William the Librarian

@williamottens

Librarian in the Kansas City area. Creator of librarianproblems.com. Author of LIBRARIAN TALES. Lover of all things cats and books. He/him. williamthelibrarian.com 🏳️‍🌈📚😺

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William the Librarian@williamottens· 16d

Happy National Book Lovers Day from your average book loving librarian! How appropriate that I get to spend it working at the library.

A selfie of me in front of a shelf of library books. I’m wearing a maroon polo and a tan hat.

Me standing and looking at a book in an isle of library stacks.

My hand holding up a copy of my book Librarian Tales in front of a shelf of library books.

William the Librarian@williamottens· 20d

Did I just add my own book to the Book Lovers Day display at my library? 🤔 Why, yes. Yes I did. 😂

A library end cap display with books about books and libraries.

William the Librarian@williamottens· 21d

6 summers in Kansas City = 6 @kclibrary.bsky.social Summer Reading pint glasses!

A bookshelf with 6 pint glasses in front of a row of books. Each has different summer reading artwork on it. The one on the right says “Read Score Roar!”

William the Librarian@williamottens· Jul 12

Lizard Under the Skillet done! Longest bike ride @natechamberlain.com and I have done so far — 31 miles south of Lawrence.

A selfie of me (on the left) and Nate in bike helmets in front of SAG stop tents.

A screen shot of a green map with a bike route marked on it.

A selfie of me (on the left) and Nate in bike helmets in front of SAG stop tents. I’m eating a piece of watermelon.

William the Librarian@williamottens· Jun 28

Bought an art print at Pride in the Park that reminded me of my cat Baxter, and I’m pretty sure this queen LOVES it

My hand holding a framed art print of a black and white tuxedo cat with its eyes closed and a lit cigarette in its paw in front of a yellow and orange background. Baxter, a real tuxedo cat, is rubbing his face on the frame.

William the Librarian@williamottens· Jun 11

Paige Turner is back and she says, “Have you signed up for Summer Reading yet?”

A mannequin wearing a green headband with plants and dinosaurs on it, glasses, a purple t-shirt, and skirt with a map print on it. She has curly hair made out of paper, and a green crossbody bag over her shoulder.

William the Librarian@williamottens· Jun 10

Today in other duties as assigned: putting together the new body for our library mascot, Paige Turner

A library office desk with a partially constructed bust of mannequin on the desktop. Its legs are leaning against the side of the desk.

William the Librarian@williamottens· Jun 9

Celebrating 14 years with @natechamberlain.com today! We got married in a park in Des Moines because Iowa was the nearest state where it was legal back then, and ever since, he’s been my best friend, my biggest supporter, and the best human being I could have chosen to spend my life with 😊❤️🌈

Me and Nate standing at a microphone. We’re wearing white button up shirts, ties, and green boutonnières. I’m reading my vows from a piece of paper.

Me and Nate cutting into a large sheet cake with one knife.

Me and Nate hugging and facing away from the camera toward a wooded backdrop. A string of green and brown balloons floats to the right of us.

William the Librarian@williamottens· Jun 7

Ran the Great Ferry Race with @natechamberlain.com this morning. It was a hilly, forested beast and we both were near last of our age groups, but we did it!

Me and Nate taking a selfie in front of a crowd gathered in the car deck of a ferry. I’m wearing a blue shirt with a white hat, and Nate is wearing a black tank top and a colorful headband.

A crowd of people waiting to run off the car deck of a ferry

My hand holding a blue “Great Ferry Race” medal in front of a window overlooking a ferry dock.

William the Librarian@williamottens· Jun 3

Over here getting teary eyed about the loss of a baboon at the Kansas City Zoo. 😭 As a docent, I interpret at the baboon habitat. I loved telling guests her name, because they’d chuckle, and some kids would say, “Like @msrachelforlittles.bsky.social!” I’ll miss that sweet creature.

A screenshot of a Facebook post about Rachel the baboon at the Kansas City Zoo. Post reads,

“The Zoo is mourning the loss of Rachel, a Guinea baboon, that recently passed away at the age of 24. Rachel had been treated for age-related issues, but the difficult decision was made to euthanize Rachel upon finding irreversible degenerative changes to her hips.

Rachel was born in 2002 at the Paris Zoological Park, then resided at the Indianapolis Zoo before arriving at the KCZoo in 2019 where she loved to spend her days digging bugs and roots in her habitat. When she wasn't busy digging, Rachel could often be seen sitting with her full body facing the sun, eyes closed, soaking up all the sunshine she could. Her care team says she was very intelligent and enjoyed training, and that she’ll be remembered fondly for the snorting noises she would make when receiving tasty treats and enrichment.

Our staff will miss Rachel dearly, and the troop is adapting to life without this beloved baboon.

Photos by animal care manager Jenna and advanced animal care specialist Heather”

William the Librarian@williamottens· May 31

The new Giraffe Crossing at the @kansascityzoo.bsky.social is now open, and it’s awesome! @natechamberlain.com and I were excited to see it, and our plaque honoring our donation to the project. #KansasCity

A view of the Giraffe Crossing. In the foreground is a green sign that reads Giraffe Plaza.” In the background is a patio with picnic tables and covered overlook with a sign that reads “Giraffe Overlook”

A view of the Giraffe Crossing barn next to a sky safari lift.

