Did I just add my own book to the Book Lovers Day display at my library? 🤔 Why, yes. Yes I did. 😂
William the Librarian
@williamottens.com
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 🏳️🌈📚😺
We're in the last week of fundraising for Starry Night at Starlight, & @williamottens.com & I need your help Our goal is to raise another $1,500 for Starlight's internship program. Every donation helps create opportunities for young people seeking arts careers secure.givelively.org/donate/starl...
Donate to William Ottens & Nate Chamberlain's Fundraiser for Starry Night at Starlight 2026 by Starlight Theatre
Starry Knight at StarlightPresented by Stepp & Rothwell and Janssen Estate Probate and Elder LawSaturday, August 8th, 20266:00 - 11:30 p.m.Starry Night at Starlight highlights the sixth class of ...
secure.givelively.org
Lizard Under the Skillet done! Longest bike ride @natechamberlain.com and I have done so far — 31 miles south of Lawrence.
The Librarians Film is officially a nominee for an EMMY! I’m so proud to be a part of this film documenting librarians on the censorship frontlines. @thelibrariansfilm.bsky.social @pbs.org
Shaping up to be quite the Monday at the library today. Phones and Internet haven’t been working all morning. Now someone just slipped off one of the toilets in the men’s room and busted the seat in half. They’re okay, thankfully.
Library 🤝 Soccer We have had so much fun hosting various watch parties at our locations. ⚽ The Library is a gathering space for everyone — bring a friend and check out our upcoming programming at kclibrary.org/calendar.
I'm still looking for your stories and links!
kelly jensen@heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 3mo agoIf you're seeing Pride censorship in U.S. libraries–whether it's from inside the library or from pressure outside–please report it for the annual roundup. You can be anonymous. There are already *several* this year. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
LOVED returning to Alaska with @natechamberlain.com 😍
Cruising the Alaskan Inside Passage, Part 1
Two years ago, Nate and I experienced our first cruise with an 8-day itinerary through Alaska’s inside passage. We loved it so much, we had to do it again! This time, we chose a 10-day cruise…
williamandnate.com
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
Paige Turner is back and she says, “Have you signed up for Summer Reading yet?”
You all-- I never thought I'd see the day, but library peeps, strap in for a fight. The Author's Guild is going after us as the reason why authors are making less money. I don't think they understand who they are dealing with: www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Authors Guild Looks at Why Author Incomes Are in Decline
A survey commissioned by the Guild found that only 25% of print books and e-books read in the past month were bought new or through a paid subscription, with readers increasingly turning to low- or no...
publishersweekly.com
Today in other duties as assigned: putting together the new body for our library mascot, Paige Turner
How do two young men from Kansas end up getting married? This is (part of) our story. Happy anniversary to my better, smarter half @williamottens.com www.linkedin.com/posts/nchamb...
Today marks 14 years (‼️) since I married my best friend, William. At the time, our home state of Kansas had not yet legalized marriage equality, so we traveled to Iowa to get married. Even then, it…...
Today marks 14 years (‼️) since I married my best friend, William. At the time, our home state of Kansas had not yet legalized marriage equality, so we traveled to Iowa to get married. Even then, it ...
linkedin.com
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 😊❤️🌈
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!
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.
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
So, the rank-and-file staff of the MIT Libraries is pretty uniformly excellent - capable, interesting, kind - and should you perhaps find a résumé cross your desk from one, you should give it serious consideration. 📚
Faculty: libraries and librarians need your advocacy BEFORE our collections are shuttered and our workers are fired. Whether you think your library is in trouble, and it almost definitely is, write to your provost and tell them how essential the library and library staff are to your work. Right now.
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 😂😭
It’s a beautiful morning for a run in #KansasCity. Ready to conquer the hill with @natechamberlain.com!
If a 7-year-old can show up to a board meeting to protest budget cuts at the library, you can do it, too. www.salemreporter.com/2026/05/08/a...
At 7, she helped save Salem’s library. She’s just getting started - Salem Reporter
Salem third-grader Zoey Harper’s public speaking skills were instrumental to the effort to pass a tax measure that prevented deep library cuts in 2025. Now, she’s hosted a candidate forum and posed qu...
salemreporter.com
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...
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!
Last night was our third Bookworm Speed Dating Event at my library — patrons enjoy a catered dinner and drinks while librarians rotate the tables and book talk 5-7 titles. We had a full house, and it was a lot of fun. It’s a lot of prep work, but it’s one of my favorite events!
We’re signed up to run the Great Smoky Mountain Half Marathon in August. Guess I need to work on my pace…
Bears chase, bite visitors at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, prompting closures
Parts of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are closed after visitors encountered aggressive bears over the weekend.
cbsnews.com
