Librarians truly are pillars of society and these 10 stories prove just that.
Perhaps Judy Blume said it best with, “librarians save lives: by handing the right book at the right time, to a kid in need.” Whether you grew up a voracious reader who celebrated the day you finally got your hands on your very own library card or you’re an adult who discovered reading a little later in life and now cherishes every precious, quiet moment you get at the public library, you understand that librarians truly are superheroes going around saving lives each and every day.
They are the keepers of stories fighting to protect the dignity of the human narrative, after all. Today we’re celebrating librarians with a sampling of stories that will make you want to go give your local or school librarian a big hug.
On the Same Page
“All of the librarians at my elementary school took a liking to me because I was such an avid reader at a very young age. The thing that distinguished librarians from other teachers was their ability to treat younger kids as equals. I spent a lot of time in the library bending the rules about how many books one could check out at a time and getting recommendations from the librarians. Once a librarian even went out to a bookstore to buy me Sherman Alexie’s new book.” – via @loganm440b1d57b
How We Roll
“My dad is my favorite librarian! He instilled in me a love of reading at an early age. Some of my best childhood memories are the times he took me on book cart rides through the halls of the library where he worked.” – via @mlmcneill
The Comebacker
“There is nothing better than having a glass of whiskey while listening to the Grateful Dead, and discussing the latest Dave Eggers book with your librarian at her house.” – via @shannonobrien3520
Cool Kids Read Books
“I was a major bookworm in elementary school and was bullied a bit because of my nerdish ways. The librarian at my school was amazing and let me read inside during recess, which was totally against the rules! When I finally graduated from that school, she put up a plaque with my name on it next to my favorite reading spot. Ten years later, and it’s still there!” – Samantha A., via Facebook
My Summer is Booked
“My grandmother was the most influential librarian in my life. We would create our own summer reading lists. Even well into high school, we would read books aloud to each other.” – Katy Beth M., via Facebook
Oh, the Places You’ll Go
“I grew up in the middle of nowhere. There weren’t any businesses for miles, but there was a tiny library a couple miles from my house. I loved going there because the librarian made the most amazing children’s programs! I never went on summer vacation because we could never afford it, so going to the summer reading program on Tuesday mornings was the highlight of my summer. She was the first, but not the only amazing librarian I have encountered over the years. I now am a clerk at a library and want to be a librarian one day.” – Amber S., via Facebook
Cool for the Summer
“When I was in 1st grade, I checked out a book and never read it. The end of the school year soon arrived and the book was nowhere to be found. I felt so bad and I apologized to my librarian so many times. Somehow, in the middle of the summer, I found the book in the pantry and freaked. I wrote a letter to my librarian about how sorry I was and told her it would never happen again. She mailed back the five dollars I had paid for the book, a really cool bookmark, and a note about how we were still cool and she was totally happy that I’d found it.” – via @tizzyice
Book Wizard
“I went to a Christian high school, and when Harry Potter was just gaining worldwide popularity, a note was sent home to every student’s parents to warn them of the danger of Harry Potter’s witchcraft. As a kid who regularly spent lunchtime reading in the library, I went straight to my librarian to ask about Harry Potter and if she had, as advised by our principal, removed the offending literature. She hadn’t, stating that she loved Harry Potter and the principal’s fears and opinions on it were nonsense. She then directed me to the location of the books.” – Erin G., via Facebook
Read Your Books, Pet Your Dog
“When I was 10 years old, my mum was working three part time jobs and going to university full time. I brought my puppy with me to the library and hid her in my backpack. The librarian approached me after the third time to ask what was in my backpack. As I said, “nothing,” my puppy popped her head out and barked. The librarian was so excited to see her that she held her. The whole summer, from opening until closing, I was sitting in the corner with my puppy, discovering Shakespeare, Hemingway, and The Sleepover Club series, while my mum worked. I am just finishing off my Masters in Library and Information Studies in Scotland. I don’t think my local librarian knows how much she helped me that summer, I am beyond grateful and I hope I can do the same for a child in need someday.” – Jade J., via Facebook
Today a Reader
“My favorite librarian is my mom! She’s the librarian at my old elementary school. Whenever we see one of her library kids in public, they get so excited to see her. She always remembers which book they have checked out and asks them how their reading is going.” – via @Madelineaz
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Victoria Lewis
Victoria is a freelance writer, dog lover, and coffee enthusiast living with her husband and dog in a small town in Kansas. Surrounded by an expansive to-be-read pile, she spends her time either deeply engrossed in a book or listening to one. As a fervent supporter of both bookstores and public libraries, Victoria enjoys sharing her latest reads on social media, connecting with fellow bibliophiles, and diligently updating her Goodreads profile.
