Cosette Kies, chairwoman of library and information studies at NIU, recently published “Supernatural Fiction for Teens, 500 Good Paperbacks to Read for Wonderment, Fear and Fun”.

The book, published by Libraries Unlimited, is a bibliography of fiction books which appeal to teens, Kies said.

She also said the book is intended to help librarians set up programs, as well as to help them choose books.

“There is a need for the book. A lot of librarians don’t have time to read books for selection purposes. They tend to read what they are more interested in,” said Kies.

Although the book is not currently in the Founders Memorial Library, Reference Librarian Elaine Bowers believes it will be useful.

“A bibliography helps us narrow down books we can use,” Bowers said. “The supernatural is a big category. A book to guide with selections would be useful, especially in a public library.”

Kies, who came to NIU in 1983 as department chairwoman, has written other bibliographies, including “The Occult in the Western World: an Annotated Bibliography,” and “Marketing and Public Relations for Libraries.”

She considered her new book a “pleasant relief” from the marketing book. Kies said the books reflect two different interests in her life.

Kies researched the book by searching through book stores and libraries for fiction titles and wrote the book in a about a year.

Professional Studies Dean Peggy Sullivan, who has had several books published by Libraries Unlimited, suggested Kies publish her book there. Sullivan acts as a procurement editor for the organization.

“I’m always looking for authors and subjects to send their (Libraries Unlimited) way,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan, who edited “Supernatural Fiction for Teens,” said each film reference had to be checked against the book on which it was based. Each book, in turn, had to be checked against its film.

Editing of the book took about two to three weeks, Sullivan said.

Sullivan was president of the American Library Association in 1980-81. The national organization currently has over 40,000 members, mostly librarians.

The year Sullivan represented the association, she put together a film entitled “Libraries and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

Kies earned a bachelor’s degree from Wisconsin State College in Platteville. She received master’s degrees in art history and library science form the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She has a doctorate from Columbia University.