Hug Your Librarian

This may or may not be International Hug a Librarian Day. There’s some confusion online but then, librarians are too busy to keep up with fan clubs. These human search engines don’t just find information, they also review, organize, assess, explain, figure out, calm small children, put up displays, run programs, read aloud, expand collections, help those of us who need to hone down an area of interest, and much more. Why limit librarian love to one day?

There are at least nine reasons to adore libraries and the professionals who make these places adoration-worthy,  so we probably need a more than just a Hug A Librarian Day. Perhaps a commemorative week or better yet, month.

Here are some ways to celebrate.

Surprise your favorite librarian with a hand-written thank you note.

Join the GeekMom book club.

Make gingerbread superhero cookies (because librarians are our heros).

Read This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All.

Bring flowers, good coffee beans, homemade cookies, or a tray of fresh fruit for your librarians to enjoy.

Indulge in some banned book projects.

Wear an I Read Banned Books Bracelet.

Cover a tote bag with quotes from your favorite literary characters.

Vote yes for library levies.

Start your own tiny library.

Surprise your favorite librarian with a gift. Consider a certificate for dinner, theater performance, massage, or to use at a locally owned store.

Watch campy librarian action movies.

Attend library programs.

Shape snacks that look like books out of fruit leather, honey, and chocolate.

Organize your book collection into a lending library using book pockets and library cards, perhaps putting your stamp on each volume with a custom book embosser. Or use an all-in-one library kit.

Make easy felt book covers , a more complex quilted composition book cover, or heck, try bookbinding.

Plan an Edible Book Festival.

Admit you’re a Book Zombie.

Read aloud books such as Librarian on the Roof! A True Story, The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians, and The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq.

Oh, and give your librarian a hug!