What gift can I get for my wife to celebrate her new job as a librarian?
January 29, 2020 2:43 AM Subscribe
My wife recently began a job as a librarian at an elementary school in our area. She graduated with a Masters in Library Science about 10 years ago and this is the first job as a librarian that she's been able to land, mostly because jobs have been really hard to find in our area. She absolutely loves her job and I've never seen her happier. I want to get her some kind of librarian-related gift to celebrate, but I have no idea what to get her. Does anyone have any ideas?
If you have not already, reading Orleans’ The Library Book might be a great way to fully appreciate her transition if the switch is very different from your frame of reference. It’s a love letter to libraries, including how they are migrating to the digital age. It could be a good shared listen and conversation starter on a road trip or while doing a quieter project like painting a room.
posted by childofTethys at 4:14 AM on January 29, 2020
posted by childofTethys at 4:14 AM on January 29, 2020
When I was in elementary school, the librarian's husband built a reading nook in the library, and we painted it.
There is probably something specific she wants that her school can't/won't pay for.
posted by Former Congressional Representative Lenny Lemming at 4:47 AM on January 29, 2020 [9 favorites]
There is probably something specific she wants that her school can't/won't pay for.
posted by Former Congressional Representative Lenny Lemming at 4:47 AM on January 29, 2020 [9 favorites]
This is an absolutely adorable question and I love it. I'll give a couple of answers.
First, when I got my first library job, my wife and daughter got me some variant of this t-shirt, which I love.
Second, I suspect a school librarian will have to wear some sort of lanyard with an ID badge, and many of the librarians I work with enjoy decorating their lanyard with enamel pins. There are a bunch of book-related ones for sale on the website I linked above, or there are millions of other options all over the internet.
More practically, Rep. Lemming above has the best answer in that I'm sure there is something her library could use, even if it is just a few extra bucks added to their collections budget. Does she have a supervisor or coworker that you could slyly get in touch with to see how best to manage that sort of gift?
posted by Rock Steady at 5:47 AM on January 29, 2020 [2 favorites]
First, when I got my first library job, my wife and daughter got me some variant of this t-shirt, which I love.
Second, I suspect a school librarian will have to wear some sort of lanyard with an ID badge, and many of the librarians I work with enjoy decorating their lanyard with enamel pins. There are a bunch of book-related ones for sale on the website I linked above, or there are millions of other options all over the internet.
More practically, Rep. Lemming above has the best answer in that I'm sure there is something her library could use, even if it is just a few extra bucks added to their collections budget. Does she have a supervisor or coworker that you could slyly get in touch with to see how best to manage that sort of gift?
posted by Rock Steady at 5:47 AM on January 29, 2020 [2 favorites]
I’m a librarian and, although I don’t work with the public, I love the posters and bookmarks at the American Library Association’s store. They also have continuing education books on myriad flavors of librarianship and resources to help her with program activities, readers’ advisory, and collection management. Since school budgets are tight and these resources can be expensive, she may not have many available and they could very well be outdated.
posted by bulclippr at 6:17 AM on January 29, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by bulclippr at 6:17 AM on January 29, 2020 [5 favorites]
Inspired by the book necklace idea above, I love antique chatelaine notebooks- tiny usable silver notebooks that can hang as pendants. Not specifically about a library, but a beautiful memento. Also fairly expensive, though.
posted by pinochiette at 6:45 AM on January 29, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by pinochiette at 6:45 AM on January 29, 2020 [3 favorites]
On the light side, the webcomics Unshelved and Library Comic have some fun schwag, like card catalog USB sticks, Pokeman parody gotta read 'em all shirt, bookdrop and card catalog lego, and enamel pins with book trucks and other library delights.
Also: the anarchist librarian (first A is the anarchy symbol) from the librarian rap battle from the webcomic Little Dee.
posted by carrioncomfort at 6:48 AM on January 29, 2020 [1 favorite]
Also: the anarchist librarian (first A is the anarchy symbol) from the librarian rap battle from the webcomic Little Dee.
posted by carrioncomfort at 6:48 AM on January 29, 2020 [1 favorite]
Definately check Etsy. The crafters there can create beautiful art for her desk. Like a picture frame or planter with her name, a cartoon and librarian on it
posted by Coffeetyme at 7:06 AM on January 29, 2020
posted by Coffeetyme at 7:06 AM on January 29, 2020
Are you sure she’ll want a librarian-related gift? Anyway, I’d suggest a really nice mug, maybe with a kid, and a nice water bottle she can keep at work. With a book theme. Practical and cute.
posted by bluedaisy at 7:29 AM on January 29, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by bluedaisy at 7:29 AM on January 29, 2020 [1 favorite]
Here are some great ideas.
Just saw this comic about libraries and librarians on Instagram yesterday; thought you (and her) might like it!
posted by foxjacket at 7:50 AM on January 29, 2020 [1 favorite]
Just saw this comic about libraries and librarians on Instagram yesterday; thought you (and her) might like it!
posted by foxjacket at 7:50 AM on January 29, 2020 [1 favorite]
The BL sells nice bound notebooks with the quote from Einstein embossed “The only thing you absolutely have to know is the location of the library”. Perhaps you can find an equivalent somewhere closer than London.
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 9:10 AM on January 29, 2020
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 9:10 AM on January 29, 2020
I'm a librarian and I get a lot of joy from a few gifts I've gotten: these librarian pins and these librarian socks.
posted by jessamyn at 9:37 AM on January 29, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by jessamyn at 9:37 AM on January 29, 2020 [2 favorites]
I’d suggest a really nice mug, maybe with a kid
With... a lid. Not a kid.
posted by bluedaisy at 9:53 AM on January 29, 2020 [8 favorites]
With... a lid. Not a kid.
posted by bluedaisy at 9:53 AM on January 29, 2020 [8 favorites]
Litographs sells t-shirts (and scarves, and tote bags) printed with the full text of various books.
posted by toastedcheese at 10:07 AM on January 29, 2020
posted by toastedcheese at 10:07 AM on January 29, 2020
Would she like skirts or dresses with booksy prints?
posted by Drosera at 12:37 PM on January 29, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Drosera at 12:37 PM on January 29, 2020 [1 favorite]
I am an elementary school librarian and I love all things library related. Svaha clothing company has many pieces in a Dewey Decimal print. They also have bookshelf dresses- kids get a kick out of librarians dressing like their job. On Etsy their are also great book earrings- this artist has Captain Underpants ones. NYPL has a great gift shop online too.
posted by momochan at 2:39 PM on January 29, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by momochan at 2:39 PM on January 29, 2020 [2 favorites]
Is she a Parks and Rec fan? Etsy has a number of "punk ass book jockey" items (example).
If you want to go bigger, it's worth checking your local craigslist for an antique library drawer set (such as this).
posted by veery at 7:08 PM on January 29, 2020
If you want to go bigger, it's worth checking your local craigslist for an antique library drawer set (such as this).
posted by veery at 7:08 PM on January 29, 2020
Pashmina scarves printed to look like a library due date slip, linked here in 2 different fabric weights, each with a variety of color options.
posted by vytae at 7:30 PM on January 29, 2020
posted by vytae at 7:30 PM on January 29, 2020
When my wife graduated with her MLS degree, my dad got her Patience and Fortitude bookends. Awesome.
posted by intermod at 8:40 PM on January 30, 2020
posted by intermod at 8:40 PM on January 30, 2020
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posted by gt2 at 3:12 AM on January 29, 2020