GUEST POST #1: “How do you feel about the Librarian Image?” by Andy Woodworth
August 26, 2010Note from Will: Today marks a new feature in our blog: the inclusion of guest posts. As this blog has expanded so has my vision for the blog. I would like “Will Unwound” to become an online platform for a wide diversity of voices and viewpoints from within librarianship. Anyone who would like to do a “guest post” should e-mail me at wmanley7@att.net. I hope many of you take an advantage of this opportunity. If you prefer to use a pseudonym that’s fine with me.
Today’s poster is Andy Woodworth. Andy is an adult services librarian at the Bordentown Branch of the Burlington County Library System in New Jersey. He writes his own award winning blog at Agnostic Maybe. Be sure and check it out.
Every occupation has its stereotypes. Librarians are certainly no exception to the rule as I’m sure the Unwinder audience is acutely aware. I’m also sure they put up people’s hackles in one way or another for their uniquely annoying aspects. I know they’ve riled me up in the past, but in giving them more thought over time, I’ve come to accept and love them. Here’s how I learned to stop fretting and embrace the stereotypes.
Bookish. Nerdy. Brainy. All seemingly negative terms that revolve around one concept: intelligence. When you tell people “I’m a librarian”, by default people attribute a higher level of intelligence to you. (Note: this is a first impression, subject to revision on the basis of future actions and utterances.) Librarians are a profession that enjoys an association with intellectual prowess similar to doctors, professors, and scientists. Not bad for a profession with a master’s degree requirement, I might add. If this is the price of being ‘bookish’, I’ll take being thought of as being smart over other occupations that are, as you could say, less cerebral. Nerdy? Please. Nerds have taken the term back in a major way. They have built Silicon Valley, provide the innovation for the Internet revolution, and launched explorations from the bottoms of the oceans to the depths of space. They also make up some of the richest individuals in the world, if not some of the most respected members in their field. If it’s nerdy to be part of the communication and information revolutions that have lead to the greatest ongoing information exchange in the history of man, then librarians should wear this mantle well. Being a nerd in the service of a larger information future can’t possibly be a bad thing in this case. As to brainy, I only have one thing to say: intelligence is sexy. Perhaps it’s not up there with sense of humor, but beyond that, people want to know that you can carry a conversation.
Then there’s the image of the conservatively dressed librarian who (secretly) is a brimming cauldron of carnal desires. While I will concede this point in regards to objectification and interpretations of promiscuity (never a good thing), there is a underlying observation: passion. Rather than being the staid shushing persona, it pushes the notion that we are human beings with human emotions and needs (even sexual ones). It’s a crack in the stoic facade that has been built around the profession for the last hundred years. In conjuring the emotional element, it also invokes empathy both on our behalf and shows that we can in turn empathize with people. Passion is one of the qualities that should be associated with the librarian profession: it is a career for individuals who are looking to make a difference in the lives of people, either in person or by their action and advocacy for information availability and access. Compared to the stodgy image of a prudish library spinster, the chance for our emotions and devotions to shine would be a welcome change.
Intelligent and passionate. Not a bad underlying message in my estimation.
What do you think, Unwinders?
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Andy, thanks for kicking off the guest post concept with a first rate essay. I totally agree with you. Although we all tend to groan about the librarian stereotype, it’s certainly preferable to lawyers, politicians, bankers, financial advisors, stock brokers, etc. Three cheers for serious,dedicated, and nerdy over greedy and shady. The proof of this for me came when I was called to jury duty and was immediately selected because both teams of lawyers respected librarians as smart and independent thinkers. I verified this when the trial was over and we were allowed to talk to all parties involved.
Well, that’s interesting. I always get turned down for jury service. Perhaps “smart and independent” is not quite such an asset in Alaska. Just saying.
Jane…I will have to do a post on my jury experience. Out of curiosity, why were you turned down? Did they give a reason?
LOL!!!!!!
There is only so much ‘independence’ a lawyer can handle. Perhaps it depends on the latest news report going on at the time…
I always get turned down for jury duty as well!
