Begin your story with a librarian searching for something.

Posted in Fiction on Aug 11, 2023

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✍️ 70 stories

“On My Recommendation” by Sydney Crago

Submitted to Contest #211

The phone on the desk rang again. “Annabeth?” Lindsey called over her shoulder, “can you get that?” The phone’s ringer was interrupted mind tone as the library’s assistant lifted the dated receiver from its cradle, stretching the tangled spirals of its cord as she pressed it to the side of her face. Lindsey dragged her finger along the spines of the books marking her progress as she scanned the white, laminated labels for “GRE”. As she did, she heard her associate say, “Yes, we do have a copy, but I’m afraid you are the third person this...

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“As The Sun Went Down” by Elaiza Jane Manansala

Submitted to Contest #211

Dusty books, the smell of wood. I've been circling around on these shelves for hours, looking for something that I can't point out. In this peaceful small old library, with a few usual students coming over, they know me as the weirdo librarian. No. It's not about the way I look or dress, it's simply because of this habit of mine roaming around the library and tapping my index finger on the edge of each book on the shelves. I know it's a little bit weird but, I just feel like doing it. Seems like something in one of these books is pulling m...

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“Of Tinkers and Treachery” by April Pereira

Submitted to Contest #211

Laucian scanned the library shelves looking for the information requested. The young gnome’s maroon vest indicated his affiliation with the Academy, the guild for magic users and tinkerers. The black and yellow sash at his waist denoted him as apprentice, archivist class. He was currently doing a rotation with the Cataloguer, director of the library for the Scholars Guild. It was his first week and the Cataloguer had given him the difficult task of finding everything available on ways to delay spell casting and the various major and lesser H...

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“Covered in dust” by Brandon Vaughn

Submitted to Contest #211

Marceline had started her day off right. There was the smell of chai in the air, her lucky boots were still in one piece, and it was cleaning day in the library she worked for. The Library of the afterlife was typically messy, and messy meant dusty and rarely used. The only messes in this library were from Marceline herself and the occasional soul that wanted to pass time before moving on. There hadn't even been a demon in here since she could ever remember. Today was quiet, not a soul stirred in her space. So, she dusted. Hours...

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“The Library of Meadow Sea” by Darius Vinesar

Submitted to Contest #211

After days of traveling through the endless grass and flowers of the Meadow Sea, the two travelers finally arrived at their destination: the Library of All Things. The brothers had spotted it a few days ago, and from a dark smudge on the horizon it had grown into the gigantic structure that stood before them now. The Library seemed to stretch now to the sky and beyond, its very towers raking the drifting clouds. To the boys’ eyes, it looked like mountain, shaped into being by the very gods themselves. The oracle had told them the Libr...

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“Uncanny Adventures” by Jermaine Packer

Submitted to Contest #211

“Have you seen the librarian?” Isaiah asked a fellow visitor in the library. After a brief inspection, the other guest shook his head indicating he agreed that the librarian was M.I.A. That was until a blur was seen running across the back of the library. “Wait, I think I see her,” Isaiah said as he started his way toward the anomaly. “Excuse me, are you the librarian?” he asks to the lady standing in the corner. She turns and flashes Isaiah a brilliant smile. “Why yes I am. You can call me Ana. How are you today?” “I’m great. I was wonderin...

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“The diary” by Emma Tomova

Submitted to Contest #211

It was the middle of April. The city was colorful, blooming flowers around every corner. There was a calm breeze, hinting that summer was coming. Cheerful laughter and exciting conversations filled the city. Normally it was Fredrick’s favorite time of year but unfortunately he hadn’t seen much of it. For about two weeks now he’d been stuck inside his library searching for something, he didn’t quite know what himself. People were coming and going, buying books, chatting about the beautiful weather, encouraging Fr...

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“Oh Brigita” by Irene Cornwell

Submitted to Contest #211

This story contains sadness. Oh, Brigita. It has been a mere week and two days since you died. My daughter-in-law from heaven has actually gone to heaven. How I wish I could tell you our son Tim and I are talking everyday. As you would know, Tim is actually quite a silent soul. You, dear heart were the gatekeeper. You were the one with e-mail and face book posts and telephone calling. He needs to talk and I think it is very healthy. He is sharing every moment of these past three months. You didn't want to leave him or Jacob or Nora. He says ...

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“The King's Library” by Jay DeBurgh

Submitted to Contest #211

When I was a teenager studying for my A-levels, I went to my favourite library. It was known as Charlton House library and loomed in a grand way at the end of the village. With elegant wrought-iron black gates, through which I imagined a large carriage and its occupant, a powdered nose looked out at the peasants scything the lawns. Looking up close to the carved masonry and stained glass windows, it was clear to me that it was something special before it was an ordinary village library, tea rooms and meeting rooms. During the years of livi...

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“Childhood Memories, Grownup Dreams” by Revay Michael

Submitted to Contest #211

My eyes filled with tears and worry while I desperately retraced my steps in the last hour. I wished so badly that the library was empty or that I could just be left alone, undisturbed for the next half hour."Do you have a pen I can borrow?"My worried thoughts were interrupted by a freckled face teen. I patiently stopped my search and handed a pen with care and consideration to her and then walked away briskly to continue my search. My heart flooded with pain and anguish, my mind was already trying to figure out how I would or could move for...

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“The Little Man. ” by North Sitters

Submitted to Contest #211

Disclaimer: This story contains implications of suicide, PTSD and death. Please take this story seriously, it is based on true events. The shelves of books had toppled over and the books themselves were hugged tightly with debris. The lingering scent of charred smoke tingled in his nostrils, and the black charcoal remnants of the last hour covered the poor, skinny man head to toe. His rosy cheeks stained a dark and gloomy gray, and his frail hands shook uncontrollably as the little man stood in what was left of his small library. Con...

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“THOSE HIEROGLYPHICS” by Mara Masolini

Submitted to Contest #211

THOSE HIEROGLYPHICS Nothing, it wasn’t there. That page or sheet on which signs that looked like hieroglyphs were traced had disappeared. He had caught a glimpse of it when he was absentmindedly leafing through Lucretius’” De rerum nature”. Just at that moment, his colleague Greta had called him for an emergency. David had left the book on the table and when had returned the book was no longer there. He had looked for it on the shelves, had found it, and had started searching frantically for that sheet ( with hieroglyphic...

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“Jessica the Librarian” by Ralph Emery Barhydt

Submitted to Contest #211

Jessica the Librarian By Ralph Barhydt Jessica was such a beautiful, warm, well-meaning young woman. If I had been a lot younger and if she weren’t engaged, I might have asked her out. What I did ask her to do is find this ancient text of witchcraft that focused on spells. I had solid evidence that it was resting in this particular library. Of course, with a book like this there is always talk that “oh, ooh, ah, the book is alive.” Right. Makes it a lot more interesting. “Jessica, I am looking for an old book, maybe ancient actually, ...

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“An Eyre of Mischief” by J Hublick

Submitted to Contest #211

A spider walked on spindly legs toward a filthy corner underneath the desk of Marsha M. Willard. Marsha watched it as she pressed her cheek hard against the cold floor and felt her body respond with fresh goosebumps. There was an alarming amount of dust and she made a mental note to do a thorough and rigorous sweep first thing tomorrow. She sighed. Other than her eight-legged squatter, there was nothing else under there. She pushed herself up to a cross-legged seat and thought of where else she could look. Circulation desk, card cata...

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“Inspiration's Tome” by Veritas E.

Submitted to Contest #211

A thin haze of dust sent golden sunbeams dappling the walls as Ashton riffed through the worn wooden shelves of the castle library. Wordlessly he ran a hand across leather spines, savoring the soft texture beneath his fingers. A musty smell lingered in the air – the telltale scent of old books waiting to be cracked open and discovered. From the very first time he stepped into this vast library ten years ago, this smell had always been there to greet him. It was like an old friend – always welcoming, always patient, always kind. When Ashton...

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Begin your story with a librarian searching for something.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 70 stories

“On My Recommendation” by Sydney Crago

“As The Sun Went Down” by Elaiza Jane Manansala

“Of Tinkers and Treachery” by April Pereira

“Covered in dust” by Brandon Vaughn

“The Library of Meadow Sea” by Darius Vinesar

“Uncanny Adventures” by Jermaine Packer

“The diary” by Emma Tomova

“Oh Brigita” by Irene Cornwell

“The King's Library” by Jay DeBurgh

“Childhood Memories, Grownup Dreams” by Revay Michael

“The Little Man. ” by North Sitters

“THOSE HIEROGLYPHICS” by Mara Masolini

“Jessica the Librarian” by Ralph Emery Barhydt

“An Eyre of Mischief” by J Hublick

“Inspiration's Tome” by Veritas E.

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story starring an octogenarian who’s more than meets the eye.

Write a story involving a friendship with an adorable animal.

Set or begin your story in a room lit by the flickering flames of the fireplace.

End your story with two characters reconciling.

Contest #211

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

304

Contest entries

107

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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