 pm Eastern), but why not click through and do it today so you don't forget. Last count we had over 700 of our closest friends joining us.

But before tomorrow, I need to share some critical information about the actual viewing of this program and the limitations to the FREE version. First, I need to be up front about this. I do not work for NoveList. I am being paid to work with Sabat on this as a freelancer. That being said, I have no say in how this information is decimated beyond only agreeing to do it if the live viewing was going to be free. 

If your library has a subscription to Learn with NoveList, you can ignore everything I am saying below. Those with a subscription have unlimited access to the recording, handouts, slides, even last year's program for comparative purposes.

Everyone else, the following information is very important.  

You much watch the class LIVE in order to be sent the slides and the handout. 

Now, as someone who worked 15 years at a public service desk, I know that for many of you, taking the time to watch this live may not be an option. You have to be on the desk at this time and there is no way around it. Even some of you, reading this today, who think they are all good and have scheduled time to watch this off desk-- someone will call in or something will change tomorrow, and you will find yourself unable to watch. I get this. I have lived this. And I have advocated for you, but I can only do so much as an outsider.

I wish I had more control over your access to a recording, but since I do not here is my advice because even if all you get are the slides and the handout, I promise you, they are worth your time: signup and just make sure you have the program running on a computer (hopefully in front of you) with the sound off. But even if it is running in a back office, as long as a computer is running it through the link you are sent, you will be emailed the slides and handouts.

To combat this inconvenience, I have also posted about many of the things I will be saying during the presentation. Those posts are in the hand out, but they are also here on the blog. 

Reach out to me if you have questions. I hope to "see" you there. Here is the post from January 23rd with more details and the signup link.

As I have mentioned a few times here on the blog, I have been working on the 2024 Year in Review with Yaika Sabat to present for NoveList.

Well the FREE webinar is now up for you to register. We cannot wait to see you there. Details and direct registration link below. There is no need for your library to be subscribed to NoveList to signup. All are welcome.  However, please note, you can only view this live for free. Only those with  a Learn With NoveList subscription will have access to the recording. Anyone can purchase just this class though.

We just did a full run through yesterday and I think it is very good. You will want to join us for sure! Okay, now the details...

Keeping Up with Books: 2024 Year in Review

Do you feel like there are too many books and not enough time to stay up to date? Trying to stay "in the know" is overwhelming with countless books across genres. That's why we're offering the webinar Keeping Up with Books: 2024 Year in Review. If you feel like the year flew by, you barely got a chance to look at everything published, can't get enough of the "Best Of" lists, or want to know how to use these trends to provide better service to your readers, this webinar is for you.

Join Becky Spratford, Readers' Advisory Specialist at RA for All, and Yaika Sabat, Manager of Reader Services at NoveList, as they discuss:

• Library and publishing news and trends
• 2024 bestsellers and "Best Of" lists
• The books and authors library patrons searched for and checked out
• How to use this information to help readers
• What you can expect in 2025 

The webinar takes place on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, at 2 p.m. EST.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER