25 Gifts for Librarians (Out-of-the-Book Ideas)

This Desk Organizer Caddy fits right in with the bibliophile theme of libraries, making it one of the perfect gifts for librarians. It screams thoughtfulness when you present this to your favorite librarian.

This wooden desk organizer resembles ornate hardcover books. Four of the books stand on one horizontally-lying book.

The vertical books form two spacious pen and pencil holders, while the bottom book is a pull-out drawer for other office accessories. It is decorative, functional, and on-brand with a librarian’s career. Plus, it’s perfect on a desk or shelf.

Custom mugs are great gift options for librarians. They allow you to customize whatever message you want to share with your favorite librarian.

You can include appreciative phrases like ‘World’s greatest librarian” to witty remarks such as “being nice to the librarian means the difference between the right answer and the wrong one.” Or, you could go with library-themed images or memes, depending on the librarian’s personality.

You can also customize the mug’s color, material, engraving, and design to suit the librarian you’re gifting.

There is no better gift for a librarian who’s also a book lover than a notebook they can track their read books in. The Reading log is the perfect place for them to track their favorite books, what they thought about them, and the books on their wish list.

In addition to tracking the books they’ve read, gifting this to your favorite librarian allows them to track favorite quotes from each book. The Reading log also comes with a loan record sheet which librarians can use to track all the books they’ve borrowed from the library.

The Librarian Coloring Books is one of the thoughtful gifts for librarians made by librarians. It’s the perfect gift that compiles witty illustrations and phrases that capture what it’s like to work in the library.

These illustrations and phrases make it relatable to the librarians and a great way to distress at work or home. They can take their minds off work while having fun and doing something relaxing.

A custom keychain is the best way to tell your librarian you appreciate them. You can customize the key chain with anything from their name, appreciative phrases, witty remarks about libraries, librarianship, or their favorite books.

You can give a key chain that they’ll remember, and make sure to choose elements that are personal to the receiver. For example, if they are Harry Potter fans, try finding a keychain with a similar theme.

A bookish card deck is one of the best gifts for librarians who are also book lovers. The cards are a fun way for them to choose the books they wish to read in the month. The deck comes with 32 hand-made and laminated cards.

Each card has a prompt that makes selecting the next read exciting. So, if you have a librarian friend falling behind on their to-be-read stack, this card deck can give them something to be excited about as they work through the books on their shelves.

Tote bags always stay in style as gifting items. Customized tote bags that capture the essence of libraries and librarians are perfect gifts for your librarian friends. You can customize them with words and phrases that librarians relate to.

As a gift, these tote bags are perfect as they serve multiple purposes. They can be used for grocery shopping, traveling, carrying books, going to the gym, and other everyday activities.

Sometimes, personalizing a gift based on libraries and books can be too much, even for the most devout librarian. So, instead of buying a library-themed gift, get your librarian a gift card to their favorite store.

That way, you give them the gift of choosing whatever they want without them feeling obligated to accept another librarian coffee mug.

If your librarian wears a lanyard to work, then a leather badge holder can be one of the best gifts you give them. It is a simple yet valuable gift since they will wear it daily while on the job. It keeps their ID clean, safe, and elegant.

Depending on the badge holder you choose, they may have extra room to store their ID cards, driver’s license, and bank cards, so it’s a multifunctional piece you’ll be giving them. When out of work, the badge holder can fit comfortably into their pocket, with or without the straps.

Book wallets resemble classic books. They are a stylish and vintage gift idea for librarians who love classic books like Jane Austen. They are the perfect gift for literary lovers, in sizes small enough to fit inside a pocket or a purse.

Others are big enough to handle a few items, including cards and other necessities. But, their size is not the only attraction. Book wallets made from high-quality materials last long. So, they make a meaningful and long-lasting gift.

Themed coasters are great gift options for librarians. You can choose coasters based on books or library due cards. Select coasters made after vintage books or other elements to which librarians will likely relate.

But you don’t have to restrict yourself to books, bookshelves, or words relating to books and librarians. You can go for themes that the person you’re gifting loves, for example, a star-trek-themed coaster.

A museum pass is a meaningful gift to give to a librarian. It’s a chance for them to explore other interests outside of being a librarian. Plus, it could become one of the best memories that you give them.

