Ever found yourself on LibraryTok?

Jen Miller, a Penn State alumna of the College of Education, has amassed over 660,000 followers on her TikTok page, “Meet Me in the Media Center.”

Before she began her book return game and online presence, Miller always knew she wanted to be in education. She applied to two colleges, but the second she got into Penn State, she knew it was where she was meant to be.

“When I got into Penn State, that was it,” Miller said. “I didn’t have to worry about where I was going because that was the only place I wanted to go.” 

Miller spent much of her childhood forcing her friends to play school, so making it a full-time career was the perfect next step for her. After four years in Happy Valley, Miller moved to North Carolina and has taught there ever since.

However, after teaching in the classroom for over 20 years, Miller wanted a change. So, the library became a natural pivot in her career.

“I am still working with students, I am still impacting the school, [and] I am still interacting with families,” Miller said. 

Miller already possesses a master’s degree in Educational Psychology from Alabama, but she is now working on another degree — a master’s in Library and Information Science — to be certified in her position.

Being at school all day and doing separate coursework at night can be challenging, but the altered teaching experiences have rejuvenated Miller.

“I thrive off of change, and this truly has become a little bit of a dream job for me that I didn’t know I was missing all along,” Miller said.

While the degree helps with logistics in the library, Miller needed others to turn to in her first year at the helm. So, some other teachers in her school recommended TikTok as a way to learn tips and tricks and get other types of inspiration for her library.

“I made an account for the sole purpose of looking to see what libraries were looking like and what they did,” Miller said. 

While she was scrolling, Miller also decided to make content of her own. She experienced her first viral stint in November 2023 with a book repair video, where she took a book that was split in two and made it checkout-ready again.

In February 2024, Miller hit 10,000 followers on her account and has been steadily increasing by about 20,000 followers a week since.

Now, “Meet Me in the Media Center” is most known for her daily book return game. In these videos, Miller scans returned books to see if they were brought back to the library on time, late, “late-late”, are on hold, or have a note.

Each category has its own special one-second sound, and the audience is just as surprised with the outcome of each book as Miller.

“Those are the sounds, that if anyone has the same system in elementary or middle or high school, those would be the same sounds that they heard,” Miller said. 

@meetmeinthemediacenter

12.4.24S2E93 The one with all the sounds. #asmr #book #sound #nostalgia #return #trending #series #new #episode #fun #library #game #librarytiktok #librariansoftiktok #daily #routine #bookreturngame #Inverted

♬ original sound – Meet Me In The Media Center

Aside from book returns, Miller uses her platform to build up libraries around the country. Even within her own school district, she has made wishlists online and received hundreds of new books for her school. Some people are even sending books and supplies without the wishlist, and just want to help.

“TikTok, and that platform and community, has been so life-changing for these students because they are getting these books that we can’t otherwise purchase,” Miller said.

According to Miller, 35 states do not have an individual budget for school libraries. This makes a majority of them severely underfunded and in need of new books. Most recently, Miller has put together wishlists to support those schools in North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene.

With the TikTok support, Miller also implemented a care closet in her school. It holds clothes, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, and more for any student who may be in need.

“The people who are part of the community of library TikTok are the most generous people I have ever come across in my whole life,” Miller said.

Alongside the many books, Miller experiences her reach of TikTok anytime she travels. While her kids may not have expected it, it has become a part of their traveling routine.

“If I go to the airport, or if I go to Disney World, or when we went on a tour at Lambeau Field, at least one person in those places recognizes me,” Miller said.

On the home front, Miller is most excited that her platform has encouraged more kids to give the library a try and know that it is not just for reading. Every day, she has her classic readers come in, but now she has social groups who play Uno, chess, checkers, and use the maker lab for bracelet making and other activities.

“It’s a place to gather,” Miller said. “It’s not just a place for books, it’s a place for people.”

Miller was also nominated for the 2025 Cheer Choice Award, which is given to a content creator who uses the platform in a positive way. She is up for the Education Award.

TikTok has opened so many new opportunities for Miller, but she is glad that in the end, she can pay it forward to thousands of educators and students across the country.

“It’s making a difference, and even if it’s small, it’s making a difference,” Miller said.