ABSTRACT
The author discusses a number of librarians and their relationships with readers in various works of fiction, from George MacDonald’s 1865 Alec Forbes of Howglen to Elizabeth McCracken’s 1996 The Giant’s House. Although fictional librarians can prove vehicles for professional stereotyping, their best characteristics, including a nurturing attitude toward their patrons and a desire to help them explore new worlds, serve as a good standard for librarians even in the digital age. Even fictional librarians who fall short of meeting professional ideals nevertheless perform good and useful services for their clientele [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: <getinfo@haworthpressinc.com> Website: <https://www.haworthpressinc.com>]
