A Kids' Guide to Libraries, Book Curation, Information Science, and the Resourceful Guides Who Help Us Find Stories, Answers, and Adventures on Every Shelf

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Cover of So You Want To Be A Librarian

About So You Want To Be A Librarian

WINNER of the Literary Titan Gold Book Award From the award-winning So You Want To Be A… Series GRAND PRIZE — 2026 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards SILVER AWARD — 2026 CIPA EVVY Book Awards, Children's Nonfiction What does it really take to be a librarian — and could it be you? Say the word "librarian" and most people picture someone stern, whispering "shhh" at anyone who dares to giggle. It's a funny picture, and it's completely wrong. So You Want To Be A Librarian opens the door to one of the most surprising and deeply human careers in the world, and invites curious kids to imagine themselves inside it. Written for readers ages 10 to 14 and a treasured read-aloud for younger children, this warm, beautifully illustrated nonfiction book is part of the acclaimed So You Want To Be A... series of career-exploration books for kids. It takes young readers seriously, trusting them with the real texture of a working life: the wonder, the hard parts, and the moments of surprise that make a calling worth pursuing. Inside, kids discover that a librarian does far more than shelve books. They connect one person to exactly what they need, organize all of human knowledge so any stranger can find it, and teach a skill more valuable every year: how to tell a trustworthy fact from a convincing fake. Readers explore where librarians actually work, from sunlit children's rooms and hushed archives to bookmobiles, hospitals, and the digital systems that answer millions of questions a day. They meet the values that hold the whole profession together, including open access, reader privacy, and the freedom to read. Along the way, young readers meet remarkable librarians from history, from Pura Belpré and S. R. Ranganathan to the fearless Pack Horse Librarians who carried books on horseback into the Kentucky mountains. Fun facts, a glossary of library words, an author's note, and a rich guide to books, websites, and activities round out a volume built to be grown into rather than out of. A perfect gift for book-loving kids, reluctant readers, homeschool and classroom shelves, and any child who loves books and people in equal measure, So You Want To Be A Librarian is an invitation to picture a future spent keeping knowledge free and within everyone's reach.

ISBN (print): 979-8-951756-02-2 / Published: 2026-7-21

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About Linda Soules

Linda Soules
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Linda Soules is the author and creator of the So You Want To Be A... series, a growing collection of career-exploration books for readers ages 10–14 (and beyond!). The series is envisioned to span more than 180 titles in total, with over 60 published to date and new releases on a steady cadence — covering everything from astronauts and marine biologists to magicians, stunt performers, and roller coaster designers. Her philosophy is straightforward: never talk down to kids. Young readers are smarter, more curious, and more capable than the publishing world often gives them credit for, and they deserve books that respect their intelligence while genuinely sparking their enthusiasm. Each title is written to pull back the curtain on a real career — its joys, its challenges, the path to get there — and to leave readers with the sense that the world is wider, more interesting, and more reachable than they imagined. Before turning to children's publishing, Linda spent 25 years in law and finance, advising hedge funds and sophisticated financial institutions on legal and regulatory matters — a career that taught her precision, discipline, and how to translate intricate subjects into language anyone can use. She brings that same clarity and care to every book she writes, paired with a deep belief that curiosity is the engine of a meaningful life. Linda lives in Seattle with her husband and two children, where the steady rhythm of family life, the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and the questions her own kids ask every day continue to fuel her work.

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