Are you looking for a library-themed gift that you can adjust to a specific occasion, sense of humor, or taste? You can customize any of the following designs by just adding your own text.

On the web, you can find thousands of products designed to be great gifts for librarians or library lovers. 

The thing is that you may still not find the right one. The fonts are too childish, the colors are too bright, the message is fine… but you would change it a bit.

To solve this problem, I have spent several recent weeks on creating custom library-themed designs that you can quickly adjust to your specific needs. And all you need to do is replace the blank text with your own one.

User customization is one of the greatest things about Zazzle – one of the leading online sites connecting designers and consumers.

On Zazzle, you will be able to quickly change the text and see the product as you would receive it. Obviously, you can pick up a different background color of the t-shirt.

What’s even more important, you can transfer any of these designs to dozens of other products, including personal accessories, different apparel items, or home decor.

All newly added, customized products can be found in this Zazzle collection: Personalized Library Gifts by Geek Updated.

Tip: You can transfer any of these designs to any other product that’s offered on Zazzle. Just use the “Transfer this design” option.

How can I personalize a design on Zazzle?

Many designs on Zazzle can be quickly personalized by replacing a blank text with the one you want.

If this option is available, you will see a large “Personalize” button next to the product image.

When you type the text, it will appear almost instantly on the product image!

Do you want to add your own graphic element, change the font color or size? Just hit the “Edit using Design Tool” button to open a design dashboard.

All the designs in the following list let you quickly replace the text with your own one.

Customized gifts for librarians

The best spot to enjoy life is [personalize] t-shirt

Libraries matter because they make people wiser, healthier, and happier. This cozy, minimalist, lively artwork says: “The best spot to enjoy life is the reading room of my library”.

Not clever enough? Just use the “Personalize” button to start typing your own message. You can change both the beginning and end of the sentence. So, how would you phrase it? ⇢ Customize

Drink coffee and support libraries personalized mug

This modern, college-style artwork says: “Drink coffee and support libraries. They are awesome!”. You can type your text in as many as five areas. Just use the “Personalize” button to start typing.

The design works well on both light and dark backgrounds. Available in five different colors. ⇢ Customize

Urban library support squad t-shirt personalized

Are you supporting libraries and librarians? Now you can express it. This vintage artwork shows an engraved image of a skyscraper city. The text goes: “Urban Library Support Squad”. You can replace both the “library” and “squad” texts. ⇢ Customize

Celebrate [personalize] Day Every Day t-shirt

Celebrate the happy day every day! This vintage artwork lets you express your support for libraries all year long. The text goes: “Celebrate Library Day Every Day.”

The design lets you customize two fields. You can also pick up several colors of the t-shirt. ⇢ Customize

Calm down and [personalize] mouse pad

Can’t find what you are looking for? This cozy artwork comes with handwritten typography that says: “Breathe, calm down, and just ask the librarian”. A great idea for a library supporter or as an accessory for a library’s reading room.

You can customize every single text in this design. The only limitation is your imagination. Start creating! ⇢ Customize

Periodic table of the earth’s most awesome humans : [personalize] t-shirt

Are you looking for a clever way to express appreciation of your librarian? Use “The Periodic Table of the Earth’s Most Awesome Humans.” The only entry in this table is “Lb – Librarian”.

You can customize the text by replacing the abbreviation and profession with the name of your favorite librarian. ⇢ Customize

Silently [personalize] t-shirt

After you’ve silently corrected all the grammar errors around you, it’s time for something new. This cute, vintage artwork says: “Silently making a list of your overdue books”.

There are many ways you can use the “silently” meme on a t-shirt. Got an idea? Just start typing. ⇢ Customize

Library announcement foam board personalized

Are you a fan of a vintage typography? Check out this artwork that sports the 19th century display font and says: “Believe it or not, but in this library, we are using the silence to calm the loud guys down”.

All text fields in this design can be customized so that you can adjust the message to even the most specific needs. A light colored version of this vintage-style typography artwork is also available on Zazzle. ⇢ Customize

All I need is love and [personalize] sweatshirt

Love is the most important thing in life… but sometimes it’s not. This vintage, gothic artwork says: “All I need is love and another reason to go to the library today”. A great gift idea for a library supporter in your life.

Not clever enough? Just use the “Personalize” button to quickly add your own text. You can transfer this design to any other apparel. All you have to do is pick up the right type in the Style section on the right. ⇢ Customize

[Personalize] matter t-shirt

Who or what matters to you the most? Now you can easily express it. This vintage artwork is fully editable. You can place your text in three text areas. Libraries matter, bookstores matter, banned books matter. Act now! ⇢ Customize

Minimalist typography fully customized

Are you looking for a minimalist typography artwork that could be easily customized with a library-themed text you provide? This modern, sleek artwork says: “I’m here, but my mind is still at the library”. You can change it whatever you want, be it a library quote, a name of your favorite librarian, or the name of the upcoming event.

This artwork lets you write down your message in a thin, elegant font, as well as add a background icon, for instance a letter or symbol. ⇢ Customize

Visit a library more than once personalized tote bag

Everybody says: “It’s a good day.” Do the opposite. This cute, positive artwork has a twist. It says: “It’s definitely not a good day to visit a library just once”. Obviously, you can change the message to anything you find funnier, brighter or more relevant. ⇢ Customize

I’m not a librarian [personalize] t-shirt

Librarians are all unique individuals with their own passions, interests, and personalities. This modern handwritten typography artwork provides just one of the many possible descriptions: “I’m not a librarian. I’m just a walking knowledge machine with a built-in snooze button”.

Not funny or clever enough? Use the “Personalize” button to quickly add your own text. There is also a dark-themed color version available on Zazzle. ⇢ Customize

The list first appeared on Reader Updated blog.

Keep exploring. Here are other lists and tips:

In 2021, 1,597 books were challenged or banned in the United States, according to the newest report by the American Library Association.

The most challenged book of the year 2021, as reported by the American Library Association in State of America’s Libraries Report 2022, was Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe.

This touching memoir about Kobabe’s path to identifying as nonbinary and asexual, was banned, challenged, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, and because it was considered to have sexually explicit images.

In 2021, 1,597 books were affected by censorship attempts. Most attempts – as many as 39% – were initiated by parents. Library patrons were behind 24% of challenges, followed by board administration (18%) and political or religious groups and associations (10%).

Over 80% of challenges took place in the libraries (44% – school libraries, 37% – public libraries). The most common reasons for challenges were sexually explicit content and critical race theory.

Stephanie Hlywak, ALA’s Director of the Communications and Marketing Office, wrote in the introduction to the report:

Books reach across boundaries and build connections
between readers. Reading—especially books that extend
beyond our own experiences—expands our worldview.
Censorship, on the other hand, divides us and creates barriers.

You can read and download the full report for free from ALA’s website. There, you can also find visual materials that you can share to spread the word about the current state the American libraries, and the report itself.

Top 10 most challenged books in 2021

1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe

Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to have sexually explicit images.

2. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison

Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.    

3. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, profanity, and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.    

4. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez

Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for depictions of abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.

5. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, violence, and it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda.

6. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and use of a derogatory term.    

7. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women.    

8. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Reasons: Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit.    

9. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson

Reasons: Banned, challenged, relocated, and restricted for providing sexual education and LGBTQIA+ content.    

10. Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin

Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.

Book censorship in 2021 by the numbers

In 2021, 1,597 books were affected by censorship attempts. Most attempts – as many as 39% – were initiated by parents.

Library patrons were behind 24% of challenges, followed by board administration (18%) and political or religious groups and associations (10%).

Keep exploring. Here are other lists and posts about libraries:

[ef-archive number=5 tag=”libraries”]

A new infographic includes tips to create a functional in-home library, types of shelving and light, as well as alternative ways to find great reads.

With a growing popularity of digital books, you may assume that you no longer need a home library. You can now have all your books on your Kindle or in a book-reading app, right?

Think again. Most modern book lovers will never become 100% digital. Many users, me among them, found a balance between print and digital books. Sometimes, I reach for a Kindle, but sometimes I find it much more enjoyable to read a hardcover edition.

A place devoted to books, be it the smallest one, is a tribute to little objects that made your life meaningful.  It’s a special place where you can enjoy the presence of books and access them easily.

Combine a home library with a cozy reading place, and you have everything to be happy every single day.

Even if your collection of print books is limited to a few dozens of titles, you may still want to organize them in a logical and functional way. And, no, sorting books by the color of spines is not the best approach.

From Hippo, an innovative property insurance online platform, comes a list and infographic How to make a home library. It’s a one-time guide to setting up a home library. The visual includes answers to the most common questions you may have when you start thinking of organizing – or reorganizing – a library at your home:

• Which place at home is best suited for a library?
• What type of bookshelves should I choose?
• Which type of reading light is best for me?
• Which way of organizing books works best?

If you visit the original post on Hippo blog, you will also have a chance to read about the benefits of a home library. Improving literacy levels and reducing stress are among the most important ones.

Click or tap the infographic to see it in full resolution.

Via Hippo blog.

Are you interested in infographics about books, reading, and libraries? Keep exploring?

[ef-archive number=5 tag=”infographics”]

February is Library Lover’s Month. Supporters around the world celebrate the importance of libraries and show their respect for librarians.

The month-long event is getting more and more popular every year. It’s dedicated to public and private libraries, and is aimed at recognizing their value to communities and nations.

Thanks to social media, library fans around the world can participate in spreading the love for libraries and library services. And all they need is access to the web.

Initiated by Friends and Foundations of California Libraries, and recognized by ALA (American Library Association), Library Lover’s Month is one of the best ways to highlight the importance of libraries, and discuss their future, possibilities and challenges.

How can a library supporter take part in Library Lover’s Month? You have the entire month to get involved!

Below, you will find several ideas that would let you share how libraries shaped you, and show the support for libraries.

Ways to celebrate Library Lover’s Month

Bring back the library-themed daily habits

If you are an avid library patron, you can skip this part.

If you stopped visiting your library some time ago, you may need a bit of encouragement to bring your love for libraries back.

Is the library card still in your pocket? If yes, you are on a good track. If not, try to find it. It must be somewhere at your home. Maybe you have used it as a bookmark?

How often do you pass a library in your neighborhood? Why not checking out its opening hours or learning about upcoming events? It will take you a few seconds, and you don’t even have to go inside.

Get a new library card… or cards

A famous quote by Eleanor Brown goes: “There is no problem that a library card can’t solve.”

There is no problem if you can’t find your old library card. You can always get a new one. And it will cost you nothing.

It’s quite possible that you have moved to a new place since the time you regularly visited your favorite library.

Do you know the location of the library in your new neighborhood? Why not going there and getting a library card?

What’s more, there is no need to limit yourself to just one library. The library in your closest neighborhood would be great for borrowing novels, while the city’s largest library would be the perfect place to strengthen your professional skills.

Why is it important to have a library card?

Here are just a few wise thoughts:

When I got my library card, that’s when my life began.

– Rita Mae Brown

Having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card.

– Marc Brown

The library card is a passport to wonders and miracles, glimpses into other lives, religions, experiences, the hopes and dreams and strivings of ALL human beings, and it is this passport that opens our eyes and hearts to the world beyond our front doors, that is one of our best hopes against tyranny, xenophobia, hopelessness, despair, anarchy, and ignorance.

– Libba Bray

There is no problem that a library card can’t solve.

– Eleanor Brown

I have found the most valuable thing in my wallet is my library card.

– Laura Bush

A library card is a powerful weapon to change lives. With it, we learn how to value what we have, to mourn what we have lost and to dream of what we might become.

– Val McDermid

A library card is the start of a lifelong adventure.

– Lilian Jackson Braun

Visit your library’s website

The access to library catalogs, services, and resources is nowadays easier than ever before.

Most libraries maintain thriving websites, where you can find a calendar of upcoming events, a list of offered meetings and courses, and a catalog of offered publications.

Best of all, a growing number of libraries around the world offers publications in an electronic format: ebooks and audiobooks.

You may borrow an ebook right away from your library’s website and start reading it in minutes, using your e-reader, a book-reading application, or an audiobook player.

Find out whether your library offers ebooks

The most popular platform used by libraries to lend ebooks is OverDrive. More than 40,000 libraries and other institutions around the world are powered by that platform.

When you visit your library’s website, look for “ebooks” or “digital” section, or read details in the “about” tab.

If your local library still doesn’t offer ebooks, you can find another one in your town. It may turn out that you don’t even need to visit the branch in person to sign up for the card. You may apply online, via the library’s website.

Another way to locate libraries offering digital books and audiobooks is to go directly to a library search on OverDrive website and type in your location.

Get a library app to your smartphone or tablet

Once you find a library or libraries that offer digital content, you can get something to read or listen to instantly by using one of the apps that are designed to manage and enjoy library books.

Multiple apps are available for popular operating systems – Android and iOS – so it’s just a question of getting the one that is compatible with your library’s ebooks.

Our recommendation is Libby (here is a link to iOS and here is a link to Android).

Libby is a next-generation book reading app, which is insanely simple and useful. It’s a combination of a book reader and audiobook player.

The app’s most outstanding feature is the ability to sign up with multiple library cards. For instance, you can use one card from your school library and the other one from the library system in your neighborhood.

Libby offers a unified catalog where your loans – from all connected libraries and in all supported formats – are displayed.

Other library apps that are worth checking out: OverDrive, Amazon Kindle, Hoopla Digital, Flipster, BorrowBox, and Sora.

Tip: Take a look at our popular list of library apps for iPhone and iPad.

Visit a library on the other side of the world – without leaving your home

Getting a library book via the website is extremely convenient, but nothing beats the thrill of going to a library in person.

Did you know Google Street View is being used not only outside but also inside buildings? Several institutions and businesses can use the advanced tool called Google Interior Tours.

Bookstores and libraries are most suitable for that. They offer the magic of being among the best of all friends: books. Being in such a place makes you want to read something now, or something more.

Being inside a library with Google Street View is something entirely different from seeing a still image. You can look around, move along the shelves, reach the section with your favorite category. And, yes, you can even read the book!

Still can’t believe it’s possible? Check out the libraries that you can visit with Google Maps.

Find inspiration in a February literary calendar

February is full of literary events. Each one of them makes a great prompt to visit a library or use a library service. Just check out what’s happening:

February 3 – Johannes Gutenberg’s birthday, 1468

A German goldsmith who invented a movable-type printing press, starting the Printing Revolution.

