off the page: victoria bracher

a look into the heart, mind, & style of a librarian

Welcome to off the page, a conversation series where guests of novel enrichment are asked about their work, creative process, sources of inspiration, and so much more. Read the first installment here.

In the media, the portrayal of librarians is varied and often produces stereotypes. A deep dive on Pinterest will show you an array of long silhouettes, wire-framed glasses, chunky footwear, a palette of sensible cardigans, and most importantly—a love of books.

But it’s important to note that beyond the surface-level appreciation and aestheticism, librarians are merchants of culture, providing access to information, planning programs, and organizing data for their communities. It’s a complex job—a labor of love, patience, and dedication.

With this in mind, meet the next guest of novel enrichment—Victoria Bracher, a twenty-something librarian, content creator, and Ohio native with an admirable commitment to personal style.

What inspired you to become a librarian? 

VB: I majored in sociology in college where I also worked in two different library systems, and I realized quickly that sociology and libraries are very complementary. After studying social theory and disparity in education, I wanted to pursue a path that offered support for the gaps left by systemic inequality. I think the combination of working in libraries and studying social inequity during my formative years inspired me to pursue the profession.

What is your favorite part of being a librarian/working in public service? 

VB: I never wonder why I chose this profession. Sure, it's difficult to constantly confront ways in which our socioeconomic infrastructure has failed so many people, but it's also so mutually fulfilling to connect with people in the tiniest interactions. I'm lucky to have the capacity to help, and it feels like a privilege to be of service to my community.

How do you separate yourself from your work? 

VB: Honestly, reading helps me decompress a lot. I don't actually get to talk about books much at work, so if I've had a particularly rough day, I look forward to just lying in bed and reading in silence. I've also been knitting a ton lately!

What are three motifs you gravitate towards when getting dressed? 

VB: First and foremost, I have to be comfortable. Second, I find I don't feel completely myself unless mixing masculine and feminine pieces. I love pairing workwear with chunky loafers or ballet flats, lots of jewelry, and a little sweater or blouse. Third, I aim for what Arbela refers to as a "thrown together" style. She spoke about this concept in a TikTok last year, and it really resonated with me. I love easy silhouettes, neutral outfits with pops of color or pattern in the layered elements, like socks and undershirts. My outfits have to be comfy, approachable, and authentic to how I feel.

What is your best thrift find?

VB: This is such a tough question! At this moment, I'm going to say this pair of waterproof shearling-lined boots I got for $10 at Savers a couple of years ago because I'm wearing them for the third day in a row. They're a rich patent brown color, and they were made in the USA but have no branding whatsoever. I feel lucky to have found them and owned them for three winters now!

With the rise of microtrends, what do you think is the most challenging part of establishing an authentic personal style?

VB: I could talk on and on about this. I think people feel compelled to dress as parodies of other individuals whom they think other people eagerly consume. Online in particular, it's difficult to get dressed when you are considering someone is not only perceiving you, but interpreting and ingesting your image and basing your personhood off of that. And when you are in a position where you've experienced your own content gaining traction, you realize your choices become commodities. I think people can get carried away with the idea that "successfully" dressing (dressing in a way that earns you clout, likes, attention, etc.) is formulaic, when really, style that reaches you is often a product of a person dressing authentically like themselves, incorporating the components and trends that work uniquely for their authentic self-expression. 

It's challenging to realize it as it happens. In the last year or two, I have gotten much better at realizing my threshold for discomfort in trying new styles or trends. I have to ask myself if I'm biting on a microtrend because it is genuinely the elusive missing piece I have been waiting for that can better help me express myself, or if the trend simply represents a desirability I believe I don't possess. When the latter happens, I have to confront the part of me that feels insecure without this item. So, I think it is difficult to realize when and how we need to challenge the deeper reasons we feel compelled to consume new trends so voraciously. 

Where are your favorite places to thrift in Cleveland? 

VB: My day-off circuit is always Value World in North Olmsted, Salvation Army on Biddulph, and Savers on Ridge. If I'm buying vintage, I hit up Rose Parlor in Ohio City or Cool Water Dry Goods in Tremont.

What is the book that made you fall in love with reading? 

VB: I was one of the last kids who learned to read in my first grade class, so I think once I learned, I was so grateful I could read that I just didn't stop, so it's hard to remember the first book I loved. I have vivid memories of tearing through the Magic Tree House series as a kid. In my mid twenties, the book that got me out of a years-long reading slump was The Overstory by Richard Powers. I think any book that makes me pivot in my own sensibility makes me fall in love with reading all over again.

Some books that have done that for me in the last few years are Love and Other Thought Experiments by Sophie Ward, The Bee Sting by Paul Murray, Severance by Ling Ma, Tonight I'm Someone Else by Chelsea Hodson, In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado, Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin, and honestly so many others.

Which genres do you reach for most? 

VB: I am a contemporary/lit fic girly through and through. I also studied poetry in college, so I try to read one or two collections a month to stay on top of my own writing practice, as well.  

Favorite most recent read?

VB: I loved Day by Michael Cunningham. It was the first book I read this year. Cunningham's writing is somber and deliberate, but his language is magnetic.

For style inspiration, a glimpse at working as a librarian (and life in Cleveland), and reading recommendations—be sure to give Victoria a follow on Instagram or TikTok.