In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped our world, and like many other library professionals, I found myself navigating a new role, Teen Services Specialist, in an environment that had shifted overnight. As the world went into lockdown, I had more time on my hands than I knew what to do with. What began as frantic scrambling soon turned into scrolling, and by 2021, I found myself diving into Bookstagram, BookTube, and, eventually, the booming world of BookTok.
Fast forward to 2025, and social media platforms, particularly TikTok, have become a major influence on the book world.
Following the brief TikTok ban of 2025, it’s an ideal time to examine how BookTok has evolved, not only as a platform that drives circulation in libraries but also as a potential tool for…