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Twee katten in de bibliotheek
It all started when Jan Louch, assistant librarian at the Douglas County Public Library in Carson Valley, Nevada, and a coworker acquired two Scottish Fold cats to keep mice away from the town's new library. Jan called the cats Baker and Taylor because the names fit the felines' mild temperaments, and because she dealt with the book distribution company on a daily basis.
When Jan agreed to let the company photograph the cats for a poster, she couldn't know that they would go on to become the most famous library cats in the world. It was enough for Jan that everyone who visited the library fell in love with the cats. But then the poster became a hit. Children from across the country wrote letters, which Jan answered for Baker and Taylor, and fans traveled from far and wide to see Baker holding court at the circulation desk and Taylor in his unusual sitting-Buddha pose.
A charming memoir, The True Tails of Baker and Taylor celebrates these wonderful cats and the people - readers, cat-lovers, and many others - that came together around them.
When Jan agreed to let the company photograph the cats for a poster, she couldn't know that they would go on to become the most famous library cats in the world. It was enough for Jan that everyone who visited the library fell in love with the cats. But then the poster became a hit. Children from across the country wrote letters, which Jan answered for Baker and Taylor, and fans traveled from far and wide to see Baker holding court at the circulation desk and Taylor in his unusual sitting-Buddha pose.
A charming memoir, The True Tails of Baker and Taylor celebrates these wonderful cats and the people - readers, cat-lovers, and many others - that came together around them.
288 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2015
28 people are currently reading
1186 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
May 13, 2016
Full disclosure: this is in no way an unbiased opinion. My grandmother was the co-owner of the cats and appears many times in the book, I know Jan Louch, and I knew the cats well. In fact, I used to work off my library fines by helping out in the library, and one of the things I did was brush the cats (which Baker loved; Taylor had to be in the right mood).
Anyway, with that said, I enjoyed this book a whole lot. In addition to the charming story of the cats themselves, I really liked Jan's retelling of her personal history and how the cats and the library affected her life. Many other lives were touched by the cats, and I particularly loved the Baker and Taylor fan club and Jan's letters to them (though the letters at the end of the cats' lives made me cry).
Definitely recommended for cat lovers and book lovers alike.
Anyway, with that said, I enjoyed this book a whole lot. In addition to the charming story of the cats themselves, I really liked Jan's retelling of her personal history and how the cats and the library affected her life. Many other lives were touched by the cats, and I particularly loved the Baker and Taylor fan club and Jan's letters to them (though the letters at the end of the cats' lives made me cry).
Definitely recommended for cat lovers and book lovers alike.
July 6, 2019
If you work at the library, as I do, you know that most libraries order their books from the book retailer company "Baker and Taylor." In a small library in Nevada a Scottish Fold cat was adopted by a library to get a mouse problem under control. He was named Baker and soon the librarians decided he needed a friend. Since Scottish Folds are expensive and the librarians didn't want to use tax payer money they knew it would be awhile before they could get a second cat. However, their friend from the Baker and Taylor Company offered to purchase the library a second cat if they could use the two cats as mascots for the company. The offer was accepted! This book chronicles the photo shoots, the publicity, the fan club and life in the Minden branch of the Douglas County Library in Nevada with Baker and Taylor.
This is a great book, especially for animal lovers!
This is a great book, especially for animal lovers!
February 7, 2020
A truly heart-warming tale of not only the cats but Jan Louch's life after divorce too. The library staff and patrons are all part of this pair of Scottish Fold cats life in the stacks! I told myself I wouldn't cry but the tears came regardless-a well done farewell.
March 10, 2019
I know it’s 2019 and this book is several years old but still, it’s going to be one of the best books I read in 2019 because there’s just nothing that can top it!
I learned so, so much!
If you ever want to know the realities and struggles of just about every library and library worker read this.
Also, if you love books and cats! Read this!
In just about any case, read this! You won’t regret it!
I learned so, so much!
If you ever want to know the realities and struggles of just about every library and library worker read this.
