Librarian’s Sung Announcements Go Viral, Eliciting “Crazy” Online Response

A librarian, known for singing announcements to patrons, has described the social media response as “crazy.” Rather than maintaining quiet, Lara Harris was encouraged by her colleagues to share her musical talent at work. This has resulted in her being recognized in public and her videos accumulating thousands of views online. The 24-year-old is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge, while also harboring aspirations of becoming a musician. “I really wasn’t expecting that kind of reception at all, but people seem to love them.” Certain videos she uploaded to TikTok have garnered as many as 160,000 views. Ms Harris, who works part-time at the library, stated: “I thought it would be really funny if at closing time, instead of making the normal announcement – saying ‘we are closing the library, please check out your books and make your way out’ – I sang it.” “Some days people will clap… other days it’s just crickets and complete silence.” According to Ms Harris, her colleagues expressed a wish that she had begun posting these videos months earlier. While some colleagues dislike using the intercom system, Ms Harris enjoys it. Although she learned music theory during her upbringing, she was never instructed on how to create and record music. She elaborated, “I was classically trained. My parents put me into music lessons when I was the age of three, so it’s been a really long time coming.” “Last year I released a song and nothing happened. Then I released a second song and nothing happened. I didn’t know anyone who was trying to pursue music… I didn’t really have any idea of what I was doing.” She added: “One day you come up with a good idea and people like it and suddenly you’re getting exposure and people like it – it’s been a real blessing to use social media for this.” Ms Harris models her announcements and melodies after the music of artists such as Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, Ariana Grande, and Taylor Swift. “I have always been a huge Swiftie. I would say Taylor Swift has been my musical mother. I have learnt a lot from that woman.” “I find that I’m always doing female solo acts and that’s what I am. That’s what I’m attracted to and want to be, so I guess I am trying to follow in their footsteps.”