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Jesus says it is through the scriptures that we have life, not tradition

In John 5:38f? Not at all. Christ is talking to the pharisees and is asking them to search the Hebrew Scriptures, because the pharisees think that eternal life comes form the scriptures. He invites them to discover the prefiguring of Christ in them.

like saying a librarian has a part in the writing of a book because she cataloged it

My Church wrote the New Testament, not meraly catalogued it. Your community of faith, however, banned some Christian books and doesn't seem to be able to read and comprehend the rest.

"because the pharisees think that eternal life comes form the scriptures."

What Jesus is saying is that the Pharisees think they have eternal life outside of Jesus and He is telling them that the scriptures testify that in Him is eternal life and they cannot see that.

John 5:38, "And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life."

"My Church wrote the New Testament, not meraly catalogued it."

How did "your" church write the New Testament? John says we, not the church wrote.

1Jo 1:4 "And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full."

Peter says "holy men of God" not the church.

2Pe 1:19 "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost."

The majority of the authentic books were recognized by the various churches in the late first century, almost 300 years before Constantine declared Rome to be the seat, thus consolidating his political and religious power.

And yet history proves it was not Rome who opened the Bible to all nations and races and languages. Just the opposite. For centuries RCs were cautioned not to read the Bible but to rely on their bishops and their church for "interpretation."

Twenty-year-olds may not understand this, but those of us who have lived long enough to see the changes made in the past few decades know the truth. The Bible was predominantly a closed book to most Catholics.

Unlike Protestants for whom the Bible is the armour of God.

THE SWORD: Part One
Its Foundation

"We have a great, grand and glorious heritage - the heritage of Bible Protestantism. Its greatness can be seen in what it has delivered us from: the tyranny of priestcraft and the chains of popery. Its grandeur is manifested in what we have been delivered to: the liberty of the Gospel and the freedom of the firstborn sons of God. Its glory is displayed in the fact that all its blessings, privileges and benefits become ours by grace, free grace alone. "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9.
We are now going to survey this heritage, looking upon it as a rich estate, a great dominion, a bounteous principality, or as a vast kingdom to which we have become heirs. As we traverse its length and breadth, and, like the Israelitish spies of old, study its riches and partake of its bounty, may the fact that it is ours, ours by God's free gift, ours to appropriate, ours to enjoy, yes, and ours to preserve, captivate our minds. May our sin never be that of Esau, to barter our heritage for a morsel of meat, and then to find no place for repentance though we seek it earnestly with tears.
True Protestantism - Bible Christianity
At the outset, let it be said with great plainness and straightforwardness of speech that true Protestantism is Bible Christianity, the Christianity of the Bible. Protestantism is Christianity, the Christianity of Christ. Protestantism is Christianity, the Christianity of the Apostles. Protestantism is Christianity, the Christianity of the Early Church. Protestantism is nothing less and nothing more than that Holy Religion revealed supernaturally to mankind in the pages of the Inspired Word and centred and circumscribed in the glorious adorable Person of the Incarnate Word, our Lord Jesus Christ..."