Celebrate Libraries in April!
public libraries, school libraries and books ABOUT libraries!
My favorite month of the year is here, because in April we celebrate LIBRARIES!!
Next week, April 6-12 is National Library Week! My local library system is superb, and I plan to show my appreciation by dropping off some treats for the employees on Tuesday, April 8: National Library Workers Day!
However, as I have been telling you, PUBLIC LIBRARIES NEED YOU TO STEP UP RIGHT NOW!
ACTION ITEM: Visit the ALA Show Up for Our Libraries page and DO SOMETHING! Anything! Pick one item from their list and do what you can. Today.
April is also School Library Month, and I have been working feverishly to get things in place at school to be able to promote my space and program every single day. Advocacy can look like fighting for things that are in danger, but also making everyone is super aware of how amazing it is to have what we have RIGHT NOW.
Wisconsin has a very unique way of funding purchases for school libraries that is protected from all politics, and part of that mechanism includes a statute about who gets to spend that money ~ certified school librarians. In addition, my district has thus far protected school librarians from cuts, and we still have one librarian in every building. This is NOT the case throughout the state or nation, and I am grateful every day for their dedication to our profession and what we do for kids.
ACTION ITEM: Whether you have children in school or not, contact your local school district and either thank them for their dedication to their school library program, OR express your desire for them to prioritize improving their school library program by increasing staffing and resources ~ whichever is appropriate in your district. Also, if you have kids in school ~ THIS FRIDAY, April 4 is School Librarian Day! Work with your kids and maybe their teachers to help show some appreciation!
Some Light Library-Related Fiction
What do I love almost as much as I love actual libraries? Romantic reads ABOUT libraries and librarians!! I started trying to make this reading list for you and just kept finding MORE books that I had missed and need to try to get to ASAP ~ alas, what a problem to have.
I told you earlier this year about the fall 2025 release that I am absolutely obsessed with and need you to read the second it comes out, and everyone on earth already knows about that one book about the children’s librarian in Michigan. I also loved this one that heavily features a library and hot librarian guy on Martha’s Vineyard, and this third book in a favorite series.
On my “read soon” radar to celebrate this month are this one by an author I love and this one with an absolutely bonkers and hilarious description that seems like it’s worth at least an attempt. And this one that somehow I missed last year? And another by a favorite author about a librarian who goes to Ireland! And this one that I bought on my Kindle back in 2021 based on rave reviews and forgot to read. And this one I just requested from the library! I will keep you posted on my thoughts on these as I read them …
There are definitely other in this niche subset that I have read, but I’m pretty damn picky about books set in my world, and if an author gets it wrong ~ GAME OVER (well, BOOK DOWN).
And now some recommendations to help you REALLY show your devotion to the library! I shared this selection below last year as well, but there are lots of new people here now, so here you go again! Some years-old backlist titles you should be able to get easily at your … yes, your library.
The Library at the Edge of the World by Felicity Hayes McCoy
Libraries and a bookmobile and the gorgeous West Coast of Ireland, all wrapped up in a story of a small town publican librarian starting over in middle age. To make things even better, there is a young male library assistant with a love story of his own. This is the first in a series.
Bad Bachelor by Stefanie London
Darcy is a NYC librarian whose library is in dire need of funding. Here comes Reed the PR man to the rescue, but Darcy isn’t necessarily a big fan, given Reed’s reputation on a new dating app called Bad Bachelors. This one is super sexy and is straight up romance with denied attraction and witty banter mixed in with the library and dating app storylines. This is the first in a series, but the only one with a librarian.
Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann
Alice is in college and working at a public library, when a new library colleague catches her eye. Tons of great library scenes, with the added bonus of Alice’s romance, which is made all the more complicated due to her asexuality. This one is fresh and fun and a welcome addition of a younger protagonist in the bookish world of libraries.
Librarians in Love Series by Sarah Title
This series is my just so special to me as these books were my first ever library romances. Each book in the series can be read as a stand alone, as they include unrelated characters and storylines. Book 1 is The Undateable and features a female university academic librarian, Book 2 is Falling for Trouble and features a male public librarian, and Book 3 is Laws of Attraction and features a female law librarian. All of the books prominently feature library life along with swoon-worthy, smart romance.
American Dreamer by Adriana Herrera
What can I say? Give me a m/m romance with one of the love interests being a food truck owner and one being a librarian and write it so eloquently that I can't put it down - I'm obsessed with this entire series.
There is also another wonderful library series by another favorite author, but unfortunately they are out of print right now. If you’re curious anyway, go take a peek!
Thanks for stopping by!