Also, if you love books and cats! Read this!
In just about any case, read this! You won’t regret it!
October 16, 2025
Updated comment: I recently learned of the forthcoming demise of the company Baker & Taylor and it hurts my heart.
Oh my, but how I loved this story of two famous cats--well, well-known to anyone who has worked in a library, especially in the 1980s.
Jan Louch was hired as a librarian at the Douglas County Public Library in what was then the little town of Minden, Nevada, about 40 miles south of Reno. A few years later in 1983, Louch was instrumental in acquiring Baker as a library cat, soon followed by his feline companion, Taylor. The Scottish Fold cats became well-known mascots of Baker & Taylor, a significant book vendor to libraries. Anyone who has worked in a library knows the rest is history and probably owns a poster or shopping bag with their photo or likeness.
Louch and Rogak chronicled not only the rise of B & T, but also Louch's personal life story and her experiences of working in a small library in a growing community. Interspersed are a few "interviews" with other library cats, which are quite charming, and a chapter from the viewpoint of the vet that cared for B & T.
I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading this, except when I had to mop a few tears because, well, you know, animals don't live forever. It is a wonderfully delightful read that any cat fan will love, and is especially recommended for anyone who loved DEWEY by Vicki Myron and THE CAT WHO WENT TO PARIS (and sequels) by Peter Gethers.
Side note: In 1990, I had the privilege of meeting Baker & Taylor while passing through Minden. Not only were they sweet and mellow boys, but the library staff couldn't have been more gracious, even leading me to the back room where Taylor was sleeping. I now realize that it was a bit of an imposition to interrupt their workflow, and I am very grateful for their hospitality. After reading about the bad experiences the cats endured during professional photography, I now understand why Baker looked a bit annoyed in my photo, although I do remember him also loudly purring.
Oh my, but how I loved this story of two famous cats--well, well-known to anyone who has worked in a library, especially in the 1980s.
Jan Louch was hired as a librarian at the Douglas County Public Library in what was then the little town of Minden, Nevada, about 40 miles south of Reno. A few years later in 1983, Louch was instrumental in acquiring Baker as a library cat, soon followed by his feline companion, Taylor. The Scottish Fold cats became well-known mascots of Baker & Taylor, a significant book vendor to libraries. Anyone who has worked in a library knows the rest is history and probably owns a poster or shopping bag with their photo or likeness.
Louch and Rogak chronicled not only the rise of B & T, but also Louch's personal life story and her experiences of working in a small library in a growing community. Interspersed are a few "interviews" with other library cats, which are quite charming, and a chapter from the viewpoint of the vet that cared for B & T.
I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading this, except when I had to mop a few tears because, well, you know, animals don't live forever. It is a wonderfully delightful read that any cat fan will love, and is especially recommended for anyone who loved DEWEY by Vicki Myron and THE CAT WHO WENT TO PARIS (and sequels) by Peter Gethers.
Side note: In 1990, I had the privilege of meeting Baker & Taylor while passing through Minden. Not only were they sweet and mellow boys, but the library staff couldn't have been more gracious, even leading me to the back room where Taylor was sleeping. I now realize that it was a bit of an imposition to interrupt their workflow, and I am very grateful for their hospitality. After reading about the bad experiences the cats endured during professional photography, I now understand why Baker looked a bit annoyed in my photo, although I do remember him also loudly purring.
December 31, 2019
"The True Tails of Baker and Taylor," library cats in the small town of Minden, in the Carson Valley of western Nevada. Written by one of the town librarians, the cats were sponsored by a wholesale book distributor to libraries. It's not particularly well-written, but the cats were charming, and a big hit with almost everyone in town. And hey: books and cats! You can't lose with that combo. Comes to the inevitable sad ending, which teared me up. Cats live such short lives compared to humans. A quick, easy read.
November 28, 2016
Cute story, but the writing was on par with a grandma who writes a recipe blog for church. Not engaging writing nor particularly well-written. At least the cat stories are cute.
