Fictional Librarians

While perhaps not as popular as some occupations (medical, legal, law enforcement), librarians have been known to pop up here-and-there on television, in books, in movies, and (wait for it) even books. And even though all don't necessarily feature the stereotypical look (I do have glasses, but almost never wear my hair in a bun), most are generally intellectual, with a unique sense of style. Do you have a particular favorite? Several of the notable:


Barbara Gordon, Batgirl
First introduced by DC Comics in 1967 as a female counterpart to Batman. Busy tackling reference tasks by day, fighting crime by night! Arguably the first true librarian-as-superhero.


Eveylyn Carnahan O'Connell, The Mummy
1999 Hollywood film that produced several sequels and spinoffs. Who can forget her classic line to husband Rick (Brendan Fraser), "Look, I may not be an explorer, or an adventurer, or a treasure seeker, or a gunfighter, Mr. O'Connell, but I am proud of what I am. A librarian."

Flynn Carsen, The Librarian

Character appeared in the 2004 television film The Librarian: Quest for the Spear. Two subsequent films followed, in addition to a long-running tv series (2014-2018). True to many studying the library sciences, Carsen holds 23 academic degrees.


Henry DeTamble, The Time Traveler's Wife
Novel published in 2003 by author Audrey Niffenegger. DeTamble is a librarian at the Newberry Library in Chicago. A rare genetic disorder causes him to involuntarily travel through time.

Madam Irma Pince, Harry Potter
First mentioned in the Philosopher's Stone (1997). JK Rowling, speaking about the irritable Madam Pince, "I would like to apologize for your and other librarians present here today and my get-out clause is always if they'd had a pleasant, helpful librarian, half my plots would be gone. 'Cause the answer invariably is in a book but Hermione has to go and find it. If they'd had a good librarian, that would have been that problem solved. So...sorry."


Rupert Giles, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series (1997-2003). Served as mentor and father figure to Buffy Summers. Occult expert of the Scooby Gang, librarian. Rupert's story is continued in the comic book Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight (2007-2011).


Tammy Swanson, Parks and Recreation
Deputy Director of Library Services in Pawnee, Indiana. Ruthless manipulative, and conniving, Tammy II battles wits with ex-husband Ron throughout the seven-season (2009-2015) television comedic run. Trivia note: According to her library card, her full name is Tammy Swanson Swanson. This is because Tammy and Ron married twice.