About Jessica

A Crafty Librarian

Jessica is the creator behind Handmade Librarian and the author of BiblioCraft, a book that marries library research with hands-on making. Her work sits at the intersection of libraries, DIY culture, and book arts.

With a background in library science, Jessica has spent years developing creative programming that connects patrons with collections in unexpected ways — from vintage craft patterns to historic print design.

She has taught classes at the New York Public Library and presented at venues across the country, always with an eye toward making library resources feel accessible, tactile, and inspiring.

The space where libraries and handmade traditions meet is rich with creative possibility. Public library collections hold far more than books—they contain patterns, prints, historical designs, and ephemera waiting to be rediscovered through a maker’s lens. By exploring these archival materials, crafters can draw inspiration from the past while bringing fresh techniques to their work. This approach transforms the library into an active studio rather than a quiet storage room, encouraging patrons to touch, study, and reinterpret what they find. Whether pulling vintage quilting motifs from old periodicals or studying botanical illustrations for embroidery, the research becomes as tactile as the making itself. The result is a practice that honors both the librarian’s curatorial eye and the artisan’s hands-on impulse.

Creative programming that connects people to collections in unexpected ways can reshape how a community views its library. Hosting workshops that blend book arts, paper crafts, stitching, and design invites attendees to engage with materials they might otherwise overlook. These gatherings foster a sense of shared discovery, where participants learn from each other as much as from the resources at hand. The library becomes a hub for hands-on exploration, bridging the gap between digital research and physical making. Small details—the texture of a vintage page, the precision of a stitch, the color palette of an old plate—become entry points for deeper connection. It is this blend of history, craft, and community that keeps the handmade spirit alive within library walls.