Three giraffes behind a rock wall and fence. Two tall ones are reaching their mouths toward green leaves in the trees, and a shorter one is bending its neck to eat from a bush.

William the Librarian@williamottens· May 28

Eisley’s ready for his Swedish purr-sage

A orange and white tabby cat lying on his back half covered by a pink lavender colored blanket, his paws are curled

William the Librarian@williamottens· May 27

The retired children’s librarian who still comes the library regularly saw a photo of my cat Baxter in my office and said it inspired her to make and give me this quilt…for Baxter 😂😭

A black and white block quilt with a red border on one side and a tiled black and cat drawing on the other.

Baxter, a black and white tuxedo cat sitting on an orange poof. He’s looking up at the camera.

William the Librarian@williamottens· May 16

It’s a beautiful morning for a run in #KansasCity. Ready to conquer the hill with @natechamberlain.com!

William and Nate pose for a selfie in front of a crowd gathered in downtown Kansas City

A crowd gathered near the start line for a run in downtown Kansas City

William the Librarian@williamottens· May 10

I'm excited to share that @natechamberlain.com and I are All-Stars! We're raising funds for @kcstarlight.bsky.social's paid arts internships for Kansas City's next generation of creatives, techies, designers, and theatre‑makers. And we'd love your help! 🔗 secure.givelively.org/donate/starl...

William the Librarian@williamottens· May 7

First sighting of Librarian Tales in another country! Took an Alaskan cruise with a final stop in Victoria, British Columbia. Did a quick search of the Greater Victoria Public Library’s catalog and had to stop by to see my book on the shelf. Always fun to see how far my Librarian Tales have gone!

Me holding up a copy of Librarian Tales in front of a shelf of library books

William the Librarian@williamottens· Apr 26

Pardon me, would you have any Grey Poupon?

An orange and white tabby cat sits reclined in a windowsill with his front leg on the back of a chair. He’s looking at the camera.

William the Librarian@williamottens· Apr 25

Anyway, just got this message and I’m 😭😭😭

Screen shot of a form response that says “Last night’s speed dating was so nice. I’ve been to all 3 and each year you outdo yourselves. The food was delicious, the tables well decorated, the books presented well. Thank you so much for a wonderful evening.”

William the Librarian@williamottens· Apr 11

Another great morning to obstruct traffic in Kansas City! #RocktheParkway

Two wife men taking a selfie with 5k race medals around their necks

William the Librarian@williamottens· Apr 9

When you get the feline you’re being watched

An orange tabby cat peeks out from behind books on a shelf. Just his eyes and ears are visible.

William the Librarian@williamottens· Apr 1

Snagged the ARC I’m most excited about. I can go home now. #PLA2026

An advance copy of Death on the Lanai: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery by Rachel Ekstrom Courage. The cover is teal with a palm print border, mansion, and the Golden Girls illustrated on it.

William the Librarian@williamottens· Apr 1

Contact your senators to #FundLibraries. 🔗 app.oneclickpolitics.com/campaign-pag... #PLA2026

ALA’s Fund Libraries graphic. Reads “Tell Congress to invest in libraries.”

William the Librarian@williamottens· Mar 31

Conference time! Looking forward to a week of connecting and learning with fellow public librarians in Minneapolis this week. #PLA2026.

A large sign that reads, “Protect Public Libraries” in blue and purple font on a white background.

William the Librarian@williamottens· Mar 26

Continued our library tours and visited the Topeka & Shawnee County Library this afternoon. Loved it! Their recently renovated teen and children’s spaces are amazing!

The entrance to the kid’s library, framed with a giant Lego block, books, and a tree with a large screen in the trunk.

Stacks of children’s library shelves. In the background, the lower half of a green dinosaur is viable, appearing as if it’s broken through the ceiling.

A view into a teen library area with shelves in the middle. The walls are red, and there’s a window and door into a media room.

William the Librarian@williamottens· Mar 25

The best part of a library expansion project, besides the expansion project, is touring neighboring libraries for ideas. We hit up Olathe’s Indian Creek libray today and 🤩

Picture book shelves in front of a white wall with a painting of sunflowers on it

Green chars in front of a wood wall with a light bright activity fixture on it.

A glass wall with neon lighting and bubbles looking into a children’s program space

William the Librarian@williamottens· Mar 15

LOOK AT THIS SAND CAT @kansascityzoo.bsky.social! 🥹😱

A yellow and white sand cat curled up in a tree hollow

William the Librarian@williamottens· Mar 12

Name your favorite cartoon character

An effigy of Alanis Morissette in the northern lights in the cartoon The Great North

William the Librarian@williamottens· Mar 5

Woke up to a clogged sink

An orange and white tabby cat lying in a bathroom sink.

William the Librarian@williamottens· Feb 12

Eisley hopes your work day is off to a great start!

A yellow and white tabby cat lying in an office chair with his head hanging upside down

William the Librarian@williamottens· Jan 26

If you're in the #KansasCity area, love working with kids, and are looking for a library job, apply to work with me! Just a short drive from the Legends and starts at $50k! 🔗 basehorlibrary.com/employment-o...