I started my career as a librarian, and while I’ve been working as an editor longer than I’ve been working as a librarian, the things I learned while working in libraries have informed much of my career and life. I published my first book while working in libraries, and it was a book written by For Librarian. But when I stepped out from behind the reference desk, it was my experience and depth of knowledge about books that did and did not exist that helped me think about what kind of books I wanted to write for teens in the future. My three collections, We are here: feminism for the real world, (Don’t) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Starting the Conversation About Mental Health, And Body Talk: 37 Voices Explore Our Radical Anatomy, Were All were published when I was out of libraries. However, all three had in-depth knowledge of that library work.
I am far from alone. While the average reader may be surprised to learn that some of their favorite authors were or are librarians, for most librarians or former librarians, this dual career/hobby path makes sense. Many librarians spend their days working with books, whether they love reading or helping patrons find the resources they need to live their lives. Association with books is suitable for inspiration.
Task #15 of the 2026 Read Harder Challenge is to read a book from a librarian, and you’re in luck, no matter what your favorite category or reading style may be. Let’s take a look at several authors who are also librarians, many of whom have written multiple books. I’ve highlighted just one title for each, but know that their catalogs will keep you reading for weeks. There are books in a variety of genres, formats and styles, including fantasy and non-fiction, as well as books for adults and young readers. This list includes only those librarian-authors who are still living; If you want to go back in time there are plenty of additional librarian-writers, including Beverly Cleary.
The librarian is red. So, too, are the books he is writing.
holding hearts by charish reed
If you’re looking for a sexy librarian romance, you’ve come to the right place. Professor Victoria Reese knows it will be a tough task convincing her colleagues at the specific university where she works to form a partnership with the local public library. The good news is that the children’s librarian at the library is not only involved in the partnership, but she is also very easy on the eyes of Professor Reese. There’s definitely chemistry between them, and thanks to a late fee for a steamy romance novel on the professor’s record, there’s a lot of flirting, too.
Read Cicely Lewis’s Woke Books
Immediately after noting that I would be highlighting just one title from each librarian-author, I was breaking my own parameters. That’s because Cecily Lewis is the founder and author of “Read Woke Books,” a series of non-fiction works for upper elementary and middle school readers that explore American history. Among the titles he published are The real history of the White House, On Focus: Civil Rights Protest, Slavery Resistance: From Escape to Everyday Rebellion, And Mass incarceration, black men, and the fight for justice. Any or all of these will be worth reading, whether or not you are the target readership – these are texts that aim to expand our understanding of the totality of American history.
Want more from Lewis? Then you might want to share her emerging reader series, also part of the Read Woke franchise, with your youngest readers, “Hair Magic.” start with imani got the right notes.
Romance with Duke By Tessa Dare
This Rita Award-winning novel is the first in Dare’s “Castles Ever After” series. Romance with Duke Follows 26-year-old Isolde, who grows up as the daughter of a writer who creates tales of knights and maidens. Isolde believed in those fairy tales, including the idea that she would find her happily ever after.
But as she grows up, Isolde’s dream of romantic love becomes more and more distant from her reality. She’s feeling incredible financial stress, not to mention she’s never been kissed (gasp!).
But just as it seems there is no happily ever after for Isolde, her prince arrives. Whether you’re new to romance and looking for a way into it or you’re a longtime fan, this provocative enemies-to-lovers Regency read is the one romp.
radiant By Vonda Micho Nelson
It is 1963, and fifth grader Cooper Dale is worried about what this school year will be like. She’s never struggled, but now, she’s got a strict teacher, and she’s dealing with the bullying of a white boy named Wade Carter. His family is wealthy, and Cooper’s mother is the family’s housewife.
A big, bright light in his life? Spending time with my older sister enjoying the music of The Beatles.
Nelson is an award-winning author, and this middle grade historical verse novel explores race, faith, and class through an era of significant social, cultural, and political change.
the librarian by amanda jones
Although not all librarian-authors write books about libraries, many do. It makes sense: When you’re an expert in something, a story, whether fictional or not, has far more nuance and context because of that lived experience.
Enter Amanda Jones.
When Jones stood up at her local public library to argue against the board’s proposed book ban, she found herself in the spotlight. Her story is about the ups and downs of becoming an advocate for access to literature as well as becoming known across the country for speaking out against censorship.
As a bonus, Jones got the opportunity to add even more to his story in the paperback edition of his book, which was released last fall.
these are ghost family by massy card
Readers who enjoy inter-generational stories of families with complex histories will find much to like in Card’s debut novel, which is set between colonial Jamaica and present-day Harlem.
Stanford Solomon is nearing the end of his life, and he’s finally sharing a secret he’s kept hidden for more than 30 years. He faked his own death and in doing so stole the identity of his best friend, Abel Paisley. The book then describes the history of the Paisley family, including how and where Abel meets his first daughter, who has no idea she will come to her job as a health care assistant to help the father she had never met before, as she thought he was dead.
The book is about identity and the ghosts that people grapple with as they understand themselves, their trauma, and their place in time. if you liked go homeThis should be on your TBR.
wake up in the fire now By Jarrett Dapier and illustrated by AJ Dungo
Banned in Chicago Public Schools in 2013 Persepolis. It quickly became clear that many people in the district had no idea why the graphic novel became a target, nor why it was removed.
This graphic novel tells the story of the book’s expulsion from CPS, centering the voices, perspectives, and advocacy of the district’s students who exposed what was happening and why. Author Depierre, a Chicago-area librarian, conducted countless interviews with participating students, and his early research on the ban helped inform the highly readable comic. Dungo’s illustrations do a great job of presenting the ups and downs of this censorship battle.
we will become monsters By Alyssa Weiss
This is Weiss’s first adult novel, followed by two YA novels also worth picking up (nocton And waking forest). It follows Gemma Cassata, who lives with her mother in an antique shop in Michigan. The shop is near a mysterious forest, where Gemma is forbidden to set foot. But when you know there is an entrance to fairyland, how could she resist the temptation?
Gemma’s mother is not angry at her daughter’s disobedience. In fact, Virginia herself had defied her mother and visited the forest. But the decision to do so was not one she could forget: her true love was cursed just before Gemma was born.
Now, Virginia will go to the ends of the world to save Gemma from a similar fate. It could also mean erasing every memory Gemma has made of him to keep her safe.
Do you want more books by librarians? Of course, we have more. Check out this roundup of picture books written by librarians. Any of these Read Harder Challenge tasks would also be perfect.
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