Librarians Quotes

“I mention in the dedication that this book is partially in honor of booksellers and librarians everywhere. I can’t say enough about how much I’ve been impacted by the magic of bookstores and libraries. Books can change lives, but it is the people who love them, who dedicate their lives to them, who make the real difference. If books can’t find their way to the readers who need them, who will be touched by them, who will be transformed by them, they lose their power. So thank you for the bottom of my heart to anyone who works in a bookstore or a library—and especially to those of you who have been courageous and adventurous enough to become bookstore owners, which must be as perilous at times as it is rewarding. Books are more than just words on a page; they are bridges to building communities and to developing more compassionate, more aware citizens. Those of you who love books enough to want to share them are truly changing the world. (in acknowledgements)”
― Kristin Harmel, The Book of Lost Names

“...any reasonable person would want to be a librarian.”
― Isaac Fellman, Dead Collections

“And better still, reference librarians served well in the role that the internet never did: They were the perfect bouncers at the door of bad information. Or, put differently, they were the best vectors to transmit truth.”
― Chuck Wendig, Wanderers

“The librarian took this all in, standing by the fire and observing the children for a while, letting the silence be. Somehow, it didn’t feel awkward, the way silences often do. Perhaps librarians are more used to quiet than most.”
― Kate Albus, A Place to Hang the Moon

“You needn't have it memorized, dear That's what the library is for.”
― Anthony Doerr, Cloud Cuckoo Land

“The library had not been a career choice. After all, who would choose to be a librarian?”
― Kate Atkinson, Shrines of Gaiety

“With time and a kindly librarian, any unskilled person can learn how to build a replica of the Taj Mahal.”
― Maya Angelou, A Song Flung Up to Heaven

“If you can’t trust a librarian, who can you trust?”
― Jeanine Cummins, American Dirt

“I can not give you direction but can give you a book that can direct you to the right way, because I am a librarian”
― Abid Hussain

“You needn't have it memorized, dear. That's what the library is for.”
― Anthony Doerr, Cloud Cuckoo Land

“It was this idea that books contained secrets. Important information that would be lost if someone didn't preserve it. And then I studied history and got really into that and I realized that was true not just about sex but lots of things. If someone doesn't care about books, shit gets lost. And then I became a librarian. And archivist.”
― Sara Gran, The Book of the Most Precious Substance

“These are the routes she just left. They are yours now.” Handing me the map, I see that it’s creases are already worn white and water warps the top of it. It is hope, folded up and ready to carry in my pack.”
― Corinne Beenfield, Where Green Meets Blue

“I glanced down at the tattered, bloodstained marriage license. Numb, I pulled myself atop the wagon. There was nothing more to be said. The sheriff, God and Kentucky had said it for me. It had been foolish to dream. I snapped the reins. Dreams were for books.”
― Kim Michele Richardson, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

“Librarians tend to be underrated. We have inquisitive minds and suspected something else might be going on...”
― Olivia Matthews, Murder by Page One

“As a breed, [librarians are] the ultimate generalists. I'll never know everything about anything, but I'll know something about almost everything and that's how I like to live.”
― Josh Hanagarne, The World's Strongest Librarian: A Memoir of Tourette's, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family

“And when you are done with the book bring it back and I have something special for you!” She had a huge smile on her face.
I said, “Thank you, ma’am,” but I didn’t get too excited ‘ cause I know the kind of things librarians think are special.”
― Christopher Paul Curtis, Bud, Not Buddy

“That is to say, 'forget the color line, consider a reader a reader, and cut out other such nonsense.”
― Annie L. McPheeters, Library Service in Black and White: Some Personal Recollections, 1921-1980

“Third, there was little or no opportunity for professional meetings and contact within the system since the local, state, and regional associations were not open to them for visitation or membership. Fourth, before the opening of the Hampton Institute School of Library Service in 1925, professional library school training for blacks had to be obtained outside the region.”
― Annie L. McPheeters, Library Service in Black and White: Some Personal Recollections, 1921-1980

“We know our own people; we know each teacher by name; we know the minister, the doctor, the lawyer, the merchant and most of the others who frequent our libraries. Those of another race cannot know our wants, our habits, our likes and our dislikes as we do...However much they might try it would be impossible for them to give us the service that one of our own race can give in an atmosphere where service and freedom are the predominant elements; and this is surely the condition in the colored branches in Louisville.”
― Annie L. McPheeters, Library Service in Black and White: Some Personal Recollections, 1921-1980

“I will give you few books that will make you study-oriented, I know your taste because I am a librarian.”
― Abid Hussain

“I like books,' Sally said. 'I'm a librarian.'
'Are you?' Of course she would be. Ian found women who were librarians exceedingly sexy. It was a combination of their love of books, which always increased their beauty, along with the fact that they usually knew more than he did, which he found oddly arousing.”
― Alice Hoffman, The Book of Magic

“The road to success is paved with mistakes.
* * *
You don't have to be perfect to be your best.
* * *
Sometimes, failing your way to fabulous is the path to success.
* * *
"Turn failure into your friend!”
― Rosie J. Pova, The School of Failure: A Story about Success

“Whichever be your religion, I don't have any concern about that, studying in the libraries is my concern, a librarian's message to readers”
― Abid Hussain Library Officer

“A person with a rude attitude is a librarian who makes our future brighter. Thanks to librarians for making me prosper today.”
― Abid Hussain Library Officer

“Marina, I’m not just a bookfighter now. I’m a *librarian.* I’ve got my own beat. I can’t keep bending the rules for you anymore, Maz. We’re not kids anymore.” She pulled at her sleeve. “I wear a *cardigan*, for goodness’ sake.”
― Jessica Townsend

“Funny how a person hung on to things that weren't of no use at all but then those were the things that pierced the soul when a body lost them.”
― Ann H Gabhart

“A good librarian and a good book can change your life.”
― Abid Hussain

“The best place I ever visit is the library of my institution.”
― Abid Hussain

“Librarians are kind-hearted don't blame them for their harsh attitude.”
― Abid Hussain

“I think there may be lots of different types of librarians,’ Catherine said thoughtfully. She had the air of someone who’d seen a whole new range of possibilities and found she liked them more than she’d expected. ‘There’s the sharing librarian, and the motherly librarian, and the spinster librarian, and the archivist librarian, and the adventurous librarian like you — there’s nothing that says I can’t be a murderous librarian.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Dark Archive