No one’s ever said so in so many words, but my take on it is that librarians are seen as “above average” in intelligence and powers of reasoning, and the court is looking for a totally average (or low average) person to serve.
Smart people cause trouble.
My one time as a juror was awful. I hope never to have to serve again. There doesn’t seem to be a consensus in the comments on how to present oneself to not be chosen. Should I try to appear smart and independent or should I wear the cat-hair sweater?
I’ve been on quite a few juries. There was a time when I did not get past the panel selection, but after the first time I was selected (the only woman on a jury deciding a homicide case), I was selected almost every time. And I was very forthright in my answers about knowing both criminals and lawyers, having been the victim of a crime, and knowing a number of murder victims (the price of going to a good college (2) and knowing a wide spectrum of urban society (3)).
Many of my colleagues were also chosen for juries. My impression is that lawyers were looking for people who could think in a common-sense way, but not be unduly influenced/be unduly influencing by/toward other jurors.
I doubt that any of us “fit” the stereotype exactly…either of them…but I do agree that I can live with them…I have never shushed anyone even though I have wanted to at times…
I have always been nerdy or geeky or whatever…I have been fine with that…especially since “Revenge of the Nerds” came out…:)
I really like the idea about being brainy and passionate…maybe I will put that on my profile…
and it is kind of nice that people automatically think we are smart just by professional title…I wish I could think the same of people…
Linda…you could do a great guest post. What do you think?
I shushed once. That was enough to make me feel stupid so I never did it again.
Now I’ve seen patrons do it to each other which is too funny.
We regularly have parents shushing their children and I’m certainly not going to contradict them in front of their kids but I at least do my best to communicate “It’s okay these days, really” with a smile and wave.
I’ve been shushed way more often than I’ve shushed. Telephone reference is sometimes not quiet, especially when you’re talking to a cell phone driver.
The director and I were shushed at the reference desk by a patron, he then said “This is a library!!”
It made my day!
Passionate and intelligent. Why not?
“…a brimming cauldron of carnal desires”? Certainly.
But usually, my professional philosophy is defined when a patron comes to the desk with list of titles and after I name all of the authors, exclaims, “Wow! How did you do that?” Simple, I say, I’m a librarian. Then I walk them to shelf and point out the books. Check and mate.
p.s. – Hooray for the first guest post!
Oleg…will we be getting a guest post from you?
You will be. When would you like it? Any particular topic or is it writer’s choice? I kind of enjoy when another person tosses something up for me (so feel free)…It’s my way of playing baseball.
Oleg…since I’m retired, I would enjoy a “from the trenches” view of librarianship in tough times. Or anything that strikes your fancy.
Okay. Will e-mail you a trenchant post by Monday, if everything goes according to plan.
Awesome!
When people ask how I do it, I usually reply “Magic”. Unless they are looking for an actual explanation so that they can do it the next time. In either case, it’s a win!
A magician should never reveal the secrets behind his tricks :O)
Grinning. I was not aware of the shades of interpretation to the term ‘librarian’ until I Googled ‘librarian images,’ looking for a presentation illustration. Ohmyheavens, we have a variety of images!
My husband was VERY disconcerted when we met and he learned I was a school librarian. Ironically, I had the job that was previously held by his school librarian, back when he was in that same school. Not his image of a future wife
Jeanne…will we be getting a guest blog from you? Maybe a piece about launching into retirement. Think about it.
I remember doing a Google image search for “librarian” back in graduate school about 4-5 years ago. The first result was a little old lady, hair in a bun, carrying a pile of books. Her glasses were on one of those chains that screams “I am a card carrying member of AARP”. It was pretty awful. There weren’t any male librarian pictures for pages upon pages.
I just did a Google search for “librarian” and clicked Images, and the first image that popped up was Conan the Librarian.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PddQ8xLinAc/RzLzw8wxZVI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/EjXlsBLprzo/s400/ConanTheLibrarian.jpg
Of course, there’s that quote … kind of a plus ça change moment there.
Jeanne – My college roommate is a minister. Now THERE’S a career that scares of a potential date in a hurry. She did just get married at age 40, to an agnostic of Jewish heritage.