February 6 – Brontë sisters send their poems to a publisher, 1846

Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë published the book using the male pseudonyms: Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell.

February 7 – Charles Dickens is born, 1812

Regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian Era. The author of A Tale of Two Cities and Oliver Twist.

February 9 – Alice Walker’s birthday, 1944

The author of The Color Purple is the first African-American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize.

February 9 – Read in the Bathtub Day

Reading a book while relaxing is the greatest enjoyment in life!

February 14 – International Book Giving Day

A worldwide volunteer initiative aimed at encouraging people to give a book to a child.

February 18 – Toni Morrison’s birthday, 1931

An American novelist and Nobel Prize laureate in Literature. The author of Beloved and Song of Solomon.

February 22 – The first commercial audiobook is recorded, 1952

The record included five poems by Dylan Thomas and his holiday story A Child’s Christmas in Wales.

February 28 – Lemony Snicket is born, 1970

Daniel Handler (pen name: Lemony Snicket) is best known for his children’s books A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Tip: Explore our list of monthly literary calendars for book and library lovers.

Show your support for libraries and librarians

The idea of Library Lover’s Month would not be so popular without social media. And it’s social media where you can instantly share your love for books and libraries.

On the web, you can find numerous posts and images that promote libraries and library services. We’ve been collecting the best library-themed content for years, and here are just a few lists you can check out:

The best quotes about libraries – these thought-provoking quotes come from classic authors and contemporary librarians, and they all have one thing in common: they talk about places and people deserving the most attention – libraries and librarians.

Vintage bookmobiles – rare retro photos of mobile libraries from round the world. Each of these bookmobiles has a story. A picture and a short text are ready to be shared on social media!

Quotes about libraries… in libraries – some of the most brilliant library quotes were visualized by Daniel Dalton, a writer and editor from Sydney, Australia. Each quote comes with a beautiful image of the library.

Funny cartoons about libraries – our ongoing collection of cartoons and comic strips presents the daily life of librarians and library patrons.

Modern libraries – when you think of a library, you see a classic room filled with heavy wooden bookshelves full of old manuscripts. On the other side, the libraries are evolving at an unprecedented pace, and this list shows the most remarkable examples.

Stunning images of classic and modern libraries – these mesmerizing photos by Thibaud Poirier show the beauty of reading rooms and describe what libraries are about. The perfect symmetry, wide angle, and attention to details in these photographs evoke a feeling of harmony, order, and better perspective.

Best infographics about libraries – this extensive list of infographics presents how libraries and librarians evolve to meet emerging needs of modern users.

Tip: Make sure to share the images and quotes with the relevant hashtags: #libraries #librariesmatter #librarylove #librarian

Learn and share fun facts about libraries

How many of these facts have you known before?

In the Harvard Library, there are three books suspected to be bound in human skin. The practice of binding books in human skin was not at all uncommon in the 15th century, and was done to commemorate the dead, among other reasons. ⇢ More info.

The library at Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Egypt is the oldest currently operating in the world. It houses several unique texts, including the Syriac Sinaiticus and, until 1859, the Codex Sinaiticus, the oldest known complete Bible dating back to around 345 CE. ⇢ More info.

The word library comes from Latin “liber” – the inner bark of trees. It was first used in written form in the 14th century. ⇢ More info.

Portuguese Library Biblioteca Joanina is home to a swarm of bats that feed on book-eating insects every night.Swarms of bats hide behind the rococo bookcases during the day, while at night they feast on book-damaging insects, helping preserve the over 300-year-old building and its rich cultural heritage. ⇢ More info.

There are “human libraries” around the world where you can check-out humans as a living book. Many of the people you can “lend” are those who the society tends to stigmatize the most – and they often prove that you truly cannot judge a book by its cover. ⇢ More info.

In some libraries you can check out animal skeletons, Santa suits, prom dresses, or dogs. Quite many libraries lend home improvement, maintenance, and gardening tools (to discover a tool lending library near you, click here), as well as various board games and toys. ⇢ More info.

Warsaw is the city with the biggest number of libraries per capita. Poland’s capital has a whopping 11.5 libraries per 100,000 citizens. Seoul and Brussels follow close behind, with 11 and 10 libraries per 100,000 inhabitants on average. ⇢ More info.

Librarians were once taught a special style of handwriting to ensure uniformity in catalogs. The handwriting style, called the “library hand,” was developed by Thomas Alva Edison in 1885. The style allowed librarians to “take legibly from the wire, longhand, forty-seven and even fifty-four words a minute”. ⇢ More info.

Tip: Here are other facts about books and libraries.

Learn about future library technologies and tools

The libraries are the entry points to the digital world. They are the way to embrace technology and avoid digital exclusion.

Therefore, to improve technological literacy of local communities, libraries should be equipped with relevant technologies. Check out the list of technologies that would be most suitable for libraries.

The list includes a book delivery drone, a clever digital bookmark and other accessories, a digital interface for print books, or a mobile library center.

Adjust your reading challenge to include libraries

How far are you with this year’s reading challenge? What about filling the February timeline with tasks related to libraries and librarians?

Here are a few proposals for library-themed reading challenge:

• A book with a librarian as one of the characters
• A book borrowed from your local library
• One of the top 10 checkouts of all time from the New York Public Library
• A book with a plot set on a campus with a library
• A memoir of a librarian
• A book with the word “library” in its title
• A book recommended by a librarian on Twitter

Show that you support libraries and librarians

There is no better way to share the love for libraries and librarians than wearing a simple t-shirt saying that you are a library supporter.

You can also show your support and say thank you to the librarian in your favorite library. You can buy a small gift, be it a mug, a notebook, or even a small magnet – anything that shows libraries and librarians matter more than ever before.

You will be surprised to discover there are more library-themed gifts and products than you could imagine.

Mark September in your calendar

September is Library Card Sign-up Month – another great time to stress the importance of libraries in the lives of modern book lovers.

Keep exploring. Here are other posts and lists about libraries:

These attention-catching quotes about libraries and librarians are best suited for school and public library walls.

Libraries matter more than ever before. And more than ever before, they deserve to be promoted.

Today, libraries are way more than just a place with free books. They are thriving community halls, cultural centers, and instant knowledge hubs. Librarians help local communities grow, adjust to the changing world, and survive hard times.

Library services are being constantly extended to new areas: from free access to the latest technology, to user-friendly workspaces, to digital literacy courses, to online book club groups.

We compiled a list of the best quotes about libraries and librarians before (by the way, it’s one of our most popular lists of all time). However, when it comes to promoting reading, books, and libraries, there is no such thing as “enough.”

Library quotes you will see below is a tribute to the classic book cover design, and the beginning of a new series of quotes for modern book lovers.

You are welcome to share the quotes with your friends and followers – not only during Library Lover’s Month or Library Card Sign-up Month.

If you’d like to get the quotes in a higher resolution, on a poster, magnet, or mug, I have made them available in popular online merch stores: Redbubble, Zazzle, and Society6.

Do you have a few minutes more? I’m delighted to present our monthly literary calendars. They include not only the most important dates and events, but also a reading challenge for each week, a fun fact, and a bookish quote.

