For some reason I was curious if there were any famous historical figures who worked as librarians earlier in their careers, and I stumbled onto this. Man, what a sexy, sexy list! I mean, if you’re into balding male intellectuals, politicians, poets and, well, dictators.
1. Casanova: Everyone knows he was a novel lover (nudge-nudge, wink-wink), but who knew he liked organizing ‘em too? According to the net, he worked as a librarian in Count Joseph Karl von Waldstein’s castle for a good 13 years at the end of his career.
2. Chairman Mao: A voracious reader in his youth, Mao once held a position as an assistant librarian at the University of Peking. According to rumors, he was passed over for a promotion, which supposedly spurred him to look for a new career. Not 
sure the truthiness of that, but I’m pretty certain that if he’d been promoted, the number of overdue books would have dropped dramatically.
3. Ben Franklin: The guy was a natural archivist. After all, anyone that’s happy to spend their free time cataloging synonyms for the word drunk (like “pigeon-eyed”, “stewed” and “been to France”), is bound to like collecting books too. 
4. Gottfried Von Leibniz: In addition to his work with calculus, physics, law, philosophy, topology, etc. he’s also important for his contributions to library science. And while that’s impressive and all, I really just included him because I love this picture.
.
5. J. Edgar Hoover: The notorious FBI head’s first gig was as Library of Congress messenger and cataloger. Suspiciously, there’s no mention anywhere of how many of those notes got opened and read along the way.
6. Berlioz: The composer of the famed Symphonie Fantastique also spent 30 years in the library of the Paris Conservatory. Again, I really included him because I like his hair.
7. Jorge Luis Borges: According to Wikipedia, Borges worked as an assistant at the Buenos Aires Municipal Library, and was expressly told not to catalog more than 100 books a day (a task he could finish within an hour). He then spent the rest of his days engrossed in reading. When Juan Peron rose to power, Borges was essentially fired, and “‘promoted’ to the position of poultry inspector.”
And of course, there’s: Goethe, Longfellow, David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Philip Larkin and the Brothers Grimm. Know any good ones that I should add? (Or any on here that I should take off?) Send ‘em in!
Comments (13)
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Please explain the word “sexy” as it relates to Mao.
The man can be described as many things, but even the most loyal Party members would probably not pick the aword.
posted by Liam on 9-15-2006 at 3:14 pm
What a great list! I love it.
Another little-known fact about Berlioz: he couldn’t play piano at all, which might explain why he worked as a librarian. All his compositions were worked out straight from his head. Yes, the one under that fantastic hair-do.
posted by David on 9-15-2006 at 3:32 pm
As a former librarian myself, I can attest to the fact that we are indeed sexy as hell.
posted by Sheldon Siegel on 9-15-2006 at 5:29 pm
Good thing, because I’m applying library school this year. Glad to know I’ve got great company. :)
posted by Kate on 9-15-2006 at 9:24 pm
I worked for one year as an assistant librarian at my high school. Apparently, the experience indelibly marked me because even now, men who have never met me before describe me as a “sexy librarian” kind of girl.
posted by Annie on 7-22-2007 at 10:20 pm
The July 22 New York Times Book Review features a book about a woman of color, Belle da Costa Greene, (1879 – 1950) who was the librarian at the J. Pierpont Morgan library. She had the reputation as both “society girl and serious scholar”.
posted by Christine on 7-23-2007 at 7:22 pm
What about Thomas Jefferson (as long as we’re talking about sexually active founding fathers)? He started the library of congress!
posted by Alex on 7-23-2007 at 8:29 pm
How about fake librarians? Giles from “Buffy” — mmmm…British…
posted by Wendy on 7-24-2007 at 2:30 pm
Sexy? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm . . . that’s kinda breathtaking. :)
How about “Marion the Librarian” from “The Music Man”? Bet she had some great gams under those hoops and petticoats. :)
posted by Tracy on 7-25-2007 at 4:44 am
What about Seattle’s famous librarian, Nancy Pearl, whom the action figure librarian is based off of?
If we are talking fictional librarians, what about Goldie Hawn in 1978 Chevy Chase film, Foul Play…
As a librarian myself, I can’t help but think we are a sexy breed!
posted by Kari on 7-25-2007 at 3:43 pm
I can’t believe that a list of sexiest librarians is all male! Shameful. As for movie librarians, don’t forget the classic – Katherine Hepburn in Desk Set.
posted by Library Lady on 7-27-2007 at 8:32 am
I’ve always found librarian-like women to be very sexy. Actual librarians have been a mixed experience for me.
I miss the card catalogs!
posted by swampfox on 7-27-2007 at 3:05 pm
Liked your idea and borrowed it…check out my list! Thanks for the idea! ~Monster
posted by Monster Librarian on 8-16-2007 at 9:21 am