I salute you, Andy. That is the most generous take on librarian stereotypes I have ever read. Your attitude is commendable. I just wish I shared it. What you omitted is how gender-inflected these stereotypes are.
For women, the image is of ugly, neurotic, repressed, and rigid spinsters. Translation: women librarians are unworthy of respect. For men, the image is of humorless, dull, hypercritical bachelors. Translation: men librarians are unworthy of respect (and probably all gay).
The fact that the librarian profession has been 80% female for most of the last century has everything to do with our lack of stature in the public imagination, not to mention among our funding sources. If we were 80% male, I have no doubt that our claims on the municipal budget would be taken more seriously. The way cops & firefighters (80% or more male) get taken seriously.
My thinking on this subject is heavily influenced by Roma Harris’ book, which was the only assigned reading I saved from library school.
http://www.worldcat.org/title/librarianship-the-erosion-of-a-womans-profession/oclc/25832854&referer=brief_results
I didn’t want to get into gender stereotypes since it could be an entire other post. I stuck with general themes that affect librarians of all genders (and races, for that matter). I don’t know if being mostly male would help; people see having law enforcement as a necessity and the library as a luxury.
Really, if I wrote about all the stereotypes, it would be an essay of a couple thousand words at least. I wanted to hit some points without trying for all of them.
My favorite compliment (when I was younger)was, “You don’t look like a librarian!” I think I’ve grown into the role!
I never really thought about stereotypes of men in libraries until I started as one and had some comments made to me. 1. I grew up in the sticks and drove 25 miles to the library. I guess I was never really exposed to the stereotype. 2. When working in the college library my boss was a married man with twin daughters and I knew several other men librarians. So, it never seemed strange to me. Even as a director I have known, in three states, many male librarians. A few were gay, the majority were straight and married like me (well, now divorced). I’d say the percentages were the same as any other profession. Maybe this is different in very large cities and certain areas of the country. To me libraries are very similar to other office jobs, only better. Is it any more manly to be a real estate agent or an account? Hardly.
I meant the percentages of gay to straight, not male to female.
Stereotypes are so stereotypical! I think reality is, as you mentioned, far more diverse and colorful than a stereotype no matter which stereotype we’re speaking about.
And as far as the librarian stereotype; I have no problem what so ever being thought of as intellectual and passionate.
I can’t say as I care for the word nerd as it has traditionally, in my mind anyway, had negative connotations (I always think of Lenny and Squiggy on Laverne and Shirley – not a show I watch as an adult but as a kid I thought it was cool) however, if the modern definition of the word nerd includes movers, shakers and western society transformers like Bill Gates and many of the people that work in silicon valley – I can live with that too.
Linda, I believe that your attitude is in the majority for the profession. The job makes us happy, so who cares what other people think? But some of our peers are not quite as robust when it comes to those feelings. So, this was a little boost in their direction.
Goodness! I like your description, Andy!! I’m all for intelligence, and I was a nerd long before the word became popular. My parents made us do strange things like read, visit museums, study, attend the opera, make good grades – all looked at with some disdain after we had made the move to Texas.
Since I’ve generally been pleased with my work and my life, I’ve never gotten too riled about the “How nice to sit and read all day in a quiet library!” comments. Those folks would be ignorant, right?
Like I was commenting to Linda in the above reply, if this is your passion and it makes you happy, then who cares what the world thinks? Sometimes people need a reminder on that; in this case, I’d like to show that it’s not such negative aspect, but a secret positive one. You just need a different perspective on it!
I never think about librarian stereotypes. Part of the reason I became a librarian was that I liked the librarians I worked with in my college library and figured I could do worse than spend my life around them. Intelligent and passionate . . . that’s nice.
Unfortunately, part of the reason that stereotypes exist is that occasionally they’re true. As there are in every profession, there are a few of us that are lazy, stupid as owls and thoroughly unpleasant, not to mention dowdy and just plain weird. Until we can find a test that weeds them out of the profession, we’ll probably have to live with The Librarian Stereotype.
