We've wrapped up 2025 National Library Week, and we hope you've enjoyed all of our posts! As librarians, it's disconcerting to us to leave the week short one post, so we thought we'd close out the week by sharing some fun finds in the library. You might be surprised by the variety of books, shows, and movies you can find in the library that go beyond what you need for class. Some of these have been shared in previous posts (because they're just that good), and some are brand-new finds. We've bundled up our favorite surprises in one post (but these are by no means everything and we encourage you to browse our past posts for more).
Continue to celebrate the library with us with one of these:
Books
- Pride and Prejudice - The classic novel that inspired the entire genre of romance fiction. It all began with Jane Austen's OG, published in 1813. It's a love story that tackles themes of family, marriage, and, of course, pride and prejudice in 19th-century England.
- Jane Eyre - Another classic romance novel by Charlotte Bronte in 1847, this time with a few gothic twists and turns (think dark castles with mysterious noises at night and mysterious attics). See where the love story of Jane and Rochester began.
- Lady Chatterley's Lover - Be forewarned, this book was banned in England for over 30 years due to allegations of pornography and led to long legal dramas in England and the publishing industry. But what better way to close out National Library Week than by celebrating a “banned book”?
- The Vampire Almanac: The Complete History - Vampire romance novels are pretty much their own subgenre of romance novels, and if you've ever been curious and wanted to learn more about vampire lore, check this out.
Journals
- Slayage: The Online International Journal of Buffy Studies - Speaking of vampires, there is an entire academic, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television show that ran from 1997 to 2003. Yes, this is a real thing that exists! Scholars and librarians have always had an affinity for the show because of its complex world-building and the fact that a library and librarian are central to it. Check it out before the newly-announced reboot is released.
Television Shows
- Pride and Prejudice - If you'd rather see the movie before reading the book, this is for you. There have been many film adaptations of Pride and Prejudice, but this 1995 BBC miniseries starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle is the quintessential classic! Check out parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
- World on Fire - I'll admit I haven't seen this yet, but it looks good! It's a 2020 PBS Masterpiece Theater drama set during World War II. It has multiple storylines of an ensemble cast of characters across multiple countries as they struggle with the effects of war.
- Alice & Jack - I'll also admit that I haven't seen this one yet either, but it's a brand-new romance drama from PBS Masterpiece Theater featuring a financier and biochemist who meet on a dating app. That's all I need to know. But for those of you who need more, it follows the lives of two very different characters that are drawn together time and again over 15 years.
Movies
- Jane Eyre - And here's another one for you movie-before-book people. If you like your historical romances slightly darker and more dramatic, watch the BBC's 2006 film adaptation of Jane Eyre, starring Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens. Check out parts 1 and 2.
- The Chaperone - This PBS Masterpiece Theater film is set in New York City during the Jazz Age. Elizabeth McGovern (Downton Abbey) is back with another period piece as a rule-following chaperone charged with watching over a rebellious teenager bent on fame and fortune.
Documentaries
- Finding Your Roots - This PBS documentary series, hosted by the renowned historian Henry Louis Gates, Jr., follows the genealogy research process of celebrities and other famous public figures. Surprising and often emotional discoveries are made. We have it available on our Films on Demand and Academic Video Online databases.
- We Want the Funk! - A brand-new PBS documentary about the evolution of funk music from its African and jazz roots to its political and racial dynamics in the 1970's.
- Pompeii: The New Dig - Believe it or not, Pompeii is still being excavated, and new things are still being discovered. This new documentary follows archaeological digs currently taking place in Pompeii and reveals historical secrets.
- Leonardo Da Vinci: A Film by Ken Burns - In this brand-new documentary from the renowned Ken Burns, you'll learn about Leonardo Da Vinci's life, work, and inventions, and how he really did change the course of history.
- The Story of Nintendo and The Story of Playstation - If you're an “elder millennial” who grew up playing video games in the 80's and 90's, these two new documentaries from 2023 are a must-see.
Have you found anything fun or unexpected in the library? Let us know in the comments, and we'll add it to our “more than just academic” list, our candy jar of unexpected library stuff!
Julia Reed is the systems librarian and focuses on technology development and maintenance. She's into graphic design, photography, and spending time outdoors in her free time.