August 17, 2019
This book combines two of the good things in life: books and cats, and Jan Louch got to be around both as a librarian. How awesome is that? I mean, for books and cat lovers, that must sound like heaven. It's nice knowing that libraries could be homes for cats too.
This book was cute at some parts and made me giggle, but the last part was sort of sad. The photos at the end of the book are a really nice bonus and I was happy to see actual photos of Baker and Taylor in the library; they looked so adorable and I would've loved to pet them!
I chose this as my next book to read on a whim, but it was nice for a change.
And oh, I liked the word pawtograph (a cat's autograph) that some fan of the cats created.
This book was cute at some parts and made me giggle, but the last part was sort of sad. The photos at the end of the book are a really nice bonus and I was happy to see actual photos of Baker and Taylor in the library; they looked so adorable and I would've loved to pet them!
I chose this as my next book to read on a whim, but it was nice for a change.
And oh, I liked the word pawtograph (a cat's autograph) that some fan of the cats created.
September 25, 2017
Wonderful memoir about two library cats and Jan, the librarian who cared for them for fifteen years. I thoroughly enjoyed the first person POV, and all the wonderful insight to the workings of the library system and librarians, and a glimpse into an earlier time in American history, and so many changes.
As a lifelong avid fan of cats ,books, and libraries, I found this book delightful!
Highly recommended for readers who feel the same.
As a lifelong avid fan of cats ,books, and libraries, I found this book delightful!
Highly recommended for readers who feel the same.
June 9, 2023
Wat een schattig verhaal was dit, ik had deze gekocht omwille van de cover maar dit boek gaf me zo een gelukkig gevoel, het is een waargebeurd verhaal over twee katten in een bibliotheek en dat zijn twee dingen die ik graag heb; katten en boeken en daar bestaat een boek over. 🥰 Ik was instant verliefd op Baker & Taylor toen ik de fotootjes zag van hen in het boek. Dus aan alle kattenliefhebbers, read this one! 😻
October 12, 2017
I loved this book! If you love cats and books this is a must read! Baker and Taylor were famous, and they wormed their way into my heart by just reading this. Had I known of them while they lived I would definitely have traveled to their library to meet them!
December 15, 2017
Endearing non-fiction about two cats that lived at the Douglas County Library in Minden, Nevada, and how they became celebrities, complete with fan club, photo shoots, and “cat tourists” stopping by to meet them. It is also the author’s memoir about her life with animals and books, and how the cats helped her pull out of a difficult time in life.
For me, the main attraction of this book is that it is set in a town about 15 miles from where I live. The descriptions of the area are spot on. If you are familiar with cats, the behaviors of Baker and Taylor will bring a smile of acknowledgement. The story shines in highlighting the sense of community in this small town, where people gather in the library, pet the cats, and spend parts of their days reading. The less successful portion of the book has to do with the author’s life story. She is very guarded, not wanting to expose a great deal of her pain, which is, of course, her prerogative, but it lessened the impact. I also didn’t care for the technophobia, as I believe libraries need to embrace the changes of the information age.
Recommended to cat and library aficionados, or those who enjoy stories of local interest, in this case Northern Nevada, US.
For me, the main attraction of this book is that it is set in a town about 15 miles from where I live. The descriptions of the area are spot on. If you are familiar with cats, the behaviors of Baker and Taylor will bring a smile of acknowledgement. The story shines in highlighting the sense of community in this small town, where people gather in the library, pet the cats, and spend parts of their days reading. The less successful portion of the book has to do with the author’s life story. She is very guarded, not wanting to expose a great deal of her pain, which is, of course, her prerogative, but it lessened the impact. I also didn’t care for the technophobia, as I believe libraries need to embrace the changes of the information age.
Recommended to cat and library aficionados, or those who enjoy stories of local interest, in this case Northern Nevada, US.
