Something magical is happening for a magical person!
In a spirited announcement on Instagram, Mychal Threets, the beloved librarian and social media personality known as “Mychal the Librarian,” shared exciting news with his followers. The Fairfield Civic Center Library’s supervising librarian revealed that he would be collaborating with PBS Kids on a social media series centered around real-life library stories, book joy, literacy, and the pure joy that libraries bring to communities.
View this post on Instagramadvertisement
According to The San Francisco Chronicle, Threets gained widespread recognition for his impactful work, resulting in profiles by major publications such as the New York Times and the Washington Post. In 2023, he was honored as one of the recipients of the American Library Association’s prestigious librarian award for public service.
Fans took to social media–tagging PBS in Mychal’s posts, creating petitions, and rallying for Mychal to be the new face of its beloved show, Reading Rainbow. The social media campaign draws parallels between the iconic show, which aired from 1983 to 2006, and Threets’ dynamic personality that could bring back the magic of the beloved show, modernizing it for today’s tech-savvy kids. While there are no present talks to cast Threets (or to reboot the series), the online campaign got the attention of PBS Kids.
Threets took to his Instagram account to share the news in a spirited video. PBS Kids, in response to his collaboration announcement, expressed their enthusiasm for the upcoming project, stating, “We’re so excited about all the library joy and book joy you’re going to share!” The collaboration promises to bring a wave of enthusiasm and educational content that will resonate with children and families, continuing PBS’s tradition of quality educational programming. As Mychal Threets takes on the role of PBS Kids’ resident librarian, he is poised to foster a love for reading and libraries that will last a lifetime.
Cover photo: ‘Mychal the Librarian’ Set to Collaborate with PBS Kids in Social Media Series / Credit: Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle