Libraries are like these little magical portals to a thousand worlds, starting from fairytales about princesses and ending at how to DIY a cool shelf for books to rest on until they are needed again. To little children, librarians seem like the gatekeepers of said magic. Mychal Threets was one of those kids. He spent most of his childhood at Solano County Library until one day, he himself became a librarian. His sunny disposition quickly made him the community – and TikTok's – favorite. Sadly, he also caught the attention of internet trolls and decided to step back to focus on his mental health.
More info: TikTok
When Mychal was little, he would spend a lot of free time at his local library - this place holds many wonderful memories
Image credits: mychal3ts
If you ask Mychal anything about the library, you’re guaranteed to see a smile on his face before he answers. He’s always been a proud library kid, as he was homeschooled and would spend a lot of his free time in the Solano County Library.
Mychal says that he cannot remember the first time he visited this place. It holds so many dear memories, for example, when he got to bring his beloved cat for the library-organized pet parade.
“I was so happy to bring my cat and show her the place I loved. I was so proud. I thought she was the only animal who had gotten a ribbon and then my dad picked us up and was kind enough to tell us every other kid and animal had also gotten a ribbon. So it was a very good grounding exercise from a very early age. And ever since then, I’ve loved libraries.”
It said that if you find a job you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life. So, it was unsurprising when a grown-up Mychal became a librarian. In 2020, he began sharing his library joy on TikTok, garnering 778,000 followers who delighted in watching him talking about books and various activities at the library, spreading much-needed “library joy”.
Image credits: mychal3ts
When he grew up, Mychal became a librarian and decided to spread some "library joy" on TikTok
Image credits: mychal3ts
"Having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card!" is his famous motto. Rocking his signature afro, colorful shirts and covered in book-themed tattoos, Mychal only wanted to spread positivity. But with the fame comes negative attention from people who have way too much time on their hands.
Firstly, some trolls began posting on X (formerly Twitter), suggesting that Mychal was autistic, had developmental delays and was overall “weird”. Then it avalanched into something bigger, with some aura readers posting videos about a “dark energy” surrounding him.
But Mychal always responded with kindness to these insults, encouraging people just be nice to each other. He always continued to smile.
Image credits: mychal3ts
But his newfound fame also caught the attention of trolls who began bullying Mychal for his "dark energy"
Image credits: mychal3ts
Unfortunately, constant harassment becomes unbearable. Mychal made a shocking announcement that he will be quitting his beloved job at the library. However, he doesn’t think that the trolls won – he’s taking a break to focus on his mental health and making sure his love for the library stays.
“It’s been so difficult seeing and hearing about all of that on social media over the last several months. It hurts very badly to your soul to be bullied in person or on the internet,” Mychal said in his video. “I was raised by my library, so I wouldn’t just make a decision to leave because of cyberbullying. I’m honored to have this platform to highlight library workers and literacy, it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, but my mental health honestly just started to suffer.”
Mychal also shared that, since he was eight years old, he’s been in a constant battle with anxiety, panic attacks and depression, all of which have come back in full force lately. It is not just because of cyberbullying, but also due to the new pressures of being a public figure. It is always good to know when to take a break and more people should follow his example as there is nothing more precious than one’s health and peace of mind.
Due to unwanted attention and pressures of a newfound fame, Mychal's mental health began suffering and the librarian decided to step back
Image credits: mychal3ts
“It’s added significant stress to not let anybody down. I’ve had three mental breakdowns in the past several months, over feeling pressured. Feeling like I’m gonna let people down. Like I’m betraying them, be it library users, be it my community, be it my family, be it my own mental health check team, or my best friends. It’s feeling like I’m not good enough, like I’m not doing enough,” Mychal revealed the heartbreaking truth.
“All of those different things lead to so much pressure and is what led to my decision. I tell people day in and day out that your mental health does matter. And how can I say that honestly and genuinely if I don’t do it for myself?”
"I tell people day in and day out that your mental health does matter. And how can I say that honestly and genuinely if I don’t do it for myself?”
Image credits: mychal3ts
The librarian is right - mental health is incredibly important for a long and happy life
Image credits: mychal3ts
Mychal is right: mental health does matter. Sadly, it is still disregarded as a bad mood or a bad day. However, a healthy system is crucial to happiness and well-being and should come as a priority, as it:
- Improves overall mood and boosts emotional resilience;
- Helps to stay more productive and inspired;
- Boosts self-esteem;
- Improves relationships;
- Helps achieve goals and reach one's full potential.
Now we all know that we have to eat fruit and veggies, drink plenty of water and get some exercise to make sure our bodies are healthy and heading for long and happy lives. But is there anything we can do to boost mental health? Turns out, there are a bunch of steps anyone can take:
- Get moving. Exercising causes positive chemical changes in the brain. Plus if you have a good playlist on, you’re guaranteed to be smiling in no time;
- Learn new skills. While you might not become the next Da Vinci, learning something new gives you a sense of accomplishment and purpose;
- Squeeze in 8 hugs a day- hugging pets also counts, especially after a hard day;
- Practice mindfulness – have you noticed how beautiful the sky is today? Or how it’s almost spring? Stopping for a moment to enjoy the moment allows us to enjoy life more.
Watch the video here
