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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#142: Librarian Love

April 16th is National Librarian Day in the US! You may know your local librarian as the person who helps you find your next great read, but librarians accomplish a lot that we may never notice — acquiring new books, helping patrons conduct research, and working with schools or other community groups.

Ultimately, a librarian’s main job is to continue democratizing information so everyone can have access to whatever it is they want to learn. Pretty cool!

We believe librarians are massively important public servants in any thriving community, so to celebrate them we’re inviting you to write a story based on one of these five prompts:

🥇 Winner

“What You Can Do With Your Book” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

You present me with a gift bag as if legions of angels will descend, trumpeting your thoughtfulness in remembering my [insert celebratory event here]. I’m gracious, of course. You shouldn’t have!And I mean that. You shouldn’t have. Because now you are stepping over the line. We are simply:co-workers mothers with children at the same school neighbors with dogs old-friends-from-college, or spouses-of-old-friends-from-colle...

272 comments 272 WINNER 🏆

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⭐️ Shortlisted

“Looking for Mr. Darcy” by Kevin B

Every Sunday, I’m allowed to read a chapter from Jane Eyre.That’s a special treat for me since every other day it’s another Jane that commandeers the hour. My mother has good days and bad days. She has days where she can’t recognize me and days where she can’t recognize herself. Her life exists in that spot at the tip of your tongue where words and phrases go missing. Her life is made up of sterile smells and muted colors. She’s placed everyday in a chair facing a window that looks out on a man-made lake surroun...

59 comments 59 SHORTLIST ⭐️

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“A Place In This World ” by Reina Johnson

You frown at the syrupy stickiness of the menu. Hours of trying to unravel the mystery behind serpentine streets led to dead ends, graffiti covered walls, and a diner with initials etched into the vinyl booths. The glass of water given to us by an equally exhausted server sloshes onto the table, and you use your sleeve to wipe the plastic. Mine has a lipstick stain on it. I ignore it. We’ve spent hours not speaki...

16 comments 16 SHORTLIST ⭐️

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“The Harpy Librarian” by Malik White

Sylise was one of Grand Isle Library’s most beloved and committed librarians. Born of harpy descent, her scaled hands and taloned feet made her stand out from her peers. The brown feathered wings that sprouted from her back made traversal around the grand library easy, especially when she needed to grab a book on the top shelf. Be it human or elf, thief or hero, she gave everyone a chance to take out her books, on the o...

21 comments 21 SHORTLIST ⭐️

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This week's prompts

Start your story with someone being given a book recommendation.

Middle School – 34 stories

Write a story about a librarian that doesn’t fit into the common librarian stereotypes.

Fiction – 64 stories

Write about a character on the hunt to solve a mystery who uses their local library (or librarian) as a source of information.

Thriller and Suspense – 27 stories

Write a story that includes one character reading aloud to another.

Dialogue – 32 stories

Write about somebody who likes to work in silence.

Dialogue – 26 stories

Stories

“What You Can Do With Your Book” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

You present me with a gift bag as if legions of angels will descend, trumpeting your thoughtfulness in remembering my [insert celebratory event here]. I’m gracious, of course. You shouldn’t have!And I mean that. You shouldn’t have. Because now you are stepping over the line. We are simply:co-workers mothers with children at the same school neighbors with dogs old-friends-from-college, or spouses-of-old-friends-from-colle...

272 comments 272 WINNER 🏆

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“Scarlet Fog” by Alex Sultan

At dawn, the fog would dissipate, and Lyrei would breathe easy. Until then, she wouldn’t risk slowing down. She tightened her grip around the handles of her glass daggers. Her leather boots pushed into the dirt with each running step. Dashing across the forest, she slid to a stop, then ran uphill. The scarlet archers taking position would turn the tides if ignored. “Spare no malice,” a nearby captain called over the clashing of weaponry. He beat the end of his spear against his shield. “And spare no mercy!” Soldiers cheered ...

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“Heroin: No Postcards From Portugal” by Stevie B

Heroin: No Postcards From Portugal“You may like reading, The Freaky Fungal Family Tree,” I told one of the two waitresses attending my table who’d noticed I was reading, and then had asked for book recommendations on that sun-splashed afternoon. That’s the explanation any of us three shared when strangers encountered us thereafter and inquired how we’d first met. After all, and because of our age differences, we wer...

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“Jack the Ripper” by Kathleen Fine

“What can I help you with?” Jack asked the middle-aged woman standing in front of him at the information desk. He was always happy to help. The woman’s wiry, grey streaked hair looked like it hadn’t been brushed in days. Jack rubbed his hand over his bald as he looked down at the woman, glad for once that he didn’t have to worry about hair care.“My book is missing the last page,” she said urgently, pushing a copy of The Help towards Jack as if it were diseased.Jack frowned and put on his glasses. “Missing...

