For some weird reason I love makey-uppy holidays, and because I also love libraries, High Five a Librarian Day is one of my favorites.

Celebrated (if you can call it that) each November 18th, High Five a Librarian Day was dreamed up by Cincinnati librarian Steve Kemble to celebrate these tireless guardians of our book sanctuaries. I'm all for it; folks who have to deal with the public AND the Dewey Decimal System deserve all the love they can get.

To commemorate the day, I've put together a list of fantasy books, TV shows and movies that prominently feature librarians or libraries. Because reading books about books has a nice "meta" vibe that just adds to the fun. Try something new from the list, or revisit an old favorite.

Library-Themed Fantasy Books

The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
A dark, surreal fantasy where the "librarians" are apprentices to a godlike figure, each mastering a terrifying catalog of knowledge. The library itself is a labyrinth of power and danger.

Discworld series by Terry Pratchett
The Unseen University library is a magical place where books warp reality. Its librarian—transformed into an orangutan—is one of the most beloved recurring characters, fiercely protective of his books and prone to saying only “Ook.” This one's a favorite from my early days. I love it, but be aware, the humor's not subtle and likely not to everyone's taste.

Inkheart trilogy by Cornelia Funke
While not a traditional librarian, the story revolves around people who can bring books to life. Libraries and collections of texts are central to the plot, emphasizing the magic of reading itself.

The Invisible Library series by Genevieve Cogman
A multiverse-spanning adventure where librarians are secret agents collecting rare books from alternate realities. The library is a hub of infinite worlds and knowledge.

Library System Reset series by K.T. Hanna
A bewildered college student is thrust into the role of head librarian at the Library of Everywhere. Unless she can restore the decaying Library and recover a few thousand overdue books, the universe itself may disintegrate. I reviewed the first book in this series and loved it, and it's only gotten better since then.

Library-Themed Fantasy Movies

The Pagemaster (1994)
A young boy enters a magical library and is guided by anthropomorphic books through fantasy, adventure, and horror genres. The library is both gateway and quest. It's a sometimes awkward but interesting mix of live action and animation, with a cast that includes Macaulay Culkin, Christopher Lloyd, Whoopi Goldberg, Patrick Stewart and Leonard Nimoy.

Doctor Strange (Marvel Cinematic Universe, 2016)
The library of Kamar-Taj is a mystical archive of spells and artifacts. Wong, the stern but witty librarian, plays a key role in guarding its secrets. The MCU has been hit-or-miss lately (mostly miss for me, frankly), but this first Doctor Strange movie is a real gem and Wong is a joy.

The Name of the Rose (more historical than fantasy, 1986)
Its labyrinthine library has inspired countless fantasy depictions of libraries as dangerous, puzzle-like places filled with forbidden knowledge. A medieval mystery, plus Sean Connery and F. Murray Abraham, what more could you ask for?

Library-Themed Fantasy TV Shows

The Librarians (TNT, 2014–2018)
A direct celebration of the trope: a team of librarians safeguard magical artifacts and knowledge, blending adventure, humor, and fantasy.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (The WB, 1997-2001)
Giles, Buffy’s Watcher, doubles as the school librarian. The library serves as the central hub for research, strategy, and supernatural discovery. I'd forgotten how much fun the original Buffy series could be. Definitely worth a rewatch!

The Magicians (Syfy, 2015-2020)
The Neitherlands Library is a vast, otherworldly archive containing every book ever written. Its librarians are enigmatic, powerful, and sometimes menacing.

Why Libraries and Librarians Work So Well in Fantasy

Libraries are repositories of knowledge and librarians are the gatekeepers. Who knows what mysteries lurk in the depths of "the stacks"?

When I was a kid, the library signified infinite possibilities. I thought I could stumble on any secret hidden in plain sight somewhere in the shelves. And librarians who knew the arcane codes that unlocked all the enigmas seemed capable of anything. I still feel some of that today.

So here's your assignment: Head to the library, check out some good books (maybe including some of the above), and high five a librarian while you're there. They're doing important work, and who knows, they might just be saving the universe on the side.