⇢ Redbubble ⇢ Zazzle ⇢ Society6

Vintage-style quotes for library walls

1

An original idea. That can’t be too hard. The library must be full of them.

– Stephen Fry

2

Having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card.

– Marc Brown

3

I ransack public libraries, and find them full of sunk treasure.

– Virginia Woolf

4

There is no problem that a library card can’t solve.

– Eleanor Brown

5

We may sit in our library and yet be in all quarters of the earth.

– John Lubbock

6

Bookshops and libraries are a backstage of success.

– Piotr Kowalczyk

7

Nothing is pleasanter than exploring a library.

– Walter Savage Landor

8

Librarians are tour-guides for all of knowledge.

– Patrick Ness

9

Rule number one: Don’t shhh with librarians.

– Neil Gaiman (as heard in a library)

Keep exploring. Here are other popular lists:

[ef-archive number=5 tag=”lists”]

The first systematically organized and maintained library was founded in Nineveh (contemporary Iraq) by Assyrian ruler Ashurbanipal, in the 7th century BCE.

The oldest continually operating library in the world was established in the 565 CE in Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Egypt, and has the second-largest collection of ancient manuscripts and codices, just after Vatican City.

Then, in the 19th century, public libraries gain popularity, and with Dewey classification system the library organization changes forever.

PressReader, a digital media distribution platform, has prepared a timeline of public libraries, from the time Ashurbanipal opened his library in Nineveh till the recent years, when libraries have become much more than just places where you can borrow books.

A time traveller visiting a library today would likely have a tough time wrapping her head around what she was seeing: the 21st century library has evolved far, far beyond its original state as a book repository to become a vital community hub and omnichannel content source.

Click or tap the image to see it in full resolution, and make sure to visit the original post on PressReader blog to read the detailed timeline of public libraries.

Keep exploring. Here are our popular lists and tips:

Every day, libraries around the world lend their patrons millions of items. Millions of books, ebooks, audiobooks, videos, or games. Millions of megabytes of free internet access.

A librarian is the ultimate search engine, and no Google web search algorithm will ever beat it.

Most importantly, opposite to any artificial intelligence, the librarians will be thankful for appreciating their work.

The list below includes library gift ideas for your librarian if you think saying “thank you” is not enough. Just keep in mind that maybe instead of gifting an item that says “librarian,” it’s good to search for more subtle or funnier ideas.

Some gifts are an excellent way to support your local library. Posters, badges, stationery, buttons, or magnets would be a great addition to community meetings.

And finally, these library-themed gifts and merchandise will share your love for libraries, just like book-themed gifts share the love for books and reading.

But there is one difference. Wearing a library t-shirt is, in fact, a way to promote libraries. It doesn’t only say you love books. It also says you care about them. Because the library is the most advanced way of caring for books the man has ever developed.

Best gifts for librarians and library lovers

Librarian Are Punk Rebels of Digital Age T-Shirt

Librarians are punk rebels with a cause: they’re free, open to everyone, and innovative. They teach us how to think critically and challenge the status quo.

This grunge, brushed artwork says: “Librarians are punk rebels of the digital age”.

Public Libraries Matter t-shirt and other items

Libraries and librarians matter – express that you support them with this vintage, golden and copper, design. The artwork is not too fancy, and it will suit library teams and lovers regardless of the age and style.

The same Libraries Matter artwork is available on Redbubble on almost 80 products, including a full range of apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, caps), wall art, paper craft, and personal accessories, such as tablet sleeves, purses and travel mugs.

Librarian at Work bookend

Look at this wonderful little piece of home decor! It shows a librarian lady putting back the book on a shelf.

The bookend is made of steel, painted with matte black paint, and has silicone feet to prevent from sliding. Please note that this is just a single bookend (librarians are unrepeatable). If you want to have a pair, you will have to buy a second piece.

Monthly literary calendars

Some book lovers need sometimes a little reminder to reach for a favorite book or go to a library.

A literary calendar is a wonderful way to keep track with important events to celebrate and share with students or other book lovers.

These fun literary calendars include not only the most important dates and events, but also a reading challenge for each week, a fun fact, and a bookish quote.

A Truly Great Library tile pendant

What is truly great about this pendant is the statement: “A truly great library has something to offend everyone.”

The pendant is handmade from a Scrabble tile game piece. The image is adhered to the wood and sealed with a non-yellowing shiny dome finish. There are other catchy texts to explore.

On My Way to the Library t-shirt

Every day I go to the library is a happy day! You can share the love for books, libraries,… and bicycles by getting this vintage design on Amazon.

The text says: “On my way to the library. Happy Day!” and is shown on an engraved shape of a retro bicycle. Head to Redbubble to get On My Way to the Library design on over 70 products, including tote bags, travel mugs, purses, tablet sleeves, coasters, and wall art.

With a bike and library books, who would not be happy?

Library Lovers Day floor pillow

You can celebrate the love for libraries 365 days a year, not only during Library Lovers Day, National Library Month, Library Card Sign-Up Month, or National Bookmobile Day.

All you need is a humble reminder that you can visit a library (or its website) any time: return current books, borrow new ones, and check out upcoming events.

Take a look at a design saying “Celebrate Library Lovers Day Every Day.” This vintage-style artwork is available on Redbubble – on t-shirts but also home decor, such as throw and floor pillows, posters, duvet covers, or blankets.

Library due date card pillows

Bring the iconic design of the library due date card to your living room, home library, or a reading nook. Best of all, it’s available in a variety of colorful variants.

“These library card pillows will have you waxing nostalgic for the days when the librarian would flip to the back of the book and hand stamp the due date.”

You can choose from eight available colors, from Orange, to Yellow, to Span Pink.

I Still Believe in 398.2 necklace

Library gifts don’t have to say “library” to be meaningful. In Dewey Decimal System, number 398.2 marks the section of the library that shelves folktales, fairy tales, and fables.

With age, our memories fade but the view of the library we visited in our childhood times, and these particular shelves full of dreams and adventure – unforgettable.

This is How I Roll keychain

This little keychain set includes a premium quality 316L stainless-steel plate with the sentence “This is how I roll” and a shape of a bookcase.

The set also includes a cute book pendant. You will receive the keychain packed in a soft cloth and a gift bag – ready for gifting!

Team 822 library system t-shirt

In the library catalog decimal system invented by Melvil Dewey in 1876, the books are assigned a classification number to easier find them.

According to Dewey’s original system, the works of the Bard can be found under the number 822. “Team 822” artwork is an uncommon way of saying you love William Shakespeare, while supporting the libraries at the same time.

The other variants are: Team Fairy Tales 813, Team Poetry 811, and Team Norse Mythology 293.

I’m a Librarian t-shirt

Here is a funny t-shirt offered by Cloby Lime on Etsy. The text reads: “I’m a librarian. To save time, let’s just assume that I’m never wrong.”

The artwork is available on a t-shirt, but also a hoodie and sweatshirt, in multiple colors, including Navy and Sport Gray.

Librarian bracelet on old-fashioned typewriter keys

From a popular Etsy shop, A Likely Story, comes a wonderful bracelet with a word “librarian” on replicas of old-fashioned typewriter keys. The bracelet features also nine book- and library-themed charms.

The bracelet fastens with a lobster claw and chain clasp, making it adjustable from approximately 7 to 9 inches in length.