I have often noticed that many librarians dress with a distinct lack of style, to put it kindly, but I have usually chalked it up to poor salaries. It’s hard to put forth a Brooks Brothers image on a Walmart paycheck.
I think the lack of attention to fashion is because we’re bookish. What’s the number 1 aphorism about books? Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. We’re all about the content, baby.
It’s true about content! I wasn’t thinking so much of fashion, as in the latest on the runways, but style, as in such no-nos as lime green socks with Birkenstocks and a sweater embroidered with cats with actual cat hair thickly arrayed upon it.
As Dave Barry says, I am not making this up!
I think Jenny is right about fashion and bookish people. My husband is a professor, and there are lots of lime green socks with Birkenstocks in that field.
My own philosophy for workwear is not to attract unwanted attention, either good or bad. I don’t wish to be propositioned nor do I wish to be dismissed because I look eccentric. It may be because I am looking at it from the perspective of an administrator that has to convince the city council to fund us appropriately. I don’t want my personal idiosyncrasies to damage my credibility. Therefore, during budget time, I leave my ginormous cocktail rings at home.
I’ve updated my wardrobe in the last year, adding in more slacks, sweaters, and sweater vests. Too often I felt like I was doing a high school presentation in just a button down shirt and khakis.
The flip side of this is that all of my previous jobs did not require dressing up at all. When you work with plants, you get dirty so jeans and whatever sloppy shirt you have are the norm. My career change was a fashion one as well. =D
I’ve updated my wardrobe in the last year, adding in more slacks, sweaters, and sweater vests. Too often I felt like I was doing a high school presentation in just a button down shirt and khakis.
The flip side of this is that all of my previous jobs did not require dressing up at all. When you work with plants, you get dirty so jeans and whatever sloppy shirt you have are the norm. My career change was a fashion one as well. =D
Remember the line, “All generalizations are false, including this one”? It’s the same with stereotypes. Its normal for people to stereotype, as a shortcut for more detailed knowledge of who and what the people in any profession actually are.
What’s really telling is how many strangers you can pick out at the airport when you are travelling to ALA and know they are almost certainly fellow librarians. The intelligence is there, along with the passion. But also showing are the sincerity and the commitment, as well as a tendency to travel in groups.
“as well as a tendency to travel in groups.”
Also, they will be headed north in winter and south in summer.
Stereotyping discussions were my least favorite part of library school. From the very first class there were regular rants from the faculty about the unfair dowdy shushing humorless image. I frankly thought there were much more important things to worry about. (Maybe I was also a little sensitive because of my massive cardigan collection.) And the peer pressure to get a counter-acting tattoo! For real.
That hang-up is the true stereotype to me. Along with knitting and drooling over Neil Gamain.
The fetish angle is certainly out there. My husband has actually received high-fives from fellow nerds when he mentions being married to a librarian. But, again, I’m much more concerned about figuring out funding sources and RDA.
Like Andy says, there are far worse fates in life than everyone assuming you have all the answers. Good post!
I read somewhere about six months ago (so I don’t have any idea where) that a librarian can pull off a cardigan if s/he wears it ironically. How about it, Kristen? What attitude are you wearing with your cardigans?
Kristen, I’m glad you mentioned the fetish angle because that’s the stereotype I seem to run into the most often — the “sexy librarian.” Unlike the buttoned up librarian with secret sexual desires, the sexy librarian is simply all-out carnal, dressed provocatively (albeit often still in a cardigan, just a tight unbuttoned one), there to seduce patrons from behind the reference desk.
To some extent it’s kind of funny to get “sexy librarian” comments, but it certainly doesn’t imply a lot of respect or confidence in my intellect!
Out of all the stereotypes of librarians, I embrace the sexy librarian stereotype the most.
But I’m a man so I suppose it’s not the same. If I came to work in socks and a smile, there’s no way to predict what chaos would ensue.
Oleg, I believe Will would call that a “CLM.” Unless you’re wearing some seriously nice socks, of course. *grin*
What does CLM stand for?
In my library system that means Community Library Manager…So…I dunno…
p.s. – All of my socks are beautiful. They’ll surely distract people from my smile.
