From Cosmo and Alec to the Tallest Man in the World: Some Fictional Librarians and Their Patrons

The author discusses a number of librarians and their relationships with readers in various works of fiction, from George MacDonaldʹs 1865 Alec Forbes of Howglen to Elizabeth McCrackenʹs 1996 The Giantʹs House. Although fictional librarians can prove vehicles for professional stereotyping, their best characteristics, including a nurturing attitude toward their patrons and a desire to help them explore new worlds, serve as a good standard for librarians even in the digital age. Even fictional librarians who fall short of meeting professional ideals nevertheless perform good and useful services for their clientele.