Detailed library due date card mug

A lovely gift for a librarian or a library lover. This ceramic coffee mug is available in either 11 oz. or 15 oz, and is dishwasher and microwave safe.

Most importantly, the mug features the design on both the front and back. The artwork is most probably a scan of a real library card, showing due dates ranging from the 1960s to late 1970s.

Retro library-style desk lamp

This timeless design resembles the lamps used in library reading rooms. It’s a perfect accessory for a home library or a bedroom.

The lamp features an all-metal base finished in satin brass. It’s topped by the clear glass shade in an iconic emerald shape. Most importantly, the lamp offers modern functionality: two USB ports allow you to charge your phone, Kindle, or a tablet.

You can activate the lamp by touching anywhere on the base, no need to find the on-off button. You can set up one of three ambient modes to create different ambient lighting.

Library due date necktie

From Cyberoptix comes a necktie with a vintage paper emulation of a library due date card design.

The artwork is printed on a silky-soft microfiber with non-toxic, water-based ink. You can choose from several colors and two necktie sizes.

“For a crisp new paper look, choose white or platinum. For a more aged paper feel, selecting cream or champagne would be a better choice.”

Log Out and Go to the Library T-shirt

Living a social media life may be too stressful and time-consuming. Log out of your Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook and enjoy living in a real life. Go to the library!

This vintage-style design in available on t-shirts, hoodies, caps, and over 70 merch items.

Personal library kit from Knock Knock

One of those classic library gifts no library-themed overview can miss. The kit will let use the old-fashioned library circulation techniques to keep track which books you lent and whom.

The set includes twenty self-adhesive pockets and checkout cards, date stamp with inkpad, and a pencil. It will be a perfect gift for a child, but the parents will have fun using it, too.

“For a bibliophile, there’s no greater pleasure than sharing beloved books, but no crueler pain than losing them for good.”

Library Book scented candle

Bring the addictive scent of an old library to your living room or reading nook. Library Book scented candle offers an intoxicating and rich blend combined with dry dusty notes of tobacco and spices, such as Baies rose and incense, supported by a woody base of cedarwood and sandalwood.

The candle is hand-poured in small batches, using all-natural soya wax. It comes in a metal box with a gorgeous floral design.

Old Library scented candle

From Candle Bros comes a Library scented candle offered in a minimalist modern glass jar.

When you light it, you will feel aromas and scents that are typical for old libraries: leather, vanilla, cedar, and amber.

The candle is made in small batches from 100% soy wax. With custom-sized, lead-free cotton wicks, it will burn evenly, allowing for a longer use time.

Library check out dates tote bag

If you are never enough of the iconic library due date card design, you can have it on an eco-friendly tote bag – yes, the one you would use to return your books to the library.

This solid shopping bag measures 14.5 × 15 inches, is made of high-quality 12-ounce 100% cotton canvas, and has a reinforced bottom to handle heavy objects such as books.

Vintage library card catalog cabinet

Do you want to bring the look of an old library to your home? This 9-drawer wooden desk organizer looks like a mini library card catalog cabinet!

Each drawer has its own steel handle and label slot, inspired by the antic look of library cabinets. It is covered with varnish lacquer that’s tasteless and environmentally friendly. It arrives in one piece, so no assembly is required.

Slow Down and Go to the Library mouse pad

When you are working hard every day, and need a moment of calm, the best place to destress is the library in your neighborhood.

A calligraphic text “Slow down and go to the library” is surrounded by gentle, natural, floral ornaments. Plus, there are also additional passages: “enjoy life” and “keep calm.”

If you’d like to have this design on other products, you can get it from Redbubble. It’s available on posters, tote bags, purses, water bottles, mugs, buttons, and magnets, among others.

Vintage-style quotes about libraries

Libraries matter more than ever before. And more than ever before, they deserve to be promoted.

These attention-catching quotes about libraries and librarians were visualized in the nostalgic style of letterpress book covers, with each one presenting an enlarged caption in a bright color. The quotes were carefully selected from our list of the best quotes about libraries and librarians.

Each design is available on multiple merch items, from a simple art print, to framed posters, to magnets.

Libraries Matter More Than Ever Before t-shirt

Libraries and librarians matter today more than ever before! Express that you support them with this vintage design that’s suitable for all ages.

It’s a great gift idea for a librarian, a library supporter, or anyone who loves reading books. The design is available in a dark and light theme on a number of products, including apparel, tote bags, throw pillows, as well as iPhone and Samsung cases.

Enjoy Life in a Library T-Shirt

Libraries matter because they make people wiser, healthier, and happier. This cozy, minimalist, lively artwork says: “The best spot to enjoy life is the reading room of my library”.

Keep reading. Here are other popular lists and tips to explore:

There is no such thing as too many books. And there is no such thing as too many book quotes.

If you were looking for quotes about books and libraries, you must have discovered lists by Goodreads, BrainyQuote, or Good Housekeeping, already. We hope you’ve come across one of our tailored lists with book quotes lists as well.

The problem with these lists is that in most cases they highlight the most popular book quotes – the ones you already know and don’t find inspiring any longer.

Sometimes, a brilliant passage about the joy of reading can be found on the 10th or 20th page of the book quote directory on Goodreads, liked by “only” 100 users or 200 users. It’s not that this quote is not good enough. The point is that it has not yet been discovered.

That’s why we’ve come up with a new selection of book quotes. This time the rule is simple: you will find here only the quotes that highlight the benefits and importance of books and libraries.

As usual, multiple quotes are visualized so that you can easily share them across your social media channels – if you are determined enough to spread the love of books. See the highlights below.

Where to find inspiring book quotes?

From our experience, the best source of new thoughts about books, libraries, and reading is Twitter. And, thanks to popular daily hashtags (such as #MondayMotivation, #TuesdayThoughts, or #ThursdayThoughts), it’s easy to spot the most interesting ones.

The best book quotes are shared by a few Twitter profiles, and we are excited to recommend them to you:

NJ State Library – if you are looking for the constant stream of inspiring quotes on books and libraries, this single profile should make you more than happy. In fact, most quotes in this overview are coming from the NJ State Library’s Twitter account. At least one motivational book-related quote a day guaranteed!

The Paris Review – a Twitter profile of this influential literary magazine shares the most important passages from current articles and interviews. Following it is a must for anyone who is interested in seeing how literature evolves in the digital times.

Penguin Books UK – join almost 2 million Twitter followers to read not only the latest book releases but also timely quotes from your favorite authors. Want to find a quote from the author who is born today? You’ll find it in the Penguin Books UK account.

Maria Popova – on her Twitter profile, Maria Popova shares most interesting excerpts from articles (current and archive) she wrote on her popular Brain Pickings blog which is an “inquiry into what it means to live a decent, substantive, rewarding life.” Not all quotes are about books, but when you find one, you will be amazed.

Goodreads – the most popular Twitter profile for book lovers (3.7 million followers) delivers a perfectly balanced set of tweets that will keep you in the mood of reading books and talking about them. The quotes about books and reading are shared as images, and it’s hard to resist to repost them!

If you are looking for book quotes that are visualized and ready to share on social media, make sure to get in touch on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.

50 best quotes on the importance of libraries and books

1

There is no problem that a library card can’t solve.

