Get-Pop Cultured month at Barnes & Noble!

READ.

I had a blast working all of the Get-Pop Cultured events at my local Barnes & Noble in St. Petersburg this past July!  Like my creation of Stand-Up Librarian in 2010, it was a terrific opportunity to combine my love of creating literary outfits inspired by my favorite books while spreading the importance & fun of reading.  And to think the only reason I became involved was because the community relations manager had called me back in June asking me to participate in some discussions about To Kill a Mockingbird and to be a celebrity reader for their Read-A-Thon!  I just knew within moments of walking in that door and meeting the exceptionally kindhearted and cool staff, I wanted to spend more than one or two days at the store, I had to work with them every weekend and event!  And that's how it all began...the librarian soon became a bookseller too.

Now over a month and a half later, I have a new set of literary friends in the bookseller community and my already full closet is now filled with an additional 13 costumes I created just to tie-in to all of the events at B&N.  And if my time wasn't limited enough (yes, I am still working at the library & volunteering at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium), I just had to write a few articles for Creative Loafing Tampa to help spread the word on how much fun we were having.  A huge thank you to the great staff at Barnes & Noble for welcoming me aboard despite my very busy schedule and of course, to all of the customers that came to our events and had fun with us!!!  

#tbt #ThrowbackThursday #GetPopCultured events
1950/Marilyn Monroe; 1960/Audrey Hepburn;
1970/My Mom's Leather Jumper
1980/Madonna; 1990/Hedwig Harry Potter

Doctor Who; Magic Treehouse Dinosaurs After Dark;
Outlander; To Kill a Mockingbird; DC Comic Days/Batgirl;
Minions

Dr. Seuss! I made the dress, bow tie, bow headband, purse
and a hat honoring all of Seuss' characters but especially
the one and only The Cat in the Hat!

Here's the links to my articles for Creative Loafing Tampa:

July 2nd, 2015: "Get Pop-Cultured at Barnes & Noble this month"

July 13th, 2015: "Mockingbird all day today, sequel out tomorrow"

August 6th, 2015: "A ship-shape celebration of Dr. Seuss with Evan Longoria in tow"

***For all of my photos from Get-Pop Cultured at Barnes & Noble, please like my FB page here.

With the awesome staff at Barnes & Noble St. Petersburg
on the very 1st night of Get-Pop Cultured #tbt #1950

Our Seuss Spectacular on the very last night of Get-Pop Cultured
celebrating What Pet Should I Get & Dr. Seuss!

Happy 5th Anniversary StandUpLibrarian.com!

“I look at all of the things I have accomplished over the past four years as the Stand-Up Librarian from performances and events to literary purses and parody songs, but the two things I wanted more than anything else was to be hired as a librarian at a library and to finish writing my book!”

–  Me, last year on this exact date.

Me today:

Professional Librarian!

Finished writing book!

I should have also said “...and win the lottery” because here I am one year later with both dreams accomplished and all it took was a little patience. 

Okay, a lot of patience! 

Five years after graduating with my Masters degree and I was finally hired and started working last week as a professional librarian.  And the best part of all was that I didn’t have to fill out a lengthy online application or submit a resume.  I just answered an email, took a tour of the library, and said yes.  It was that easy.  Oh, and spend the last five years busting my ass so I could be ready when the opportunity eventually presented itself.  You see, I got the job not because I was a librarian, but because I was also the Stand-Up Librarian!  Or just had cute bookmarks, I'm not exactly sure.  Anyway,  I was approached at an event over a year ago about this job & it turned out the guy was serious!  Which makes me realize that wearing an outfit made entirely out of books doesn’t make me look crazy at all, but in fact, qualified!!!  But seriously, every single experience from the start of this idea I had five years ago to working as an intern, volunteer, assistant and library page, has led me to develop the skills that would prepare me for this very moment.  My job is to catalog the most beautiful library I have ever seen.  Thousands of books, DVDs, and other materials, sit in boxes waiting to be cataloged, covered in plastic covers, and shelved by call numbers, all without a staff!  Huh?  Wait a minute...  Still, to help build such a library (and be employed), is a dream come true.

Well, one of them, anyway.  The other dream is to be a published author.  And I am getting very close! 

Last September, I finally finished writing a book filled with all of my crazy stories since deciding to become a librarian ten years ago.  Only now, thanks to my new job, I finally have my ending!  As I edit the manuscript and target agents for representation and publishers for publication, I really hope that perhaps next year, I can again be writing on here that yet another dream has been realized.  Having dreams is what truly keeps me going.

But dreams are not enough. 

It is because of so many people over the past five years that my dreams for Stand-Up Librarian are coming true.  Thank you so much to the librarians and book lovers who have hired me to perform my literary comedy shows at your libraries and bookstores, and to host your events and fundraisers.  Thanks to the fabulous folks who have purchased my literary fashion accessories at my shows and my Etsy shop.  Thank you to the press people who have shared my story and promoted my shows and appearances, making me grateful that not every media outlet wants to cover the Kardashians.  Thanks of course, to my awesome editors at Creative Loafing Tampa for enabling me to become a better writer as a result of my reporting on such awesome events as the opening of Universal Orlando’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – DiagonAlley.  Seriously, that was one incredible week of free butter beer!  To my family and friends who have stuck by me during the struggles and heartbreak of the early years by offering me places to stay when on the road or needing a shoulder to cry on when it seemed so many people just didn’t understand what I was trying to do – THANK YOU.  Lastly, to the unemployed librarians who feel lost, hopeless and want to quit…don’t.  I’ve got just the book for you if you can wait a little longer for me to get it to you.  If you can’t, start reading this blog from the beginning.  My advice is this: don’t doubt yourself.  The adventures ahead of you are endless if you just stand-up and try.

Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myers 2015
Professional Librarian. Comedian. Designer. Writer. Publicist.
Advocate.

Just in time for April Fools' Day...the James Joyce Eye Patch!

Available for a limited time only...like probably just for today...
Introducing...

THE JAMES JOYCE EYE PATCH! 

The James Joyce eye patch.

Because if you are going to read 786 pages of Ulysses, 

why not really challenge yourself and use just one eye! 

100% cotton shamrock-print, fully-lined with coordinating green fabric. Dimensions approximately the size of a normal human eye. Perfect for any James Joyce fan, librarian or Irish pirate. *Print also available as bowtie and wristlet purse. Can do other custom eye patches pieces as well.  To purchase, click here.

For more information on James Joyce-inspired fashions & other literary accessories, visit Stand-Up Librarian Designs on Etsy by clicking here. 

Reading is never foolish but
Happy April Fools Day everyone!

NCL in Hawaii

Happy New Year!!! I know, it has been over two months since I have written on here. I guess you can say my life has been in transition. I am working on a cruise ship. In Hawaii. Every single day!!!!. As a result, I have had little time to write an email, let alone sleep or post something on here. In committing to do this for five months, I've had to make some sacrifices & learn to live in just the moment I'm in (most of the time in a tiny cabin the size of one of my closets at home.). It has been challenging in ways I won't express right now but I am sure to have a ton of funny stories to share when this experience is over. Did I mention I am also in Hawaii? So yes, even when I am exhausted & lonely, wondering why I ever thought I could do this again after 10 years, something makes me realize I can. That I am strong enough. On Monday it was this sea turtle.

Mahalo, universe.