Career Limiting Move, but I like your version!
Kudos, Andy, for being the first guest! Great topic, too.
Actually, these aren’t the stereotypes that come to mind for me. I became a librarian as my second – no, third career. I grew up thinking of librarians as mean and humorless, an image reinforced by many of the ones I knew as a child. Male librarians were geeky – i.e. dressed in tweed, suspenders, and bow ties. Female librarians were spinsters who disliked children and didn’t want us touching their books.
Then I grew up, went to work in a library as a “paraprofessional” albeit with a degree in business and a lot of life experience, and found that most of my former stereotypes were wrong, but I developed new ones to replace them. Flaky, bad at business, displaced hippies, arrogant to the point of egotistical about their own intelligence, and disdainful of everyone else’s.
I got my MLS, in spite of that, because
a) I love libraries. Always have, always will. I think they represent the best part of us as a society and species.
b) I expect to spend the rest of my working life in a library.
c) I am arrogant enough to qualify, since I figured that I was more than capable of going back to school and getting a degree, while working full time.
d) I wanted the librarians I work with to respect me. (One of them in a meeting had once told the group that even though I wasn’t a librarian I had a kind of iconoclastic intelligence – her words.)
e) My daughter made me do it.
Have my stereotypes about my chosen profession changed since I got my degree? Not really. I’m working on it, but hey – I AM smarter than the average bear and I was a hippie once upon a time.
Now I have a question for the rest of you – Do you think that librarians have stereotypes about other librarians? For instance how do academic librarians view public librarians, or public librarians view school librarians, etc. I don’t mean the politically correct ALA statements, but back in the office when no one is around? I know that it irritated the heck out of one of my former directors that one of the local elementary school media specialists made more more that the Director of a three county public library system. And one of the local university librarians said on local radio that she prefers Kindles because she doesn’t like people to touch her books.
What do you suppose she really means by “touch her books?”
Not sure I want to know, but I would bet she uses the words ‘cuddly’ or ‘snuggle’ when talking about them.
I’m a cataloger, so yes, there are intra-field stereotypes. The public doesn’t know enough about cataloging to be coming up with the cliches there.
We had a AV librarian who used to drive everybody nuts. She was rigid, never knew when to moderate the rules and drove most of her staff to thoughts of murder. The other librarians I worked with always thought that she belonged in the cataloging department (which was my department at the time.) Cataloging tends to be seen as the dumping ground for disfunctionals.
I always thought the image was kind of fun. I always used to suggest that we performed voodoo and animal sacrifices. I told the Children’s Librarian to be on the lookout for a fractious child we could sacrifice to the Interface God. (At the time we were having a lot of trouble with transfers to our in-house database; sounds quaint now.)
The public may not, but public services does. When I first started at my library I was in circ. Everything that went wrong or caused a delay was blamed on those “people at HQ (ie tech services) who don’t understand anything about how the library really works”. And the people in tech service thought the public service people never did anything but stand around.
Oh yeah there are inter-profession stereotypes. How about the fact that every time ALA or anyone else talks about Libraries and Librarians they really mean “Public Libraries” and “Public Librarians”? Academic Librarians and Special Librarians get ignored all the time!
Same with anyone who does all of the behind the scenes work, the catalogers, the IT staff, purchasing, etc. Who gets nominated for “I Love My Librarian” prizes? It sure isn’t the Tech Services Librarian who spent a weekend of their own time fixing the online catalog.
And you’re right about the Cataloger stereotype. Those who can’t deal with people become Catalogers, that is the general consensus. They’re like our relatives we keep behind the stairs.
You are right Kristin, I’m a systems librarian…I do all the OPAC configuring, authority work, configuring of circ rules in the ILS, fix your printers…fix your broken PO’s. I don’t feel I fit any librarian stereotype, I feel like an invader hence ‘LIE’ brarian.
Since I have a hand in all aspects of libraries I’m a huge fan of staff spending at least 1 hour a week in another department, circ @ ref, cat @ ref, ref @ circ have circ copy catalog a few titles etc. Of course this is in a perfect world…an stereotypes don’t exist there right?