– Eleanor Brown

2

Reading allows us to see and understand the world through the eyes of others.

– Chris Riddell

3

Saying the Internet makes librarians obsolete is like saying the plague makes doctors obsolete.

– Cory Doctorow

4

If you wish to renew your mind, read.

– Lailah Gifty Akita

5

Libraries, in the past, the present, and the future, are the memory and workshop of humanity.

– Christian Lauersen

6

Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life.

– Mortimer J. Adler

7

The library is the place I go when I want to be in the know.

– Charmaine J. Forde

8

A library card is a powerful weapon to change lives. With it, we learn how to value what we have, to mourn what we have lost and to dream of what we might become.

– Val McDermid

9

There is no substitute for books in the life of a child.

– Mary Ellen Chase

10

Books and doors are the same thing. You open them, and you go through into another world.

– Jeanette Winterson

11

A book is a device to ignite the imagination.

– Alan Bennett

12

I can feel infinitely alive curled up on the sofa reading a book.

– Benedict Cumberbatch

13

One of the greatest gifts adults can give – to their offspring and to their society – is to read to children.

– Carl Sagan

14

A library doesn’t need windows. A library is a window.

– Stewart Brand

15

When you read a book, you hold another’s mind in your hands.

– James Burke

16

The only way to educate oneself is by making books a life companion.

– Michael Bassey Johnson

17

I read so I can live more than one life in more than one place.

– Anne Tyler

18

Books give a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.

– Plato

19

Libraries are the ultimate restaurants for brain food. I sleep better knowing there are libraries.

– Simon Van Booy

20

One of the best things about reading is that you’ll always have something to think about when you’re not reading.

– James Patterson

21

A trip to the library is like coming home and going on an adventure at the same time.

– Megan Shepherd

22

Libraries are no longer archaic rooms of dusty books, but part of a global network that’s championing open access.

– Georgina Cronin

23

There’s no such thing as a kid who hates reading. There are kids who love reading, and kids who are reading the wrong books.

– James Patterson

24

A good book is an empathy engine.

– Chris Riddell

25

A great library is one nobody notices because it is always there, and always has what people need.

– Vicki Myron

26

If one reads enough books one has a fighting chance.

– Sherman Alexie

27

I read a book one day and my whole life was changed.

– Orhan Pamuk

28

The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest men of past centuries.

– René Descartes

29

Maybe reading is like sex – best discovered on one’s own.

– J.D. McClatchy

30

I don’t have to look far to find treasures. I discover them every time I visit the library.

– Michael Embry

31

If you are going to get anywhere in life, you have to read a lot of books.

– Roald Dahl

32

If you would tell me the heart of a man, tell me not what he reads, but what he rereads.

– François Mauriac

33

We may sit in our library and yet be in all quarters of the earth.

– John Lubbock

34

Reading is the finest teacher of how to write.

– Annie Proulx

35

A library card is the start of a lifelong adventure.

– Lilian Jackson Braun

36

Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or duty. It should be offered to them as a precious gift.

– Kate DiCamillo

37

You’ll never be alone if you’ve got a book.

– Al Pacino

38

For everyone, a book is a search and hopefully a discovery.

– Shelby Foote

39

The library is not only a diary of the human race, but marks an act of faith in the continuity of humanity.

– Vartan Gregorian

40

It is better to be shoeless than bookless.

– Icelandic Proverb

41

Books are like imprisoned souls until someone takes them down from a shelf and frees them.

– Samuel Butler

42

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.

– Charles William Eliot

43

To read is to voyage through time.

– Carl Sagan

44

The library is the temple of learning, and learning has liberated more people than all the wars in history.

– Carl T. Rowan

45

An hour spent reading is one stolen from paradise.

– Thomas Wharton

46

A bookstore is one of the many pieces of evidence we have that people are still thinking.

– Jerry Seinfeld

47

Libraries aren’t in the real world. They’re places apart, sanctuaries of pure thought.

– Paul Auster

48

I read for pleasure and that is the moment I learn the most.

– Margaret Atwood

49

You live several lives while reading.

– William Styron

50

If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.

– Albert Einstein

51

Books are… companions, teachers, magicians, bankers of the treasures of mind.

– Barbara W. Tuchman

52

Show me a family of readers, and I will show you the people who move the world.

– Napoléon Bonaparte

53

Great books help you understand, and they help you to feel understood.

– John Green

54

Shout for libraries. Shout for the young readers who use them.

– Patrick Ness

55

There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.

– Walt Disney

56

The school library may well be the most important room in any public school building.

– Chris Crutcher

57

A home without a book is darker than one without a lamp.

– Henryk Sienkiewicz

Keep exploring. Here are other popular lists and tips:

Whenever you visit a crowded tourist destination, or a little quiet town, and spot a great street art, go make a pic and share it with your friends.

The lists like this could be possible, and they can further spread the word.

Books are an important part of life. They provoke to think, to argue, to make an opinion, to succeed. This is very well reflected in street art.

My favorite works are the Valencia stuff from a famous street art group Escif, but also the one painted by Andreyante AO in Nizhny Novgorod, and the mural in Łódź created by a Polish street artist Barys.

When going through a lot of fantastic pictures, I realized one thing. A lot of street art is coming to mobile devices – in a variety of screen wallpapers or designer cases.

On the other side, almost no modern gadgets appeared on the streets so far, although they are becoming an important (if not overwhelming) part of life.

If you know of any great street art that should be featured here, please share it with us.

Street art and murals about books, libraries, reading

1

Books are our friends. This awesome mural was painted by Frenemy (aka Kristopher Kotcher), an illustrator and street artist from Texas, and you can see it in Jaffa, Israel. ⇢ Credits and more info.

2

Books in Austin. A mural on the side of South Congress Books bookstore in Austin, specializing in art, “quirkiana,” and vintage children’s books. ⇢ Credits and more info.

3

A stack of books. A mural was created by a German street artist Case Maclaim (Andreas von Chrzanowski), for the 2016 edition of Art (Re)Public project in Jacksonville, Florida.

“Inspired by the history of the city and the local businesses, German artist decided to incorporate elements such as local bookstore as part of his work.” ⇢ Credits and more info.

4

Book Discussion Scheme mural. A mural on the street-front of the office of Book Discussion Scheme – the largest book discussion group in New Zealand. The office is located in Sydenham, Christchurch, and the mural was painted by well-known street artist Wongi Wilson. ⇢ Credits and more info.

5

Curiosity feeds imagination. This awesome piece of street art can be seen in Esch-sur-Alzette, a city in southern Luxembourg.

The artwork was created by the French graffiti artist Mantra, who has found an inspiration in photographs by Marta Bevacqua. ⇢ Credits and more info.

6

A boy reading a book. Favorite techniques of the Berlin-based street artist Alias are paste-ups and cut-outs. Thanks to that similar images can appear in public spaces more than once.

The artwork of the boy reading the book can be seen in several cities, including Hamburg, Berlin, and Istambul. ⇢ Credits and more info.

7

Banned Books Week mural. Poor Richard’s bookstore from Colorado Springs asked street artist Douglas Rouse (aka Rouse 66) to create a mural celebrating Banned Books Week 2015. It decorates the northern wall of the building. ⇢ Credits and more info.

8

A library bookshelf mural. A mural artist Kelly Poling, created over 50 historical murals across Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska.

