How well do you know your librarian?

I grew up in a town of about 1500 people. Our library was small to put it mildly. I would love to say that our town librarian was a sweet woman who inspired me to become a writer. Unfortunately, nothing could be farther from the truth. Our librarian was the nastiest, most hateful woman alive. My friends and I were convinced that she rode a broom to work. She would eyeball us like we were kleptomaniacs. If I couldn't find something I was looking for, I didn't dare ask her for fear that she would throw me in some secret closet and use me later as an ingredient for one of her potions. My friends never had the love of reading that I did so they tired of her nasty comments. Soon I was all alone venturing into the library to find more books to quench my reading thirst. Instead of nurturing my love of reading and helping me find books that would have expanded my love of the written word, she would gripe that I was "back again already". Eventually, I stopped going and relied on the book orders from school and the occasional trip to the bookstore.

I've thought of this woman many times over the years and wondered how many potential readers for life she crushed under her wicked tongue. Luckily, my love of books won out over anything she could have said to me. I did, however, have an unfortunate stereotype of librarians stuck in my head. I couldn't help thinking that they were all old, crusty, and practiced some sort of witchcraft using children in their potions.

Thanks to the Internet I have come into contact with many librarians across the U.S. who have blown my stereotype of librarians away. They are some of the most passionate booklovers on the planet. Nothing makes them feel better than matching a reader with the perfect book. They will go out of their way for authors to spread the word about their books. They are an author and reader's best friend. They even go to extremes to get kids/adults excited about reading. They want your book to succeed. They want you to write more books. They are even devoted readers of blogs just like this one.

And just like you, sometimes they like to take a long lunch with a cool drink and enjoy one of the Buzz Girl's awesome books.

Sometimes they even like to paint their toenails to match their favorite book cover. You can't get much more dedicated to books than that. Thanks to Chuck the golfing librarian from GA for the laugh! How cool would it be to have him for your librarian?

So thank you to all those crazy librarians who will do just about anything to get their patrons excited about books. Are you a librarian or did one influence your love of reading?

xo,

Stephanie

http://www.stephaniehale.com/

ps- Come help me celebrate the release of Linda Gerber's Death by Latte. Read my blog post on the only time I lied to my mom (okay, that's a lie) and have a chance to win a copy of Twisted Sisters and lots of other great YA novels. http://lindagerber.blogspot.com/