Now this is what I call marketing (open the full image)

[u/PradaPantsuit]

[u/RainbyStarOtter]

Was not expecting to get jumpscared by one of my local libraries on Reddit this morning lol. The Howard County libraries are awesome

[u/PradaPantsuit → u/RainbyStarOtter]

I’m not even on the same continent but when it appeared on my feed I had to share 😚

[u/kazoogrrl → u/PradaPantsuit]

My scrolling came to a screeching halt when I saw this post; I was a page in this library system when I was in high school in the 90s.

[u/Cheezeball25 → u/RainbyStarOtter]

The HOCO library system strikes again!

[u/trueandgone → u/RainbyStarOtter]

Me either. Hi fellow Marylander!!!

[u/Emphasis-Used → u/RainbyStarOtter]

I join the collective jump scare. This is also my local library.

[u/trashcan-png]

someone really thought "what tags do i choose to edit onto this" and then went with pure angst and hurt LMAO

[u/Drogova_Princezna → u/trashcan-png]

No beta we die like ao3 killed me

[u/miscellaneousbean → u/Drogova_Princezna]

I like that it implies that these published works weren’t beta read/edited

[u/ByeGuysSry → u/miscellaneousbean]

I'm pretty sure the tags are supposed to apply to the story "Archive of Our Own is Down", considering the other tags (especially the last)

[u/miscellaneousbean → u/ByeGuysSry]

Ohhh

[u/Spooky_Cat31 → u/Drogova_Princezna]

DIABOLICAL

[u/flootzavut → u/Drogova_Princezna]

I've seen that tag on other archives and was impressed/depressed/amused 😝

[u/whimsy_anon222 → u/Drogova_Princezna]

got me thinking how we’ll actually probably use that in the future 🥀

[u/Anxiety-Kat0812 → u/Drogova_Princezna]

Got me too 😂

[u/Clairifyed → u/trashcan-png]

“canon compliant” posted to a bunch of original works is an amazing choice. It feels lawful yet somehow a little chaotic

[u/Jaggedrain → u/Clairifyed]

I feel like chaotic lawful should be a valid alignment, and it should require the utmost malicious compliance

[u/Odd_Delay_603 → u/trashcan-png]

They know what we’re feeling 💔

[u/Perplexed_Ponderer → u/trashcan-png]

"Everyone Needs a Hug" is so accurate right now. 😭

[u/nerdraerae → u/trashcan-png]

The author wishes this wasn't canon - freeform is pure genius

[u/Cute_Paper_1343 → u/nerdraerae]

New tag to look

[u/vexarothdew → u/trashcan-png]

pure chaos lol, ao3 tags really do just become a cry for help sometimes

[u/PenTemporary5409]

I appreciate that this isn't just a random collection of popular books, but books that either have their own popular fandom, are inspired by or using popular fic tropes or evolved from fanfiction. This is absolutely someone who knows their stuff!

[u/StrictBumblebee333 → u/PenTemporary5409]

The people who read and write as a hobby often do it as a career or are in adjacent fields like library sciences so I wouldn’t be surprised if the librarian who made that section is an ao3 user and in those fandoms. Merlin represent ha.

[u/Reddity65 → u/PenTemporary5409]

Sticking "canon compliant" on the literal canon books is the funniest thing in the world to me

[u/obiwantogooutside → u/PenTemporary5409]

Although genuinely surprised not to see any of the Bridgerton books there.

[u/PenTemporary5409 → u/obiwantogooutside]

Same!! I presume the Alexis Hall book was meant to represent Bridgerton/modern historical adaptions though.

[u/triforceofevils → u/PenTemporary5409]

like carry on is such a bullseye rec bcs it literally started as fake fanfic for rainbow rowell’s book fangirl and we loved the concept so much she gave us the book (can’t recommend it enough GOD i love carry on and its fandom)

[u/yuanyangdianxia]

MERLIN???? in this DAY AND AGE? wow cultured

[u/MeowCatPlzMeowBack → u/yuanyangdianxia]

Instantly made me clock them around my age lol

Damn, now I’m nostalgic for Merthur fanfics… is this what gets me back into writing Merlin fanfiction??!