One of his most stunning works is a mural for the Savannah branch of the Rollings Hills Consolidated Library. ⇢ Credits and more info.

9

Mouse reading a book. A gorgeous example of the chalk street art created by David Zinn. The pictures shown above are a part of the series of drawings on the streets of Ann Arbor, Michigan. ⇢ Credits and more info.

10

The reader. The adorable work of a girl reading a book was created by Jef Aerosol during the 2014 edition of In Situ Art Festival in Fort d’Aubervilliers, Paris. ⇢ Credits and more info.

11

A woman reading on a sofa. The mural was created by the street artist called Faile, for the artBGC ONE Festival. It’s located in Bonifacio Global City, a financial district of Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

12

Real books. A French street artist Levalet creates collages on city walls across France. Some of his works show people reading. And what they are reading are actually real books. ⇢ Credits and more info.

13

Book riot. The painting is a part of a series of murals painted in Valencia, Spain, by a group of artists and performers from Escif. ⇢ Credits and more info.

14

Literacy windows. The mural was created by Carolyn Speranza and Lisa Link with a help of five high school artists. Please note, that the first book from left shows various learning tools. Except for books, there are also computers. This is one of the first examples of digital books coming to street art. ⇢ Credits and more info.

15

Literary mural. This outstanding mural was created by Jane Brewster and is located in Portland, Oregon, in the neighborhood of Hawthorne Boulevard Books and Powell’s Books bookstores. ⇢ Credits and more info.

16

Transformer books. Art-Facade, mural art studio from Saint Petersburg, Russia, created in 20 days this great book mural art on a transformer sub-station near Rossiysky Prospect.

Instead of bricks, typical for transformer sub-stations, we see the bookshelf full of oversized classic literature titles. “The creative concept design allowed us to put an elegant link between safety regulations and the world’s famous titles.” ⇢ Credits and more info.

17

Pilsen books. This book-themed mural is a part of an ongoing street art project by the Chicago-based creative collective, Pawn Works. The mural was painted in Chicago, on a lengthy old wall in Pilsen neighborhood. ⇢ Credits and info.

18

Reading punk. A part of a street art project by Buenos Aires street artist Patxi Mazzoni Alonso.

The project’s idea is “to promote study, work, education and music and show the punks visually to people who have rejected them and don’t recognize who they are.” ⇢ More photos and info.

19

Education is the key to knowledge. Created by street artist Marcin “Barys” Barjasz, in Lódź, Poland. Photo by Regina Lang. ⇢ More info.

20

Girl reading. Street art in Gloucester. Found and pictured by Donglos Images. ⇢ Credits and more info.

21

Books are the basis. A smart street art spotted somewhere in Russia. It doesn’t look like a painting, but real books walled in a column. ⇢ Credits and more info.

22

Reading while growing roots. A surreal mural in Nuñez, painted by a Colombian artist Loto. “A pseudo human being is reading while growing roots.” ⇢ More info.

23

Kid reading. Mural on the side of the Trilok School on Waverly Avenue, Brooklyn. Created by a legendary Chile-based artist Nelson Rivas (Cekis). ⇢ Credits and more info.

24

Reading: a Journey. This huge mural was created by Donald Gensler and can be seen in Philadelphia.

The mural is a part of The Mural Arts Program that has created more than 3,000 paintings representing important aspects of Philadelphia’s African American history. ⇢ Credits and more info.

25

Joyous discoveries: a journey through books and music. The mural was painted by Keith Hollander at Market St. and Duboce Ave, in San Francisco. There are several books visible, including Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s 100 Years of Solitude, and Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. ⇢ Credits and more info.

26

Read. Sticker and poster campaign that started in 2005. Created by Brooklyn-based artist and performer Jay Giroux. ⇢ Credits and more info.

27

Climbing over books. Street art by Andreyante AO, in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. ⇢ Credits and more info.

28

Pile of books. This amazing mural was created in Frankfurt by a Brazilian street artist Tinho (Walter Nomura). It shows two kids waiting on a pile of books. ⇢ Credits and more info.

29

Oye read. From Brooklyn Street Art resources. Artist unknown. Photo by Jaime Rojo. ⇢ More info.

30

Read more books. A simple typographic art spotted and photographed by Red Boy. ⇢ More info.

31

X-Times people chair – woman reading. A part of a street art performance by a German artist and performer Angie Hiesl.

Elderly people sit on white chairs that are mounted on buildings at a height between three and seven meters. They perform rehearsed, everyday activities in a reserved manner: they read the paper, slice bread, fold clothes… ⇢ Credits and more info.

32

La bibliothèque. A small mural on a library building in small town near Fontainebleau, France. Pictured by Kelly Robic. ⇢ More info.

33

Dr Seuss “Read” sculpture. This amazing giant display was made of 25,000 Dr. Seuss books in front of the New York Public Library, between the library’s iconic lion statues.

The sculpture was a collaboration between the National Education Association and Target Corporation and is a part of the Target’s plan to donate $1 billion to education-related programs by 2015. ⇢ More info and photos.

34

Inside a bookshelf. Mural by Susanna Hesselberg, in Örebro, Sweden. Credits, ⇢ Credits and more info.

35

Bookstore mural. Created on a side wall of Circle City Books and Music in Pittsboro. ⇢ Photo credits.

36

Wall of books. A 10-meter wall made of ceramic books, Amsterdam. ⇢ Photo credits.

37

Larchmere mural. The mural graces the east wall of Loganberry Books bookstore, located in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Created by artist Gene Epstein, the painting reflects the neighborhood’s people and history. ⇢ More info.

38

La bibliotèque de la cité. A beautiful fresco-style mural on the façade of the Lyon Municipal Library, France. ⇢ More info.

39

School bookshelf. This huge bookshelf was painted in a school yard in Tyumen, by Russian art group Color of the City. ⇢ Credits and more info.

40

Heart, culture and pedagogy. An amazing mural located in the College of the Sacred Heart of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, on a wall of Éva-Senécal library.

Created by artists from M.U.R.I.R.S. and influenced by master painters of trompe-l’œil, it is a metaphor of the local literary universe, with more than 100 authors represented. ⇢ Credits and more info.

41

Flying books. Jazz mural by artist Bill Weber on Jackson Square, San Francisco. Flying books in front are Brian Goggin’s “Language of the Birds” installation. ⇢ More info.

42

Library mural. Created on seven walls of Ustroń Public Library, Poland, and taking over 500 square meters, the mural shows the interiors of the Trinity College Library in Dublin. ⇢ Credits and more info.

43

Open book. Bookish street art on a building located at Natália Correia Street in Lisbon, Portugal. ⇢ Photo credits.

44

Bookshelf door. A bricked door in Setúbal, Portugal, was painted to look like a bookshelf. ⇢ Credits and more info.

45

Giant bookshelf mural. The mural was painted on a grain silo in Incheon port, South Korea. The painting measures 23,689 square meters. In September 2018 it was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest outdoor mural.

The beautiful covers of sixteen books reflect the four seasons, and are a symbol of young boy’s journey into adulthood. ⇢ Credits and more info

Bonus

Dublin Digital Classics. A part of a street campaign by Dublin City Council to get the young generation interested in reading. ⇢ More info.