June 22, 2019
Baker and Taylor were two library cats (Scottish folds) in small-town Nevada, who lived in the 1980s and 90s and were named after the bookselling company, Baker & Taylor. When the company found out about the cats, they decided to use them in the company’s promotional material, propelling the cats to stardom and creating a lasting image for the company, as they still use the cats’ likenesses 20+ years later.
Books and cats – my two favourite things! I also have three Baker & Taylor shopping bags, where I store unread books! I really enjoyed this. There is a section of photos in the middle of the book. Baker and Taylorare so cute, and each had their own personalities. They even had a fan club made up of a grade 2 class elsewhere in the country. The teacher had her class write letters (to help them with their writing) every year to the cats, and send gifts. These were quite cute. There was (like with Dewey’s book) some biographical information about the librarian (and author) who mainly took care of the cats, as well.
Books and cats – my two favourite things! I also have three Baker & Taylor shopping bags, where I store unread books! I really enjoyed this. There is a section of photos in the middle of the book. Baker and Taylorare so cute, and each had their own personalities. They even had a fan club made up of a grade 2 class elsewhere in the country. The teacher had her class write letters (to help them with their writing) every year to the cats, and send gifts. These were quite cute. There was (like with Dewey’s book) some biographical information about the librarian (and author) who mainly took care of the cats, as well.
October 26, 2016
The True Tails of Baker and Taylor: The Library Cats Who Left Their Pawprints on a Small Town . . . and the World - Jan Louch, Lisa Rogak I’m a sucker for a pet book, despite knowing that no pet is immortal. And the combination of cats and books is irresistible. Plus, too, I was a bookseller back in the day, and know Baker & Taylor well, as well as the posters.
Library copy
Library copy
July 13, 2023
Utterly charming memoir about life in a small town library with two amazing Scottish Folds, named after one of the largest book distributors in the country; Baker & Taylor actually sponsored the cats and helped pay for their upkeep during their heyday as feline celebrities, providing popular swag at the American Booksellers' Association and American Library Associations' conferences each year, including an annual calendar featuring the two. The cats' personalities come through, as does that of the author, librarian Jan Louch; she is clearly the kind of person who sees life as a glass that is half-full, even if she occasionally refers to herself as a "grumpy" librarian. Baker, very social, and Taylor, a little more reserved, had a unique experience in their library home. Louch loved these two and took great care of them over their decade and a half in her library, and her patrons and visitors from across the world responded in kind. The anecdotes about a second-grade classroom who became their pen pals in the "Baker and Taylor Fan Club" were particularly charming. A true feel-good story for cat lovers and book lovers alike.
March 27, 2025
Heartwarming! Not only are the cats endearing, but so are the substories – like a man with autism who is a beloved part of the community. Reading Jan’s historical anecdotes reminded me a lot of my grandparents and made me feel close to them and their love of the land and learning.
May 11, 2016
This is the story of two library cats that became international superstars after being photographed by a major book distributor.
I really enjoyed the cats' story but never totally connected with Jan Louch. I know she loves books and cats, but a couple parts of the library's story and her own personal story came across a little whiny in my opinion. Most of the public doesn't know that most people working in libraries are not actual librarians.
The story of Mr. Figini tugged my heart. Anyone who has worked in a public library has met and tried to help people like him. And, I LOVED the pics at the end of the book!
I really enjoyed the cats' story but never totally connected with Jan Louch. I know she loves books and cats, but a couple parts of the library's story and her own personal story came across a little whiny in my opinion. Most of the public doesn't know that most people working in libraries are not actual librarians.
The story of Mr. Figini tugged my heart. Anyone who has worked in a public library has met and tried to help people like him. And, I LOVED the pics at the end of the book!
March 21, 2021
Dit boek was een aangename verrassing. Ik vond de titel en de cover erg leuk, vandaar dat ik het boek oppakte. Ik dacht dat dit boek wel een of andere diepere betekenis had, maar dit boek ging letterlijk over twee katten... in de bibliotheek!
