Now that the dumpster fire that was 2020 has moved into our rearview, everyone is eager to jump into the fresh start of 2021, but hold up for just a bit longer. Even though many of us would rather forget 2020 ever happened, it is important, every year, to take a step back and look critically at the year that was before setting goals or service plans for the next year.

And after what we've all been through, it is clear that this annual assessment has never been more necessary. Join noted readers' advisory expert, Becky Spratford as she walks you through the "highlights" of 2020 in adult leisure reading. From the biggest trends like anti-racist reads, to the authors, titles, and genres that broke through the pandemic to the altered service models and virtual programming that may be here to stay, Becky will break it all down for you, wringing out the best of 2020 to take with us as we plan our readers' advisory service for a new, hopefully better, year.

Becky Spratford~Biography

Becky Spratford 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, and it’s evil twin, RA for All Horror, and is on the Steering Committee of the Adult Reading Round Table.  She is under contract to provide content for EBSCO’s NoveList database and writes reviews for Booklist.

Becky is also known for her work with horror readers as the author of The Reader’s Advisory Guide to Horror, Second Edition [ALA Editions, 2012] and is a proud member of the Horror Writers Association who are honored her as a Special Guest of Honor at StokerCon 2017 for her contribution to the genre. She is currently serving as Secretary of the HWA and organizes their annual Librarians' Day. You can connect with Becky on Twitter @RAforAll.