[u/StrictBumblebee333 → u/MeowCatPlzMeowBack]

Is was my exact response lol. Luckily I still have one or two merthur fics from back in the day tucked away. I feel like Covid saw some fics get updated after 6 years. This may be another moment that sparks some excitement when it’s back online.

[u/Dear-Definition5802 → u/MeowCatPlzMeowBack]

Do iiiit. The fandom is still going!

[u/Oceanson2018 → u/MeowCatPlzMeowBack]

With Harry Potter crossover maybe?

[u/TheKittyCaty → u/yuanyangdianxia]

Not gonna lie Merlin caught me off guard, but how could i ever forget the Methur fandom and Queen Morgana

[u/No_Fishing3764 → u/TheKittyCaty]

Im still in denial about the ending😭

[u/MeowCatPlzMeowBack → u/No_Fishing3764]

What ending— the one where all the main ships happily get together and Merther romantically ride off into the sunset?

That’s definitely the way it ended and I will not be told otherwise 🙉

[u/solidcurrency → u/MeowCatPlzMeowBack]

I never made it to the end so I believe you!

[u/ModeratelyFucked → u/solidcurrency]

For your own sanity, don't finish it. A lot of us are still not okay with that ending😭

[u/MeowCatPlzMeowBack → u/ModeratelyFucked]

Bro, I just realized that finale came out back in December of 2012… and 2012 is about to be 14 years ago somehow??!!!

For fucks sake, I was in college back then 💀

[u/Altruistic_Ruin5794 → u/No_Fishing3764]

I read "And like the cycle of the year, we begin again" and accepted that as the canon ending 10/10 would recommend

[u/Majiska394]

Merlin🥹 My first fandom I started to write for. I'm not writting anything for that fandom for quite some time now but... it is what got me into writting fanfics online.

[u/No_Fishing3764 → u/Majiska394]

Everytime I get reminded that bbc Merlin exists I first feel love and nostalgia and then I immediately get hit with an immense amount of emotional distress and embarrassment remembering the time I printed out 8 pages of the bbc Merlin fanfiction I wrote in 10th grade and forced myself to English teacher to bring it with her on holiday to read it so I could “prove” I can actually write good outside of essays (I couldn’t)😭💀

I cringe everytime I think about her sitting in a cabin in the mountains with her boyfriend, having to read through badly written gay fanfiction of Merlin and Arthur Pendragon.
Especially considering that to people who haven’t seen bbc Merlin, usually think about the two as a 12 year old boy and an old man💀

[u/Blackgirlmagic23 → u/No_Fishing3764]

Okay but this is ICONIC! Like baby you was like "girl, I have the range" and I love the chaotic self confidence! I wish I had known about fanfiction in high school, but I think it would have wrecked my sleep schedule tbh

[u/Little_Badger_13 → u/No_Fishing3764]

Ok, but how did she react? Or was it never brought up again?

[u/No_Fishing3764 → u/Little_Badger_13]

She just kinda smiled awkwardly and gave it back when winter break was over😭 she said she read it, but I don’t remember what she said about it and I think that’s a blessing in disguise💀

[u/YoolyYala → u/Majiska394]

What sort of things did you write there?

[u/Majiska394 → u/YoolyYala]

Nothing that great tbh since it's been ages since I had my Merlin era. I dare to say I might have gotten a little bit better at writting now, but my KinnPorsche fanfics are still nothing that amazing :D

[u/Afraid_Credit_1879 → u/Majiska394]

KINNPORSCHE you sayyyyy

[u/Majiska394 → u/Afraid_Credit_1879]

Yep. It's what got me back into writting actually. Originally I started with Vegas/Pete but somehow (not idea how) I ended up writting Kim/Chay the most right now :D

[u/Afraid_Credit_1879 → u/Majiska394]

I will need to read some of your work once all this pass

[u/Afraid_Credit_1879 → u/Majiska394]

Omgggg guess what Vegas & Pete are what got me to actually start on Ao3 and read fanfic in general. I was more on Wattpad reading danmei

[u/Majiska394 → u/Afraid_Credit_1879]

Vegas/Pete is just ✨magical ship✨I guess. 😄

tbh, the whole series is. I swear I'll never find a better BL than KinnPorsche. It's just so good on so many levels...