If you’re feeling particularly generous, you can give them a full year’s membership in their favorite museum. Museum passes might not be ideal gifts for librarians who don’t love heritage or history. You might want to inquire about the librarian’s interest before sending this gift.

The stacked book tissue holder is a creative gift idea for librarians. It is a book-themed piece featuring three horizontal books made from wood.

It comes with a convenient top that’s easy to remove to refill the tissues. And it is suitable for different settings, including the bathroom, dining table, kitchen, or bedroom.

Today’s librarians spend most of their days operating computers. Whether they are tracking books in the library or preparing the next book reading program, blue light-blocking glasses are one of the thoughtful gifts you’ll give.

These glasses protect librarian eyes from blue light as they work, protecting them from unnecessary strain. So, choose one of the quality pairs to make their jobs easier on their eyes.

Puzzles are great for relaxing and exercising the brain. They make perfect gifts for librarians, whether they love books or not. Some puzzles draw inspiration from popular classic books like Jane Austen’s novels, Charles Dickens, and the legendary Alice in Wonderland.

Most of these puzzles come with hidden components for them to find as they solve the puzzle. If your librarian loves solving puzzles, get one the next time you send them a gift.

Whether it’s for research or fun, librarians are readers. Bookmarks are a practical gift to give them as they can keep track of where they are in the book. And one is never enough, especially when tracking information in more than one book.

When gifting bookmarks, go for those that reflect the personality of the person you’re gifting. You can personalize the message, materials, and ornaments on the bookmark to suit the librarian you’re giving.

You can rarely go wrong when gifting candles. Candles as gifts for librarians can either encompass who that librarian is or their work environment. Some candles are designed to smell like old books, a smell that most librarians associate with the comfort of being around books.

You can also choose candles based on popular authors. Paddy Wax is a great source for author-inspired candles with collections like Charlotte Bronte, Frederick Douglass, William Shakespeare, and John Steinbeck.

After handling countless books all day, the librarian’s hands are bound to become dry. They are also constantly cleaning their hands after handling books which can dry their hands quickly. The situation is worse in winter when the air is drier.

Getting your favorite librarian a moisturizing hand cream is a thoughtful gesture. The librarian will be delighted that someone knows about their constant struggle with dry hands.

Art prints are great for librarians who love art. The best part about art prints is the ability to customize them to the recipient’s personality.

Consider their tastes and favorite art genres and artists when choosing art prints to give. Make sure to frame art prints. You don’t want to give librarians the extra responsibility of buying frames.

You’ll hardly go wrong with jewelry when selecting a gift for a librarian. You can choose from different library-inspired pieces. The most popular librarian jewelry pieces include book earrings, bookshelf earrings, book cufflinks, book necklaces, and librarian bracelets.

When choosing jewelry, check the material and whether the recipient is allergic to the materials used in its fabrication. Choosing something that aligns with the recipient’s personality is also a good idea.

If you’re getting your favorite librarian jewelry as a gift, you may also throw in a book jewelry box. This box’s exterior looks like a book. Some come with secret compartments, which can be a fun way to store jewelry without drawing too much attention to the jewelry box.

You have different options based on the materials (although most are made from wood), finishing, color, and size.

Desk lamps are functional and decorative. They also make for an excellent gift for your librarian friend. When choosing a desk lamp, choose one that’s both decorative and functional. For example, find a lamp with settings to adjust the brightness, as this could be helpful when reading at night.

The card catalog desk organizer is a versatile wooden organizer that makes for a perfect gift for a librarian. This desk organizer has nine drawers that handle items from office stationery to makeup, papers, and other small items likely to crowd a desk.

This vintage organizer is the perfect gift for librarians who want to experience traditional card catalogs. Wooden desk catalogs have a classier feel than plastic ones, providing more privacy for the items they store.

A Kindle book is a considerate gift for librarians, especially school librarians. These librarians provide students with as much information as they need while working around tight budgets that schools deal with.

They are also perfect for librarians who love reading. Their portability and ability to carry multiple books at once make them ideal gifts, as the recipient can read from anywhere without shouldering the burden of extra books. You can take the gift further by including a book or two for the librarian. 

A thank you note is one of the simplest gifts you can give a librarian. Since librarians work to help patrons when they visit the library, a simple thank you note can bring a smile to their faces. If you were particularly impressed by your librarian’s effort, pen a heartfelt thank you note on a card or email.