Het was een heerlijke comfort read, en door de simpele schrijfstijl erg fijn om te lezen. Er gebeurt eigenlijk niet veel in het boek, maar toch heb ik het bijna in één ruk uitgelezen. Het was gewoon lekker ongecompliceerd, verfrissend, en als dieren- en boekenliefhebber was het genieten om deze twee gecombineerd in een verhaal te lezen.
Het was een heerlijke comfort read, en door de simpele schrijfstijl erg fijn om te lezen. Er gebeurt eigenlijk niet veel in het boek, maar toch heb ik het bijna in één ruk uitgelezen. Het was gewoon lekker ongecompliceerd, verfrissend, en als dieren- en boekenliefhebber was het genieten om deze twee gecombineerd in een verhaal te lezen.
June 16, 2016
I'm not going to lie, I cried (a lot) through the last 50 or so pages of this book.
November 7, 2023
The fact that I work at a library and am a lifetime cat lover definitely colors my perception of this book, so bear that in mind.
Jan Louch tells the history of the titular cats, the library they inhabited, as well as that of herself and her community. She has a conversational tone throughout and tends to speak at length on some events and briefly on others depending on the whim of herself and her ghost writer. In spite of her tendency to draw attention away from herself, I felt like I came to know her as a person who lived through many hardships big and small in her work and in life.
Furthermore, despite it being decades since Baker and Taylor passed away, I feel a connection to them and to the other library cats “interviewed” throughout. The distinctive personalities showed through in the way their mannerisms were described and the photos inserted. It was very interesting to know the context for that famous “Use the Library” poster featuring Baker and Taylor (cat owners will be unsurprised to know it was a hassle to get them to pose for photos).
The subtitle is not an exaggeration—they had and continue to have lasting effects on the world. Baker and Taylor (the company) continues to use the cats’ likenesses to promote their services, which is what led me to ILLing this book. While I don’t know that I would necessarily want to have the responsibility for caring for a cat in my place of work, it did make me appreciate how beneficial they can be for patrons and staff in the right circumstances.
Some readers may find the slow-paced nature of this book difficult to get through, but I feel like it suits the subject matter and is to be expected.
I cried no less than five times reading this.
Jan Louch tells the history of the titular cats, the library they inhabited, as well as that of herself and her community. She has a conversational tone throughout and tends to speak at length on some events and briefly on others depending on the whim of herself and her ghost writer. In spite of her tendency to draw attention away from herself, I felt like I came to know her as a person who lived through many hardships big and small in her work and in life.
Furthermore, despite it being decades since Baker and Taylor passed away, I feel a connection to them and to the other library cats “interviewed” throughout. The distinctive personalities showed through in the way their mannerisms were described and the photos inserted. It was very interesting to know the context for that famous “Use the Library” poster featuring Baker and Taylor (cat owners will be unsurprised to know it was a hassle to get them to pose for photos).
The subtitle is not an exaggeration—they had and continue to have lasting effects on the world. Baker and Taylor (the company) continues to use the cats’ likenesses to promote their services, which is what led me to ILLing this book. While I don’t know that I would necessarily want to have the responsibility for caring for a cat in my place of work, it did make me appreciate how beneficial they can be for patrons and staff in the right circumstances.
Some readers may find the slow-paced nature of this book difficult to get through, but I feel like it suits the subject matter and is to be expected.
I cried no less than five times reading this.
January 17, 2019
Honestly, I would have given this book 3.5 stars, but since the setting is my own local library, I bumped it up to 4. I really enjoyed the author's descriptions of our area, and the cat's vet was the same veterinarian my dogs went to until he retired. The most surprising thing was how famous the cats were! I moved here in 1994, the same year that the first cat died (Baker), and though I remember seeing Taylor in those few years before he passed away in 1997, I had no idea that people all over the country and the world knew who the cats were! If you're curious, take a look: https://bit.ly/2CpYale
April 14, 2019
I was hesitant to read this book because I thought it would be schmalz-y. I live in the same county as this particular library, and even overlapped their lives by at least one year, but I never saw or met them. Contrary to my low expectations, this was an insightful story into the lives of librarians, some of whom I know and who still work at the library. The cats were well developed--their antics, their taste for yoghurt, the Buddha posture one of them preferred--and I grew attached to both of them. So much so that I cried when they had to be put down. I wish I had met them in person, but the library board ruled against replacing them.
dnf
September 7, 2017DNF 30%
Honesty this is a book about things all cats do, but PLOTTWIST they live in a library. The difference is well, nothing. I lived with cats my entire life and they more or less do the same thing. Maybe this book is fun if you don't know anything about the daily routine of a cat, but if you do this book isn't for you.