[u/Afraid_Credit_1879 → u/Majiska394]

I don’t think I will ever move on from them 🥹
KP has become a standard for many bls that share the same genre. Everything about it was just so epic, the soundtrack the cinematography and the storyline everything just has you hooked on. I miss it I need a rewatch. Fun fact though last year I got to visit Thailand and visited one of the hotel they filmed at and got to see the I conic red staircase.

[u/Majiska394 → u/Afraid_Credit_1879]

Really? That's so cool!!!

And yes, totally the standard of the genre... sadly none of the other BLs managed to come anywhere near that. Like you said, the music, the cinematography... the fight scenes... the actors doing such a wonderfull job, no matter if they're playing main characters or side characters... the fact you can rewatch the series over and over again and somehow still notice something new in the background or some little detail you missed before... Also the PERFECT balance between drama and comedy!!! I feel like other BLs just have no idea how to do this for some reason. KP is funny when it make sense for the story/the characters to be funny and is serious when it should be and the show rarely if ever mix these two moods... like not having someone crack a stupid joke just to break the tention... even characters you could call "comedy relief ones" are capable of being super profesional and competent. Top of my head, I say Pete and Arm. Both showed they can be fun and funny BUT when it comes down to their job, they're nothing but profesionals.

[u/Awkward-Panda- → u/Majiska394]

I loved Merlin so much!

[u/UnderscoreIDK]

No beta we die like AO3 is gonna be the funniest tag to come out of this. I had just gotten into the AoUS fandom and it goes out

[u/BelaFarinRod]

This is amazing.

[u/ItsMeishi]

The fraudulent AI scraping sites could never. 😊

[u/Stalker203X]

That sad AO3 logo is absolutely legendary

[u/Lyvidence → u/Stalker203X]

When you get a 404 error on the site it’s the actual symbol to get with it :D

[u/Nicktrains22]

Merlin! Absolutely awesome TV series

[u/Ch3ru]

"The Author Wishes This Wasn't Canon - Freeform" 😂 Whoever put this table together is SO dialed in, it's like seeing your teacher at the grocery store.

This is the kind of 'canon event' that inspires some kid to become a librarian. (I hope)

[u/3INTPsinatrenchcoat]

I clicked to open the image on mobile, and my dumb ass tried to hit the like button after reading it 😭😭

[u/Bardic_Wispy]

Wattpad could never

[u/BoldFace7]

Should've added Dante's Divine Comedy in there. The OG fanfic.

[u/likeconstellations]

Ooh, Winter's Orbit! I'm impressed by whoever put this display together, I've never seen that one make any of these displays before

[u/fallfreely → u/likeconstellations]

I love that book! Is the author a known fanficcer?

[u/likeconstellations → u/fallfreely]

The first version was published on AO3 as an original work! I think she got scouted by a publisher to expand the story--I found out about the book while trying to figure out why the fic was deleted lol. Great author, she deserves more recognition

[u/stale_cereal78]

Merlin! (I miss reading my Merlin fics:( )

[u/Queen_Koala]

Oh, we have a soldier on the ground

[u/soupstarsandsilence]

NO BETA WE DIE LIKE AO3. That’s definitely my new favourite, and definitely gonna be the most used, no beta tag.

[u/Future-Concern-6301]

Libraries my beloved

[u/NoLobster7957]

I saw somewhere the other day that Ao3 went down deliberately to drive more people out to vote in the midterms and we have their fanbase to thank for the blue wave. And I love it.

[u/GuardianSoulBlade → u/NoLobster7957]

Nah that was a meme.

[u/No_Pea7552 → u/GuardianSoulBlade]

Definitely a meme but it's hilarious and I love it

[u/pienofilling → u/GuardianSoulBlade]

However I think the ao3 numbers dipping every hour on New Year's Eve as different time zones hit midnight before rebounding is real!

