I have gotten a few questions regarding this blog along the same lines as, “Librarians in movies, huh? Aren’t you going to run out of things to say soon?” The answer to that is an unequivocal NO.
(And thank goodness that question is not coming from the same people who ask librarians, “Whaddya mean, you have a master’s degree? In what, the alphabet?” Fastest way to receive your very own patented “if looks could kill” stare. See this post for an example of what I’m talking about. 😉 )
So if you’ve taken a look around this site before, you’ll have noticed several items under the Movie Lists section, including a Master List of English-language librarian films that I’m sloooooowly working my way through. There are hundreds on that list, yo. I’ll be here awhile. I am adding to that list. all. the time. Including just this past week.
There are several related sites I frequent — see my Resources page as well as the links off here to the right — including the Libraries at the Movies blog by colleague-by-way-of-similar-interests Colin Higgins. I find he always has a fresh, insightful take on the power of the cinematic image of libraries (check out his recent, fantastic post on Hitchcock’s Blackmail). And of course, while enjoying his insights, I also screen for clues to a reel librarian lurking in the background, and often find resources with which to update my Master List. For example, I just added the 2009 flick Agora, which is all about Hypatia, one of the first female mathematicians and librarians in history.
Colin also brought the “Libraries/Librarians in the Movies” Pinterest board to my attention, full of screenshots from library movies put together by the Saint Mary’s College Library staff. And whilst perusing the pinned-up titles, I noted that one of the screenshots came from this Reel Librarians site! 🙂 I was also excited to add a handful of titles to my Master List from this fun Pinterest board, including Jumper (2008), Shanghai Knights (2003), 9 (2009), and The Ninth Gate (1999).
And there are new reel librarians being added to cinematic history every year! We librarians are just as useful in reel life as in real life.
Is there a title I’m missing, or an upcoming librarian movie you’re aware of? Please let me know by leaving a comment below.
Sources used:
- Higgins, Colin. Libraries at the Movies [blog].
- Saint Mary’s College Library. Libraries/Librarians in the Movies [Pinterest].
REEL LIBRARIANS 
So happy to see 9 on the list now! I’ve been wanting to watch that for a while; now we have a reason! 🙂
Your praise is overly generous, but thank you! The Master List you maintain is a really important resource, and I make use of it frequently. Though my blog has looser focus (libraries, broadly intepretted, as well as librarians) I also sometimes wonder if I’m going to run out of films to write about. But then I look at your list and all my worries are banished,
The next three posts I’m planning to write are all about libraries. But I have a couple of films featuring librarians on my longlist that I don’t think you’ve covered yet, so stay tuned!
You’re welcome, and I really do enjoy your site. I like that our interests, and subsequent blogs, are a bit different (in focus and in style) but still united in our mutual love of libraries, and those who love libraries. And I’m so glad my Master List of titles helps assure the longevity of your blog. 🙂 I look forward to your upcoming posts!