Nancy Pearl

Nancy Pearl is an internationally renowned librarian, literary critic, and author who has been passionate about books and reading for her entire career. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Nancy began her professional career as a librarian at the University of Washington in Seattle, where she earned her Master's in Library Science. She quickly rose to prominence for her innovative approach to library science, combining traditional cataloging and classification with her own unique methods. 

Nancy is best known for her groundbreaking work in reader's advisory, a form of library science dedicated to helping readers discover the perfect book. Nancy developed her own system, the "Nancy Pearl Rule," which assigns each book a numerical rating based on the reader's age, interests, and reading level. This system has become widely adopted around the world, and Nancy has since become a sought-after speaker and consultant on reader's advisory.

In addition to her work in libraries, Nancy is also a popular literary critic, appearing on radio and television shows to discuss books and authors. She has served as the book reviewer for NPR's Morning Edition and is the author of several books, including Book Lust and More Book Lust. Her books have been translated into multiple languages and have become popular reading guides for book clubs and librarians.

Nancy has received numerous awards for her work, including the American Library Association's Professional Achievement Award, the American Association of School Librarians Honor Award, and the Washington Library Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. She was also honored with the prestigious Librarian of the Year Award from the Library of Congress in 2019.

Nancy is a passionate advocate for books and reading and has dedicated her life to helping others discover the joys of literature. She is an inspiration to librarians and readers around the world, and her work has changed the way we think about books and libraries.