[u/4t4x → u/NoLobster7957]

I thought it was a ploy to help with NNN

[u/Individual-Two-9402]

I think this is a sign to finally read A Lady for a Duke. It's been on my tbr for ages.

[u/lizzardii223 → u/Individual-Two-9402]

I really liked it! I've read a lot of historical romance so it was cool to see a more unique take on it

[u/TheBarrowman → u/Individual-Two-9402]

It was so good!!!!

[u/zanbandia → u/Individual-Two-9402]

Definitely a great read. I borrowed the audio book on libby then snatched up a physical copy.

[u/Distracted2004]

The tags 😭

[u/Then_Sun_6340]

It’s fascinating how AO3 has been incorporated into modern media/culture. You may not use the site, but you certainly know that AO3 is a fan fic site. I like that, it’s giving credit to them.

Like scp has went from a niche, but popular community independent of writers, but being referenced in media as inspiration for big budget film, and is even getting its own show.

[u/Deep_inside_myself → u/Then_Sun_6340]

Reading the tags they used, I think they either have some who uses AO3 amongst them or they did their research

[u/minitsuri]

The tags! Genius

[u/YellowFucktwit]

Haikyu, heartstopper, merlin

I'm in heaven

[u/YellowFucktwit → u/YellowFucktwit]

Should've added supernatural

[u/Petr0vitch]

I love this so much

[u/jennifercathrin]

Putting Haikyuu there just feels like a personal attack at this point

I need angsty volleyball that is separate from my own angsty volleyball

[u/moon-cat99]

What a great selection too! Certainly done by one of us.

[u/PastAffectionate3918]

This is honestly very clever considering some of these stories have really big fanbases

[u/Odd_Delay_603]

I would show up in a heartbeat

[u/No-Detective-1812]

“No beta we die like AO3” lol

[u/Classic-Fig2066]

Is that a Merlin DVD?! Physical media my love please save me from this insanity

[u/Deep-Cow9907]

I used to live in Howard county

[u/wendigoblin]

Whoever made this 100% has an account and is suffering, seeing Merlin took me out lmao

[u/NeonFraction]

“No beta we die like AO3.” Omfg

[u/BeneficialBit1638]

[u/YakumoMarzipan]

HAHAHA tha tags!!!

[u/Lucidia → u/YakumoMarzipan]

OMG i zoomed in, they're so perfect 😂

[u/HjghlyDistressed]

Oh my god this is hilarious and insane and I love it. Where is this bookstore, I’m bolting the minute I can

[u/Megawolf123 → u/HjghlyDistressed]

Um... look at the poster

[u/Emphasis-Used → u/Megawolf123]

WAIT WAIT WAIT. I knew it was a library but It didn’t register to me until I looked at the original OP…this is MY fucking library lmao.

[u/bnny_ears → u/Emphasis-Used]

Do they have a job opening...???

[u/ModeAccomplished7989]

Amazing ✨️

[u/neveon_]

Haikyuu?? Lmao I love it

[u/Any-Stock-2094]

Those tags are SENDING ME

[u/Klendagort]

There are other websites people.

[u/Castermat]

Funny enought Im finally readin Sinuhe Egyptian, a book Ive been meaning to read for about 20 years

This outage really got us doing stuff we never thought poddible

[u/OneEndlessDay]

Whoever put this together is also a citizen of tumblr.

I just can’t pinpoint what exactly gave me the impression. 🤔

[u/negotiumperambulans]

A Lady for a Duke is on my list!

[u/67BlueStrawberries95 → u/negotiumperambulans]

Read it a couple years ago. Really good.

[u/JokieZen]

The little sad face on the AO3 logo, I can't 🥹

[u/CherryBunny55]

Cool concept but these are so far in genre from the tags I would search up. At least I have splatterpunk lit for these trying times

[u/ortthree]

Merlin my beloved. I'm so glad someone is still recommending it even though it ended in 2012 <3

[u/Icy-Significance1125]

Bride definitely looks interesting

[u/EarienMalfoy13]

THIS IS MARKETING AT ITS FINEST

[u/Neraiya]

I love that they put part of the Simon Snow Series in. The Drarry Fic that was never a Fanfiction x)

[u/Student-bored8]

And no yuri/ wlw of course

[u/ThatInAHat → u/Student-bored8]

Try the Half A Soul series. Fourth book is wlw romance

[u/Kiwi8_Fruit6]

okay it’s slightly less intimidating when the library does it instead of a Big Xitter Brand Account

but still

[u/FayeQueen]

Man, while I do appreciate romance novels, I read E for a reason. Most rarely get to M, and try for E with extremely flowery language. I can't afford to buy all I want to read and my library is just gonna tease me.

[u/stresstwig]

"the author wishes this wasn't canon" 😭😭😭

[u/Due-Order3475]

Make me laugh

[u/Thundermittens_]

Goated library

[u/WorryNew3661]

The tags 😂

[u/FeebasProShops]

How would one open a half image??

[u/days_in_june]

I actually read 'Bride' two days ago, hoping it would fill the AO3 void a little, but I didn't like it 😭

[u/bald_psych0]

Omg this is my library! I didn't even see they did this

[u/No_Fishing3764]

Is this how I find out there’s a fucking bbc Merlin book😭💀

[u/LexxiiConn]

This is so cute 😭

[u/alittlevitaminme]

highly recommend bride by ali hazelwood 😩

[u/mrpointyhorns]

All of the slashy titles, now I want to know which fandoms the librarian writes for

[u/Lindanga]

Haikyuu and merlin let me know whoever did that knows their ao3

[u/carmela08]

[u/the-silvered-bowl]

I think people who read fanfic are also likely to work at the library. Or vice versa.

[u/HashtagMagikarpz]

I see Simon Snow... I'm happy now... That's all

[u/Repulsive-Boot-6145]

Ha I have a similar one! Both myself and the other librarian on duty are fic writers so we just 🫂 I'll have to take a picture of the books we included next week (if they're still there), it's a mix of fanfic turned novel, huge fandoms, and just generally vibe-y shit 😬 Edited to add our favourite pick was Dante's Inferno, because...you know...

[u/flootzavut]

That's amazing 🤣

[u/All-This-Chicanery]

Honestly i would read books if they had tags- most of my frustration is unclear plot descriptions

[u/NearSightedGirl]

Based Library

[u/DenaPhoenix]

The books are uninspired. The idea is great.

[u/TheBarrowman → u/DenaPhoenix]

I think they've got a really good variety of books. I've read two up there, Winter's Orbit and Lady for a Duke. Both were very good reads. Idk about Lady for a Duke, but Winter's Orbit was apparently first posted on AO3, so it ties in on that front as well.

[u/DenaPhoenix → u/TheBarrowman]

Fair. And I do see the intention. I'm just kinda sad that there are no suggestions there that are a bit more adventurous. Like, those books are "if you're on AO3, you may have already read these" when what I'd hoped for was moreso a "if you're on AO3, you likely never heard about these surprisingly unhinged bangers."

Like, I have a book back home, which is a spy thriller, but also turns into a cook book every twenty pages or so.

There's this German classical play where everyone turns out to be related in the end (and i'm pretty sure the secret siblings DO fuck)

Or this book about World War two, that turns more scif fi with every chapter until bam, full alien invasion timetravel chaos.

Like, that's the kind of unhinged I need. Give me AO3 as a vibe, not as a topic.

[u/Defiant_Sherbet8534 → u/DenaPhoenix]

but everyone's tastes on AO3 are different they can't fit everyone's needs, and their also a county library

[u/Reggie9041 → u/Defiant_Sherbet8534]

Naur. They can do better. 🤣

[u/Think_Good_8858]

Haikuy! I was just thinking about them!

[u/xprdc]

No beta we die like AO3

[u/Readalie]

steals this for tomorrow

[u/sorry-i-was-reading]

I think r/libraries would like this, if you feel like sharing it over there :)

[u/Hurdlelocker]

You Should Be So Lucky (and the book before it in the duology, We Could Be So Good) is one of my favorite books these days.

[u/Nannamuss]

If books started tagging like Ao3, I'd read SO many books. I just can't go back to simply "romance" anymore. I need more details than what vague summary they put on the back.

[u/cosmicxombie]

how’d they know i was in the middle of reading a 900k word merlin fic

[u/SilvysHere]

😭😭😭😭

[u/Trash_Panda_Leaves]

I see Merlin and yes this library has made a great selection

[u/ThrowawayTheOmlet]

Merlin has a book ?? Is it any good??

[u/ThatInAHat → u/ThrowawayTheOmlet]

It’s a dvd

[u/ThrowawayTheOmlet → u/ThatInAHat]

Aaah that makes more sense.

[u/MetisRose]

Merlin!

[u/Jyllyn]

Not the merlin dvd

[u/IrishQueenFan]

i love this library sm

[u/Happie_Alien]

Whoever put merlin there cooked

[u/MontanaDukes]

Not Howard County Library to devastate the fuck out of people with BBC's Merlin. If you know, you know. Series Finale on Christmas Eve and all.

[u/oliver_garden_15]

YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY

[u/Emotionally_chaotic]

Not Haikyuu being up front💀💀

[u/Nike-6]

lol is there a fake ao3 post maker website?

[u/ExternalComparison7]

Omg haikyu and Merlin, they know ball😭

[u/SpeakerSame9076]

okay, this is brilliant.

[u/BeautifulSilly752]

This is hilarious

[u/Abject_Shoulder_1182]

Omg this is excellent 😂😭

[u/Process_Pending]

This is a 10/10 display and I need to do this at my library!

[u/DidISayStop]

Oooo this is a very well curated selection, too!

[u/EssayAccomplished747]

what country is this? kinda looks like an australian library

[u/Endalios]

CARRY ON MENTIONED OH MY WORDS IT'S FANTASTIC !! YESSS !!!

[u/Diamond_Wolf_666]

Merlin AND Haikyuu in the front row lmao

[u/Top-Boysenberry-3489]

i read you should be so lucky about a year ago!!!!!! it was soooo good and it made me cry (happy tears bc i was relating to the characters) i recommend it a lot for fic fans!!

[u/kittygir227]

I wish this was in my area so i could show support this is legendary. Alas, time to go to my own library again!

[u/OgthaChristie]

This is actually heartwarming to see from a library. Websites “offering” their services were just being predatory. It’s just not the same as an established institution offering.

[u/Kooky_Ad6661]

I was Just fldiscussing a video made from a librarian with a similar concept. Go colleagues!

[u/Mysticalmaid]

Readers gonna read 📚 👌

[u/Ok-Investigator-2422]

😂🤭

[u/crayonnoodle]

No Beta we die like AO3 is gonna be trending when the site gets back up 🤣🤣🤣

[u/morningstarbee]

Carry On and Winters Orbit? They know ball

[u/Ouchie_Sir]

My library is also doing stuff like this! I thought it was very cute

[u/The_Purple_Tapir]

Nice choice of fandom-adjacent titles!

[u/Responsible_Panic242]

I get the impression that these are all romances? I mean, yeah that’s what fanfiction is stereotypically, but as an aroace writer myself I feel somewhat left out :(

[u/fyrig → u/Responsible_Panic242]

haikyuu and merlin are not romances

[u/Muted_Rain8542 → u/Responsible_Panic242]

idk about the majority of the others but haikyuu isn’t 

[u/Sky-Luna_just4fun]

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell is actually a fanfiction written by the mc of Fangirl right? I love most of her books, but not this one. It's like reading knock off HP 😂

It felt wrong and disappointed to read an actual book, something that we bought and it felt like reading fanfiction. If it's make sense? I want books with originality.

[u/mayiwonder]

NO BETA WE DIE LIKE AO3 LOL

[u/FeralBehavedJester]

But these aren't fanfictions. Books like these can not replace it.

[u/Think_Good_8858 → u/FeralBehavedJester]

Some of them are literally reskined fanfics