It’s March Madness season—but at the James B. Duke Library, we’re putting our own literary twist on the bracket frenzy with a new passive event: Fictional Librarian Showdown!

Sixteen legendary librarians from across books, movies, TV shows, and comics are going head-to-head in a bracket-style tournament. From spell-casting scholars to ghostly guardians of knowledge, these fictional figures represent some of pop culture’s most iconic (and sometimes underappreciated) champions of information.

How It Works:

Starting on Friday March 28, students and employees can cast their votes in each round by scanning the QR code posted in the James B Duke Library on the bracket board. That’s it—no registration, no pressure, just a chance to geek out over your favorite fictional librarians and help decide who will advance to the next round.

Will Evelyn Carnahan from The Mummy make it to the final? Can Buffy’s Rupert Giles out-research Sandman’s Lucien? Will Jocasta Nu from Star Wars rewrite history, or will Wong from Doctor Strange conjure up the win?

The power is in your hands.

Round Schedule:

Round 1: March 28 – 31

Round 2: April 1 – 2

Round 3: April 3 – 4

Final Round: April 5 – 8

Visit the James B. Duke Library. Look for the Fictional Librarian Showdown display near the entrance, scan the QR code, and cast your vote. Check back to see which librarians made the cut and who’s been shelved for good.

Let the library madness begin!