Member Spotlight - Becky Spratford
April 14, 2025
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This week's ILA member spotlight shines on Becky Spratford, a librarian and author who is actively involved in the Illinois library community. She currently serves on the ILA Executive Board.
We asked Becky to answer a few professional and amusing questions. Continue reading to find out more about Becky.
A little background on Becky
Becky Spratford [MLIS] is a Librarian 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. Becky is serving on her last term (of 6) as a Trustee at the La Grange Public Library. She has served on 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 three text books for library workers, most recently, The Reader’s Advisory Guide to Horror, Third Edition [ALA Editions, 2021] and the forthcoming Why I Love Horror [Saga Press, September, 2025]. You can read her reviews in just about every issue of Booklist and 4 times a year in her Horror review column for Library Journal.
How did you get your start in libraries?
When I was a senior in college, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my American Studies degree. I was thinking about law school but I knew I wanted a year off. My advisor mentioned that since I seemed to enjoy the research I did on my undergraduate thesis that I should consider libraries.
So, in order to decide, I found a job at a law firm library (in ILL). Quite quickly I decided that it would be libraries over lawyer and the rest is history. I will say though that experience in both interlibrary loan and special libraries was invaluable to my education during those early years in libraries.
Best advice you've received since starting your career in libraries?
I promise this is not pandering, but my supervisor at the second law library I worked at made sure to sign me up to be a member of the Chicago Association of Law Libraries and took me with her to meetings. She knew I was in library school to be a public librarian but she said it didn’t matter what type of librarian I was going to be, I had to prioritize belonging to professional organizations.
She instilled in me the importance of being part of the larger library community and working collaboratively to help each other and advocate for our profession. Obviously, I am still listening to her today.
Any advice to newcomers working in libraries?
Get involved early. Join ILA as soon as you can. There are levels for every library worker and trustee. Don’t wait to be asked to volunteer for ILA committees. Don’t think you aren’t seasoned enough to help. There is a place for you to help. Your voice is needed. Not only can you help all IL libraries to thrive, but you will meet awesome people, make lifelong friends, and learn more than you can imagine to grow your own career.
When and why did you become a member of ILA?
Per that advice from my law library supervisor, I became a member of ILA as soon as I got my first public library job at the Berwyn Public Library in July of 2000.
How has being a member of ILA helped you professionally?
When I was at the beginning of my career, being a member of ILA allowed me to participate in conferences, serve on committees, and have access to learning opportunities. I especially love participating in the Legislative Meet Ups. I have also been able to meet library workers from all over the state which has not only allowed me to make friends I would have never had without ILA but also I have been able to understand library service across our entire state and all library types.
Without ILA, I would not have as rich and deep an understanding of libraries in our state. As I transition off the library board this May, I will no longer be officially associated with a library, but I will still be a member of ILA.
What is your proudest professional achievement to date?
Since I am both a trustee and a library worker, I want to list one for each.
The first is the pride I have in bringing a new library building to the people of La Grange. I was on the board from when we went for the bond referendum, I led the relocation committee so that library service was not interrupted for the 2 years of construction, I served as President as we opened the building, was on the board as we did 2 renovations, and now, I can say that I am the only trustee who stuck around until the 20 year bond was repaid this past December. Every time I enter the La Grange Public Library or even just walk past it, I am so happy that I got to be a part of this institution that will continue to serve the citizens of La Grange long after I am gone.
The second is more amorphous but just as important. In my career I have mentored many library workers. Some formally as their professor in their masters program and some informally. It is always a joy to see all of the success those library workers have had. It never gets old. I still cheer for them, advocate for them, and serve as references for them as they have risen up the ladder in Illinois libraries.
Hardcover, paperback, e-reader, audiobook, or all?
All. I read whatever and however I can get the book. Since more of my reading is pre-pub and for review, eBooks are my most common reading format. However, I love audiobooks– especially mysteries and I have at least one on my Libby at all times.
Favorite authors?
Anyone who has ever heard me give any presentation or honestly, has spent more than 5 minutes with me knows that Stephen Graham Jones is my favorite author. I also love Percival Everett (Dr No is one of the best audiobooks I have ever listened to). Other favorites who I will read anything they write include Cynthia Pelayo, Karen Russell, Gabino Iglesias, and Eric LaRocca. I want to go on, but I will stop myself here.
If you were stuck on a deserted island, what five books would you want with you to pass the time until being rescued?
4 favorites that would reveal more on repeated, unrushed readings:
- The Only Good Indians by Stehen Graham Jones
- The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
- The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
- Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Cat or Dog?
So I am very allergic to cats, but I find them adorable from afar. I don’t have a dog, but I enjoy visiting those who do. I am going to go with C: Other. We have a Koi Pond in our backyard. IT is a small yard, but the pond and the fish have brought us great enjoyment over the 15 years we have had it. Some of our fish began as 5 cent goldfish from petsmart and are now huge.
Favorite film, podcast, or television show?
I am going to use this opportunity to practice what I preach. In my signature RA training program I proudly remind everyone that there are no guilty pleasures when it comes to what you chose to read for fun. We all– adults and children- are allowed to enjoy what we read without caveats.
So to that end I will proudly proclaim that my favorite TV show is Jersey Shore. I call myself a “Jersey Girl in Exile,” and while I have loved living in IL for the past 28 years, I miss NJ every day. Watching the show, seeing the places where I lived, the places I have spent countless hours at, it just makes me so happy. And of course the drama– you can’t make this stuff up.
One person you would like to meet, dead or alive why?
Easy. It’s Mary Shelley. To meet the teenager who invented both the Horror and Science Fiction genres and really get to talk to her about the book, her life, and its legacy for all of literature after would be amazing.
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