At Tough Guy Book Club, we think libraries are cool. So cool that we put it on a shirt. So cool that you’ll usually find a couple of Goons fighting over loans of the monthly book at any library where we have a presence. So cool that the challenge for July 2025 was to get a selfie with your librarian under the hashtag #bookdealer. 

“Libraries are still respected as a social institution, they are one of the last third spaces left in society, and I respect that it’s something my community and council still values.””

Wise words. Louis is the president of the Ascot Vale VIC chapter. He joined when he moved to Melbourne because he was a new dad in a new city who was sick of talking about work all the time. But that quote above isn’t from him… it’s from his wife, Kym. That’s right, Louis thinks librarians are so cool that he married one.

So this challenge was easy for Louis, but other Goons found it more difficult. There are annoying (though understandable) rules about taking pictures with public servants for social media. Some just didn’t like the idea of striking up a conversation with a stranger. But here’s the thing – making a connection with someone new is exactly what Tough Guy Book Club is about. Can’t think of anything to say? Maybe talk about… um, books? 

Phil Owens knows something about tough challenges. He started attending Eltham VIC after emerging from COVID lockdown. Within 12 months he was helping to run it, and soon afterward he and a group of Goons broke away to form the brand-new Warrandyte chapter. He has the TGBC Challenge Coins for both 2023 and 2024, and he’s on track for another this year. Phil knows that challenges are meant to push you out of your comfort zone, but he also knows that librarians are pretty friendly types. 

“The best thing about being a librarian is being able to help people find what they need. Whether that’s help finding their next read or expanding their reading to different authors, especially when they’ve read all their favourite author’s books already.” 

How true! Wait, how does Phil know that? He couldn’t tell us; he’s not allowed to talk about work (see Rule Two). It must be because that quote above isn’t from Phil… it’s from his wife, Nicole. 

Tough Guy Book Club thinks that librarians are so cool that two separate Goons are married to them. Not to mention the many friends, acquaintances and beloved former school teachers that showed up in #bookdealer posts from around the world. 

Kym isn’t in a personal book club, but she runs them all the time for work. Nicole isn’t either, and she’s a bit jealous when Phil goes to his monthly meetings. She shouldn’t be! Librarians are cool and important members of our community, and they basically get to do TGBC for a living. We’re glad we got to chat with some of them, and grateful to be reminded of all the good work they do. 

Until the next first Wednesday, see you in the library. 

Kym’s Recommendation 

Cat Fight – Kit Conway 

“It’s a story about a big cat repeatedly sighted around suburban London, but really it’s a weird psychological story of domestic violence and coercive control. And it’s perfect for cat lovers.” 

Nicole’s Recommendations 

The House in the Cerulean Sea – TJ Klune 

Convenience Store Woman – Sayaka Murata 

Any Ordinary Day – Leigh Sales 

10 Minutes 38 Seconds In This Strange World – Elif Shafak 

Piranesi – Susannah Clark 

The School for Good Mothers – Jessamine Chan 

By Sam Barclay