Honesty this is a book about things all cats do, but PLOTTWIST they live in a library. The difference is well, nothing. I lived with cats my entire life and they more or less do the same thing. Maybe this book is fun if you don't know anything about the daily routine of a cat, but if you do this book isn't for you.
September 19, 2018
I’m not crying, you’re crying. Man I love cats...and books...and libraries. Such a sweet “tail.”
August 20, 2025
Janken om katten die letterlijk 30 jaar geleden zijn overleden
December 14, 2023
Extraordenairy simple
July 1, 2024
It’s a cute story, and unique. At times I felt I was not enough of a fan of cats or libraries for the story to be as long or in depth as it was, but I enjoyed it overall. I found myself most appreciating how the library systems changed throughout the year, as I was wholly unfamiliar with this!
March 31, 2016
I received an advance copy of the book for free through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway
A fun, cute read! The book is really more a memoir of the author, history of the library she and the cats were a part of and the community that surrounded them all. Baker and Taylor were definitely the focus of the book, but Ms. Louch does a great job of balancing stories of the cats with background on herself, background on the library and background of Carson Valley, Nevada.
The book follows a general timeline of Baker and Taylor's time in the library. From when they first arrived (separately) to their rise in popularity due to being a part of an advertising campaign for Baker & Taylor booksellers. The author introduces many characters throughout and how the cats impacted their lives individually and as a whole.
Overall, I'd recommend this to any animal or cat lovers along with anyone that enjoys unique memoirs. It made me laugh, worry, be surprised and actually shed a few tears.
A fun, cute read! The book is really more a memoir of the author, history of the library she and the cats were a part of and the community that surrounded them all. Baker and Taylor were definitely the focus of the book, but Ms. Louch does a great job of balancing stories of the cats with background on herself, background on the library and background of Carson Valley, Nevada.
The book follows a general timeline of Baker and Taylor's time in the library. From when they first arrived (separately) to their rise in popularity due to being a part of an advertising campaign for Baker & Taylor booksellers. The author introduces many characters throughout and how the cats impacted their lives individually and as a whole.
Overall, I'd recommend this to any animal or cat lovers along with anyone that enjoys unique memoirs. It made me laugh, worry, be surprised and actually shed a few tears.
May 14, 2016
A real delight.
While this terrific book tells the story of Baker and Taylor, famous library cats, it also gives us insight into the changing world of libraries, how vital they are to a communities worldwide, even in the age of electronic media We see the very human librarians who work and the people for whom a library is a true lifeline and inspiration.
The story is defty handled, and there is a sprinkling of 'interviews' with library cats and a cat author to leaven the mix. These all shine lights into corners of the library cats world in different ways.
Jan Louch is a practical lady with a deep love for books and cats. How could we not love a book like this, the people it shows, the lives we see and two wonderful and inspiring cats.
While this terrific book tells the story of Baker and Taylor, famous library cats, it also gives us insight into the changing world of libraries, how vital they are to a communities worldwide, even in the age of electronic media We see the very human librarians who work and the people for whom a library is a true lifeline and inspiration.
The story is defty handled, and there is a sprinkling of 'interviews' with library cats and a cat author to leaven the mix. These all shine lights into corners of the library cats world in different ways.
Jan Louch is a practical lady with a deep love for books and cats. How could we not love a book like this, the people it shows, the lives we see and two wonderful and inspiring cats.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews