Jabari Banks September 30, 2026

Life & Work with Jabari Banks of Atlanta

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jabari Banks.

Hi Jabari, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Ever since I was a child, I’ve always been an avid reader and writer. Whether it be prose or poetry, movies or video games, or literary vs genre fiction, literature has always been my sanctuary in this life. Some of my earliest memories are of summer afternoons spent with my grandparents and older sisters at the library, checking out Star Wars EU novellas and anxiously bugging the poor librarian about when the next Percy Jackson novel would release. As is typical of most boys in their teen years, I fell out of the habit of reading and visiting the library in favor of playing video games and chasing social media virality.

I made my way back to the library in October of 2023, when I was 22. I had been aimlessly shuffling along, pursuing a degree I was uncertain about, when I began working as a Library Assistant for the Clayton County Library System. I spent around nine months working in this position, however, I gained a cursory introduction to the field of librarianship and fell in love. In the three years that have passed since then, I have transitioned over to a Librarian Technician position with the Cobb County Library System and curated a series of live music concerts, entitled Tiny Library Concert. We recently hosted our 2nd edition, which saw a record number of 50 attendants, 10+ performers, and over 500 likes and 71k views on Instagram, and counting.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve always had the mentality that the success we desire most in this life, whether it be personal, professional, or artistic, must require great sacrifice and my journey through life has reflected that. Familial loss has marked my young adulthood which has led to a bit of a bumpy road at times. It did not begin with the death of my maternal grandfather; however, it and the initial Covid-19 outbreak occurred within a week of one another in March 2020. This led to what felt like a snowball effect of familial losses and drama that culminated with the death of my maternal grandmother in September of 2023.

I continue to struggle to make peace with the multitude of losses that have occurred within my family; however, I take solace and find strength in the knowledge that they are all watching and waiting patiently for the day the sacrifices pay off.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Outside of my work as a librarian and curator for Tiny Library Concerts, I am also an aspiring novelist. I typically write speculative fiction novels and novellas, stories centered around working class African American protagonists resisting against oppression through radical insurgency and supernatural powers. I’m currently in the midst of the drafting process for what I aim to be my debut novella, which I hope to release sometime in 2027.

I am also Co-Owner and Co-Manager of Royal St. Sno-Balls, a New Orleans style shaved ice food truck that I operate alongside my father and the rest of our family. We currently celebrated our 10th anniversary this past summer and have worked alongside Atlanta Public Schools, Kindezi Schools, Home Depot, The City of Austell, and many more businesses and entities.

I take immense pride in my work at the library, whether it be the Tiny Library Concert series or just general circulation/technical assistance. The gratitude and praise that I receive from my patrons and artistic peers is the ultimate reward.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I’m a bit biased on this front, but I would suggest everyone reading to get a library card. In this current age, there is very little that is still free. A library card offers more than just access to a catalogue of books, it offers access to a multitude of online resources such as Libby and LinkedIn Learn, Citizenship Kits and Passport Application assistance, and much more. Go get you that library card!

Contact Info:

Website: https://lofmag.com
Instagram: LOFXBARI
Twitter: LOFXBARI
Soundcloud: LOFXBARI

Two people on stage, one with glasses and dreadlocks holding a microphone, the other with a helmet, in front of a screen.

Group of young people standing on stage, some holding microphones, with a colorful background and a large screen behind them.

Two children singing into microphones on stage with a digital screen background, one wearing a striped shirt and the other a rainbow t-shirt.

Person in police uniform with helmet, holding a microphone, raising hand, and another person in white coat with glasses, holding a microphone, in a room with purple lighting.

Two people standing back-to-back, smiling, in a room with other people in the background.

Two women smiling, wearing matching white T-shirts with rainbow and text, sitting indoors against a white wall.

Group of people seated indoors, some looking forward, others engaged in conversation, with a colorful rug on the floor.

Three women standing together indoors, smiling, wearing matching pink T-shirts with rainbow designs, in front of a dark doorway.

Image Credits
All photographs captured by @isashotit on Instagram and @idyllicshooter on Instagram.

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