If you have any friends or family members who are librarians, you know how much they love their job. So when it comes time to buy a gift for them, you can’t go wrong selecting a present related to books, libraries, or even the Dewey Decimal system. It’s still easy to get stumped when trying to come up with something fun and creative that your favorite librarian doesn’t already own. No worries, as we’ve compiled this awesome list of gifts for librarians.
These gift ideas for librarians are great to give you inspiration when shopping for Birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, or even librarian retirement gifts. These gifts range from practical to funny to creative and unique. You’re sure to find something for your favorite librarian here. A lot of these gifts are great for book lovers who spend their fair share of time at the library. Check out the suggestions below.
Gifts for Librarians
1. Handmade Stack of Books Necklace
If you’re looking for original librarian gift ideas that you won’t find in stores, this is a great option. These handmade necklaces feature a stack of vintage library books. They’re made from polymer clay and hand-fashioned by the artist, so each necklace is completely unique. You can even make a custom request for specific colors or book covers.
This necklace is a gift that any librarian would appreciate and gladly wear to work or for special occasions. Book lovers and avid readers will love it too!
2. Dewey Decimal Scarf
If you’re looking for fashionable gifts for librarians, check this out. This gorgeous silkscreen pashmina is handmade and features a lovely print of 800 series of Dewey Classification. The print is from a 1876 book by Melvil Dewey, and this system later became the Dewey Decimal System that is still used in the US today. Librarians will love this little piece of library science history, especially since they can wear it out work or even out for an evening event. This scarf is also super soft and luxurious to wear.
Available as black on sand, black on blush, black on silver, black on cream, black on latte, pale gray on black, or pale gray on charcoal. For a paper-like look, order sand, cream, or latte.
3. I Work At A Public Library: A Collection of Crazy Stories from the Stacks
Sometimes you need a little humor to get you through a long day of work. Any librarian will enjoy this book, which is a collection of the most bizarre things that only happen in a library. They’ll chuckle as they read the story about the missing wetsuit or the unexpected scent of cooking crab cakes. Gina Sheridan recounts these and more in her book about the weirdest questions and quandaries she’s experienced at her circulation desk.
Any librarian will enjoy a good laugh when they read this book and may be inspired to share a few of their own weird experiences in the stacks. Include a fun bookmark and this will become an unforgettable gift.
4. Library Card Tote Bag
This is a gift that’s fun and practical. Library cards and stamped due dates are a thing of the past in most libraries, but they still have a special place in most librarian’s and book lover’s hearts. Out of Print makes a bunch of cool book-themed gifts, including these library card tote bags. They’re perfect for carrying a load of borrowed books or anything else they may need to get them through the work day. And their co-workers will be so jealous when they strut into work with this bad boy.
Available in four colors: natural, yellow, gray, and blue. 100% cotton. Made in the USA.
5. Rainy Day Reads Soy Candle
Old Book scented candles are a very popular gift for readers. But librarians have the pleasure of being surrounded by the “old book smell” all day, so when they get home they don’t want to unwind to a candle with the same scent. Luckily Frostbeard Studio has other bookish candle scents to choose from.
This one is Rainy Day Reads, which is meant to smell like–you guessed it–a rainy day, the kind of day where you curl up with a blanket and a cup of tea and read a good book. The scent blend includes fresh Rain, ginger, and lavender. This is perfect after a long day of work to relax and enjoy some pleasure reading.
6. Color and Activity Book for Librarians
This gift is great for librarians who enjoy unwinding with an adult coloring book at the end of a long day in the stacks. Made specifically for anyone who has worked in a library, this is more than just an adult coloring book. It’s filled with fun activities and jokes that any librarian or clerk will appreciate. Coloring in this activity book is a great way to unwind in the evening.
This is a fun gift to include with other more relaxing adult coloring books. Make sure to add some coloring supplies to create a great gift bag.
7. This is How I Roll T-Shirt
There’s a lot of funny librarian t-shirts available, but this one seems to be a big favorite. The shirt says “This is how I roll” with an illustration of a book cart. This a great shirt to wear on the weekends when librarians let loose and show their fun side (just kidding! We know librarians are fun at work too 🙂 )
This is also a great gift for any bookworms who spend a lot of time at the library browsing the stacks.
This shirt is available in men and women’s fit styles and sizes, plus five different color options. 100% cotton.
8. Librarian – The Original Search Engine Mug
Give your librarian friend their dues with this funny mug. Back before we all carried smartphones, people had to go to the library to find the answer to their solutions and quandaries. And usually the first stop was the circulation desk to ask the librarian for help to find the answer. It’s almost like a super power. And even to this day, with Siri ready to attempt to answer your question, there are still librarians waiting to help you find the answer or the perfect book.
Give props to your knowledgeable librarian friend or family member with this awesome mug. Include some of their favorite tea or coffee to make a gift bag they’ll really enjoy.
9. “Talk Dewey to Me” Socks
This gift is practical, fun, and a little bit naughty. These book themed socks say “Talk Dewey to Me” on the sides and feature embroidered Dewey Decimal numbers all over. These socks are comfy and fun, perfect for a day at the library or curled up at home with some good books.
If you’re searching for gifts for librarians, these socks are great for an occasion and make perfect stocking stuffers.
10. Knock Knock Personal Library Kit
Now your favorite librarian can experience the joys of their job at their own home. Harkening back to how libraries worked when there were card catalogs and rubber stamps to mark the due date, this library kit comes with checkout cards, a rubber date stamp and ink pad, as well as one of those tiny pencils we all remember so fondly. There’s even pockets to stick inside the book cover to label with their name.
This gift is perfect for those librarians who are constantly loaning out their own books and need a way to keep track of them.
Still stumped on what to get your librarian friend or family member? Librarians love books, so there’s still plenty more gift ideas. Check out these unique bookmarks for readers or our megalist of gift ideas for readers and book lovers for more ideas.