Keep exploring. Here are other lists and tips:

Today, libraries are not only about lending books. They are creative spaces, not only for individuals, but also for teams. They are economic incubators and learning hubs.

Most of all, the libraries are the entry points to the digital world. They are the way to embrace technology and avoid digital exclusion.

Therefore, to improve technological literacy of local communities, libraries should be equipped with relevant technologies.

In this articles you won’t find examples of how to use Google Hangouts for library meetings, or Pikochart to create library infographics.

Instead, I would like to go one step further and present technologies – some of them in a concept phase – that could be used in the future.

And instead of general ideas, like wearables or augmented reality, you’ll see here real examples.

Some of these technologies seem to eat budgets dozens of times bigger than a public library can afford, but it’s not the point of this article.

The article is designed to spot technologies that will be relevant and useful in the libraries as they move along their digital roadmaps.

8 technologies we would love to see in libraries

1. Library bookmark and guide

An interesting concept from a Chinese design company Toout. This little tiny device is in the first place a regular bookmark. But on top of that it also has features that could make using the library much easier.

First of all, the device would be a perfect companion when navigating through the library, by giving turn-by-turn directions to the book the patron wants.

The device could also keep track of all borrowed books, as well as remind the user of the return dates.

Finding a book easily without knowing the Dewey Decimal Classification system? Sounds like a good idea of where the library card could evolve.

⇢ Credits and more info

2. Augmented reality app

librARi is a concept of an image based augmented reality application, created by Pradeep Siddappa.

A lot has been said about using augmented reality in libraries, but there are few examples that would let us actually see it.

The video explaining how librARi works (AR in the name stands for “augmented reality”) is very decent, but it’s a benefit. It clearly highlights the best use of AR in libraries – locating the books on the shelves and navigating to them.

The app would point you to the new arrivals. It would also be able to find and point to similar books. Simple, but useful, and very probable.

⇢ Credits and more info

3. Book delivery drone

To get the book from a library, you can either go and find it, or you can let it find you.

The future belongs to unmanned flying machines, and just like Amazon drones can deliver the goods to customers, libraries could deliver the books to patrons.

Library drone is not even the close future. It’s already happening. Australian start-up Flirtey has teamed up with a book rental service Zookal to create – the first in the world – textbook delivery system.

The system is using hexacopters, drones with six rotors, to deliver ordered textbooks. Now, the smart thing is that the drone can find you by the location of your smartphone, so there is no need to give a fixed address.

Just imagine. You are sitting in a reading room of the New York Public Library, in the middle of writing an essay, and want to get another book. Stay where you are, and use the app to order a book. The drone will come, just like this one. Pull out the book from the box, and put the one or ones you don’t need any longer. The drone will place them where they belong.

I would personally add an option to deliver latte from a library cafeteria.

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4. Digital interface for print books

Anyone who tried ebooks would never give up the convenience of a digital interface and all other helpful tools.

Searching the content of the book (including smart search), looking for a reference on the web, getting an instant translation, writing notes, or collecting book passages – all this can be done on the same device that we use to read an ebook.

We can obviously borrow an ebook instead of a print book, but here is a better idea – enhance the print book with a digital interface.

FingerLink is a project currently developed by Fujitsu that will let you use digital tools to work with a printed book.

It’s a stand you can put on a library desk. It includes two elements: a camera to read the info from the real world, and the projector to display digital info in the real world.

Simply, place the book on a table under the stand, and you’ll see extra options, available for the book. It’s because everything what FingerLink “sees” can be available and editable in a digital form.

Now let’s push the imagination a bit further.

Nimble is a concept of an advanced library augmented reality tool.

Designed by a London-based interactive designer and Google engineer Sures Kumar, Nimble does not only offer digital enhancement of a print book, but also incorporates the idea featured earlier in the post – the turn-by-turn library guide.

All these features can be accessed using the smart library card. An all-in-one solution to let patrons use the digital books to work with whichever content they want.

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5. Library utensils

Obviously, introducing a system like FingerLink will exceed library’s yearly budget several times. There is a cheaper alternative. A library could offer patrons a variety of small utensils they could borrow to use in the reading room.

In the picture above you see Ivy Guide, a concept device, that you can put on your pen to use for translating words found in the print book.

It’s just an example showing that such concepts are being created. The only thing is to find the most useful task for the library use.

For me, it could be a simple pen that would let patrons make digital highlights. One condition – it should be done in a simplest possible way.

Here is the idea. The real-to-digital highlighter would be connected to a computer. When you highlight something – move along the text in a print book – it will immediately appear in the notepad app on a computer. All your highlights would be collected in a single text document.

When you are finished, simply send this note to your email address. The note will self-destruct the moment you close it.

Such library utensils would be useful for less tech-savvy library patrons or those who don’t use advanced apps (for instance the ones with OCR – optical character recognition) on their phones.

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6. Mobile library center

Sometimes, to engage local communities, or reach people in remote locations, the library would want to physically leave the library building.

The Ideas Box is a revolutionary concept developed by Librarians Without Borders, with the aim to reach people in refugee camps and impoverished countries, but could be also used any time the idea of a mobile library is considered.

The most thrilling thing about this modern library center is that it can be assembled in less than 20 minutes.

The Idea Box is a portable toolkit – standardized, easy to transport and set up. The kit consists of six boxes (including library and internet access), fits on two palettes, and creates a space of 1,000 square meters.

The library box includes 250 paper books, 50 e-readers with thousands of ebooks, and a variety of educational apps.

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7. Print on demand machines

Bookless libraries, where you can’t find a single print book, launch regularly. They obviously won’t kill traditional libraries, just like ebooks don’t kill print books. The digital-only route has its disadvantages.

To me, every digital-only library should offer their patrons the ability to instantly make a print version of the book. Let’s put aside the question who is going to pay for this. The most important question is that sometimes the book has to be real to make use of it.

Espresso Book Machine (EBM) is a real product. Manufactured by Xerox, it’s sold by On Demand Books. It can make a paperback book while you wait, printing up to 150 pages per minute.

The machine is connected to an online catalog of over seven million in-copyright and public domain books, but institutions using EBM can also print custom titles.

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8. Access to library via commonly used app

This sounds like an super simple idea, but it doesn’t exist yet, and I’m not sure whether it will.

All the concepts presented above were about special devices or solutions designed for special use in a library.

Nowadays, if you want to borrow an ebook from a library you need to have a special app from a digital content provider, like OverDrive. But not all the libraries cooperate with OverDrive – and it’s where problems begin. The more special something is, the fewer people will use it.

The thing is that to borrow a print book from a library, you don’t need anything special besides the library card.

Imagine that many of the features described above would be accessible from a simple app – a browser on your mobile phone. You’d need it to browse the library, borrow a book, get notifications when it’s due, and finally, be able to read it.

Maybe there would be an option to take a virtual walk through the library. We’re close, just look at the libraries using Google Street View tours. Maybe there would be an option to make notes and highlights. Maybe there would be an option to recognize the printed text and turn it to editable notes.

Yes, all these features are available, but they are delivered by special apps, and these special apps are not meant to be used in libraries.

The idea (utopian?) is that everybody could use the library, and no extra knowledge and software would be needed for that.

Google is leading the way to unify online experience. No extra sign ups. All you need is to be signed in to your Gmail account on Google Chrome.

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