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“The Living Library” by Howard Halsall

Despite our best efforts, Emily and I were no nearer starting a family or finding a replacement to manage the Library. She was eager for stability, and my unwillingness to commit and guarantee a departure date was a source of contention. Emily refused to believe that I couldn’t just serve my notice and leave.‘It’s not like you’re saving lives, Jim,’ she’d say. ‘You’re a librarian, for God’s sake.’#I’d accepted the post a year before meeting Emily and adored my work. The first time she appeared, I recall being on the g...

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“Looking for Mr. Darcy” by Kevin B

Every Sunday, I’m allowed to read a chapter from Jane Eyre.That’s a special treat for me since every other day it’s another Jane that commandeers the hour. My mother has good days and bad days. She has days where she can’t recognize me and days where she can’t recognize herself. Her life exists in that spot at the tip of your tongue where words and phrases go missing. Her life is made up of sterile smells and muted colors. She’s placed everyday in a chair facing a window that looks out on a man-made lake surroun...

59 comments 59 SHORTLIST ⭐️

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“Our Sweet, Happy Beginning” by Riel Rosehill

A book was screaming as I locked up the library.I could hear it as I turned the key in the door and switched off the lights. Dust danced, swirling in the rays of the setting sun shining through the gaps left between the curtains as I closed them, like fairy dust, mixing with the sweet scent of old books lingering in the air. The promise of happy endings, stacked high on dark wooden shelves towering to the ceiling, at heights way out of reach.I adored the blissful tranquillity of the evenings, these quiet moments among the st...

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“Jakob and Leena” by Thom Brodkin

“Jakob?”“Yes, Leena.”“Did you get the newspaper? It should be here by now.”“Not today, my love. You were so tired.”“I’m never too tired to read to you.”In sixty years, Jakob had never won an argument with his wife, and he was sure he wasn’t going to win this one either. He went to the front door, opened it, and picked up the daily newspaper from the mat.A generation prior, Jakob’s and Leena’s parents came from Uglich, a small town i...

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“Library of Lives” by Katharine Widdows

“Collecting for the library! Collecting for the library!” shouted Gretham as the shire horses rounded the corner into the biggest slum in Pannegul. “Come on, don’t be shy, any story or talent accepted. Collecting for the library! Human books wanted!”Gretham lifted his scarf over his mouth and nose, but rotting market vegetables and rancid animal dung seeped through the fabric. His ears were assaulted by the chatter, the dogs barking, the slopping mud and the clanging of makeshift, metal doors.A small bo...

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“A Place In This World ” by Reina Johnson

You frown at the syrupy stickiness of the menu. Hours of trying to unravel the mystery behind serpentine streets led to dead ends, graffiti covered walls, and a diner with initials etched into the vinyl booths. The glass of water given to us by an equally exhausted server sloshes onto the table, and you use your sleeve to wipe the plastic. Mine has a lipstick stain on it. I ignore it. We’ve spent hours not speaki...

16 comments 16 SHORTLIST ⭐️

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“Friendly Advice” by Zack Powell

Content warning: Mentions of miscarriage"You should read The Light Between Oceans," someone will tell you, six months after you miscarry. They won't know what you know now, the myriad ways your own minefield of a body can betray you. You'll stand by the stove preparing dinner, the landline cradled between your shoulder and ear, and feel the steam from the boiling water scald your face. You'll watch the bubbles rise from the bottom to kiss the surface while your friend goes into detail about the novel....

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“Robbed by Cats” by Graham Kinross

TW: Swearing... Shawn couldn’t believe it when he was robbed by a gang of cats. At first they were just six adorable fluffballs who came to see him from the gaps between the houses on his way home. Then they spoke. “What’s in the bag buddy?” The voice seemed to come from within Shawn’s head. He looked around. “Down here, whiskers and the black eyebr...

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“Whispers in the dark ” by Holly Guy

Yes, it’s true that I have done bad things. Awful things. But can you really blame me? My illness had spread through my limbs like water off a cliff, penetrating each and every nerve, clipping them so I felt nothing. Even now, I feel nothing. I had heard the voice of God and it was sweet! In my dream, he called out to me, opening those warm embracing arms for his child to come to him. I obeyed his call l...

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“The Harpy Librarian” by Malik White

Sylise was one of Grand Isle Library’s most beloved and committed librarians. Born of harpy descent, her scaled hands and taloned feet made her stand out from her peers. The brown feathered wings that sprouted from her back made traversal around the grand library easy, especially when she needed to grab a book on the top shelf. Be it human or elf, thief or hero, she gave everyone a chance to take out her books, on the o...

21 comments 21 SHORTLIST ⭐️

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“The Dartist” by Sharon Hancock

Warning: Some reference to mental health, and of course, Violence and gore.***** She adjusted her eye patch and focused her one, good eye on the infinite potential of the blank canvas. Tongue between lips, she paced on silent socked feet …turning, visualizing, imagining. She felt the hum of inspiration that sprouted in the back of her mind; growing and blossoming as it crept forward in her consciousness. Tapping the end of the paintbrush on her lips, she cocked her head and narrowed her eye. On her next inha...

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$250

Prize money

183

Contest entries

129

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 22, 2022 EST

Won by Deidra Whitt Lovegren 🏆

Title: What You Can Do With Your Book

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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