Each October I make a plea to library workers everywhere to take advantage of the resources that the Horror Writers Association prepares especially for you.
For example, while I am a “writer” member of the organization, any library worker is eligible to join the group. In fact, there is an entire page on the website dedicated to information useful to libraries here. The page includes, among other things, lists of suggested reads and information about how to bring horror authors to your library.
The HWA also runs their own Halloween celebration, Halloween Haunts, with daily posts by authors. Like my blog, they have run it for a few years now so you can also take advantage of the information in the archives. [Remember the superpowers of the backlist!]
The HWA is able to provide all of this great content in part because of the volunteer work of award-winning horror author and friend of the blog, J.G. Faherty, the official Library Partnership Chair. Back in 2013, Faherty wrote the post “Horror and Libraries Go Hand in Hand,” for this blog to let you all know how the HWA can help you.
But never one to rest on his laurels when it comes to connecting horror writer with libraries, Faherty as a representative for the HWA, has set up an official partnership with United For Libraries that begins in 2016.
Please see the press release below for details. And while you wait a few months for United for Libraries to start getting “scary,” check out the HWA and what they have to offer. Look, I am the library world’s horror expert and I find the organization useful in many ways, I am sure you will find something there to improve your service to horror readers this haunting season. Check it out.
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Horror Writers Association Partners With United For Libraries
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Sept. 23, 2015 -- The Horror Writers Association (HWA) is proud to announce they have partnered with United for Libraries, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), as the first writer’s organization to join the Authors for Libraries program (AFL), which is dedicated to bringing authors and libraries together in order to promote, advocate, and support libraries and literacy initiatives.
Beginning in 2016, HWA members will be featured on the Authors for Libraries website, where libraries and other United for Libraries partners can search by zip code to find authors in their area and contact them for readings, educational appearances, and other events. This is an unprecedented opportunity for both parties, as it enables United for Libraries to add more than 1,200 new writers to the AFL program and it provides the HWA members a new and exciting outlet to expand their presence in their respective communities and beyond, through personal and new media appearances.
In return, members of United for Libraries and the ALA will now enjoy the same benefits as HWA member libraries throughout the world, including access to lists of recent releases in the horror and dark fiction genres, author interviews, special newsletter features on literacy and YA fiction, and access to the HWA’s Horror University, a series of educational videos and curricula scheduled to be launched in 2016.
“This partnership isn’t just an exciting opportunity for HWA and its members, it’s also a major leap forward for the entire organization,” said HWA President Lisa Morton. “For years, HWA has engaged in library outreach and urged members to work more with their local libraries, so this is a perfect way to realize those goals. We look forward to working more closely with libraries to expand public awareness of and appreciation for horror literature.”
The HWA and United for Libraries will also be able to share information on special events, conferences, educational programming, and literacy initiatives via each other’s websites, social media, and newsletters. The first of these partnered events will occur at the American Library Association’s 2016 annual conference in Orlando, Florida, where the HWA will participate in a special Horror Fiction panel. This will be a unique opportunity for the more than 13,000 librarians, publishers, authors, and book buyers who regularly attend this premier literacy-focused event. Previously, the HWA presented well-attended panels on YA Horror and the Horror Genre at the 2011 ALA Midwinter Conference.
The HWA is a nonprofit organization of writers and publishing professionals with members located around the world, dedicated to promoting dark literature and the interests of those who write it and read it. It is the oldest and most respected professional organization for the much-loved writers who have brought you the most enjoyable sleepless nights of your life. One of HWA’s missions is to encourage public interest in, and foster an appreciation of, Horror and Dark Fiction literature. As part of this, the HWA sponsors literacy events, offers scholarships for writers, and has special programs dedicated to education and young adult horror. This makes it the perfect organization to partner with United for Libraries, which connects authors with libraries, Friends of the Library groups, and library foundations to foster literacy, and to keep authors informed about issues and concerns affecting libraries at the national level. Through the Authors for Libraries program, they enable libraries and authors to work together on community initiatives and help increase attention and funding for library programs.
Information on the Horror Writers Association can be found at www.horror.org.
Information on United for Libraries and Authors for Libraries can be found at www.ala.org/united
Contacts:
HWA Library Partnership Committee Chair
J. G. (Greg) Faherty at libraries@horror.org
HWA Communications Coordinator
Tom Calen at tom@tomcalen.com
In return, members of United for Libraries and the ALA will now enjoy the same benefits as HWA member libraries throughout the world, including access to lists of recent releases in the horror and dark fiction genres, author interviews, special newsletter features on literacy and YA fiction, and access to the HWA’s Horror University, a series of educational videos and curricula scheduled to be launched in 2016.
“This partnership isn’t just an exciting opportunity for HWA and its members, it’s also a major leap forward for the entire organization,” said HWA President Lisa Morton. “For years, HWA has engaged in library outreach and urged members to work more with their local libraries, so this is a perfect way to realize those goals. We look forward to working more closely with libraries to expand public awareness of and appreciation for horror literature.”
The HWA and United for Libraries will also be able to share information on special events, conferences, educational programming, and literacy initiatives via each other’s websites, social media, and newsletters. The first of these partnered events will occur at the American Library Association’s 2016 annual conference in Orlando, Florida, where the HWA will participate in a special Horror Fiction panel. This will be a unique opportunity for the more than 13,000 librarians, publishers, authors, and book buyers who regularly attend this premier literacy-focused event. Previously, the HWA presented well-attended panels on YA Horror and the Horror Genre at the 2011 ALA Midwinter Conference.
The HWA is a nonprofit organization of writers and publishing professionals with members located around the world, dedicated to promoting dark literature and the interests of those who write it and read it. It is the oldest and most respected professional organization for the much-loved writers who have brought you the most enjoyable sleepless nights of your life. One of HWA’s missions is to encourage public interest in, and foster an appreciation of, Horror and Dark Fiction literature. As part of this, the HWA sponsors literacy events, offers scholarships for writers, and has special programs dedicated to education and young adult horror. This makes it the perfect organization to partner with United for Libraries, which connects authors with libraries, Friends of the Library groups, and library foundations to foster literacy, and to keep authors informed about issues and concerns affecting libraries at the national level. Through the Authors for Libraries program, they enable libraries and authors to work together on community initiatives and help increase attention and funding for library programs.
Information on the Horror Writers Association can be found at www.horror.org.
Information on United for Libraries and Authors for Libraries can be found at www.ala.org/united
Contacts:
HWA Library Partnership Committee Chair
J. G. (Greg) Faherty at libraries@horror.org
HWA Communications Coordinator
Tom Calen at tom@tomcalen.com
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