Reading Recommendations: National Library Week!
First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week (April 8-14th) is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support. All types of libraries – school, public, academic and special – participate.
In honor of this week, I’m showing some library love by sharing some books about libraries or are set in libraries! Enjoy! 🙂
The Library Book by Tom Chapin &Â Michael L. Mark
Synopsis: What’s the best way to cure a gloomy day? A trip to the library! Based on the hit song by Tom Chapin and Michael Mark, here is an affectionate, exuberant, uproarious celebration of books, reading, and—SHHH!—libraries! (description from Goodreads)
This is a cute picture book about an adorable little girl on her trip to the library! The illustrations are fun and vibrant and captures the joy of being inside a library. It celebrates what makes libraries so magical. This is a fun read for children and adults alike.
Evil Librarian by Michelle Knudsen
Synopsis: When Cynthia Rothschild’s best friend, Annie, falls head over heels for the new high-school librarian, Cyn can totally see why. He’s really young and super cute and thinks Annie would make an excellent library monitor. But after meeting Mr. Gabriel, Cyn realizes something isn’t quite right. Maybe it’s the creepy look in the librarian’s eyes, or the weird feeling Cyn gets whenever she’s around him. Before long Cyn realizes that Mr. Gabriel is, in fact . . . a demon. Now, in addition to saving the school musical from technical disaster and trying not to make a fool of herself with her own hopeless crush, Cyn has to save her best friend from the clutches of the evil librarian, who also seems to be slowly sucking the life force out of the entire student body! (description from Goodreads)
While librarians tend to be nice in most stories, in Evil Librarian the script has completely flipped. This is more on the paranormal side of YA fiction as hot librarian turns out be a demon. The story is light and packed with action scenes. I loved the comedic bits placed within the writing and one liners such as “all demons love the musical, Sweeney Todd” had me laughing out loud.
The Library Wars: Love and War Vol.1 by Kiiro Yumi
Synopsis: In the near future, the federal government creates a committee to rid society of books it deems unsuitable. The libraries vow to protect their collections, and with the help of local governments, form a military group to defend themselves–the Library Forces! (description from Goodreads)
Library Wars is a dystopian manga that follows the main character, Iku Kasahara, on her journey as a soldier in the Library Defense Forces. I like the overall concept and that the series for the most part, is very lighthearted and lots of fun. The story is a bit predictable and falls into some of the all too familiar shojo manga tropes, but it does stress the importance of freedom of speech and tackles the issue of books and censorship.
This Is What A Librarian Looks Like:Â A Celebration of Libraries, Communities, and Access to Information by Kyle Cassidy
Synopsis: In 2014, author and photographer Kyle Cassidy published a photo essay on Slate.com called “This is What A Librarian Looks Like,” a montage of portraits and a tribute to librarians. Since then, Cassidy has made it his mission to remind us of how essential librarians and libraries are to our communities.The nearly 220 librarians photographed also share their personal thoughts on what it means to be a librarian. (description from Goodreads)
This book reminds me of the library version of Humans of New York. Photo journal books absolutely fascinate me and that’s why I initially picked it up. It profiles a variety of librarians from all over and it was interesting to read why they chose that profession and what libraries mean to a community. An added bonus is that includes essays from notable writers such as Neil Gaiman about why they love libraries. A must read if you like these styles of books!
Thief of Lies (Library Jumpers #1) by Brenda Drake
Synopsis: Gia Kearns would rather fight with boys than kiss them. That is, until Arik, a leather-clad hottie in the Boston Athenaeum, suddenly disappears. While examining the book of world libraries he abandoned, Gia unwittingly speaks the key that sucks her and her friends into a photograph and transports them into a Paris library, where Arik and his Sentinels—magical knights charged with protecting humans from the creatures traveling across the gateway books—rescue them from a demonic hound.
Jumping into some of the world’s most beautiful libraries would be a dream come true for Gia, if she weren’t busy resisting her heart or dodging an exiled wizard seeking revenge on both the Mystik and human worlds. Add a French flirt obsessed with Arik and a fling with a young wizard, and Gia must choose between her heart and her head, between Arik’s world and her own, before both are destroyed. (description from Goodreads)
Thief of Lies is 
What are your favorite books about libraries or set in libraries? Tell me your thoughts in the comment section below!
You know, I don’t think I know any! There’s some where a character likes reading or there’s mention of them having a large library at home (or wanting one), but nothing like the books you mention here. I gotta add Evil Librarian to my TBr, it sounds fun!
Evil Librarian is fun! It’s light-hearted and full of humor.