Not to mention that some library schools promise students with no social skills that they will be welcome — or at least tolerated — in Cataloging. We have dealt with the outrage several times when we decline to uphold our end of that bargain.
Contrary to sterotype, the tech services people I have worked with have not been misfits, but smart people with a good sense of humor. In fact, you have to have a sense of humor when you are slaving away in a basement office without windows and you are totally unknown to the general public who think the books arrive free from the publishers, just walk into the library and hop onto the shelves all by themselves, and the catalog magically updates itself. And if Circ can’t find the book you sent up two days ago, they call you to ask where it is. Aargh! You really look forward to those Will Manley columns as lifelines to sanity!
In terms of stereotyping by the public, over the years I experienced a disturbing assumption by a few people (mostly men) that librarian equals doormat, meaning you can treat everyone who works in a library (and all library staff are “librarians” to the general public) any way you like and we have to take it. I thought for a long time that this had something to do with the fact that so many of our staff are women, but I know men on the public service staff have had the same experiences.
I’m by nature a quiet person, but I sure had to “woman up” when it came to enforcing library rules and not taking verbal abuse. And, the older I got, the less patience I had with any kind of disrespect toward the staff or other library users. I hope I disabused a few people about that particular librarian stereotype over the years. Bookish, nerdy, brainy–yes. Submissive to any kind of offensive behavior–definitely not.
We actually had a VP for Academic Affairs–the administrator responsible for the library–who truly believed that books arrived by magic from the publishers with catalog cards and call numbers on spine and could be shelved by student workers. He later became the president of a university …
The hardest part about “fighting stereotypes” is that the stereotype changes depending on who you’re talking to. I grew up in a generally anti-intellectual environment where deciding to be a librarian would rank up there with deciding to become a professional babysitter. The stereotype being that I’m like a teacher’s assistant and I waste my life putting books away for very little pay. I’m a professional loser, a nerd who cares about books for a living. Sigh.
The other side of the spectrum, those who have actually spent time in libraries, have those among them who like to fetishize the profession. The whole “prude with secret carnal desires” thing that Andy mentioned. It’s creepy, especially when it’s on the job. Female librarians get propositioned ALL THE TIME at work and not all by any tall, dark and handsome gentleman either. Stalking is a real life job hazard for many librarians who work with the public.
Sometimes the stereotype is just unwarranted trustworthiness placed upon us. “She can’t be lying, she’s a LIBRARIAN!” This can be great if you’re looking for a loan or a new lease agreement but it’s still annoying. It assumes naivety or infantilism on our part, because a “life in a library” is a nice one where nothing bad ever happens. Most Librarians that I know (particularly the Publics) have seen a lot of messed up things in their line of work and they are anything but naive.
All and all, the only thing I’ve ever seen that connects all librarians together is a love of learning and helping others. Beyond that we run the gambit of personalities, appearance and style.
I like the other stereotypes that you mention (trustworthiness, incapable of malice). I haven’t had anyone proposition me, but I have had flirty behaviors from patrons. Of course, being a 6’3″ doesn’t helps it not be threatening, but I can understand where others might take it as a threat or a concern for their safety.
Thanks for the additional ones!
When I was trying to buy my co-op, which needed board approval, being a librarian was a definite asset. I suspect thoughts like “intelligent, “meek, mild, not a trouble-maker,” “quiet – not likely to have boisterous guests or parties” were running through their heads. I didn’t wear bobby socks or a cardigan or a bun to the interview (dressed up for the occasion – a rare occurrence for me), but post-approval, they will not have seen me in anything but teeshirts and jeans/ shorts.
For co-op boards, the stereotype is definitely more valuable than a more modern image!
Although I knew of the stereotype, I don’t believe I ever met a stereotypical librarian when I was growing. It helped that my aunt worked in a large public library system for 30 years and she definitely is not stereotypical, nor are any of her librarian friends. In retirement she’s still one of the people I admire.
But I lived in a different library system so I didn’t see her every day. Perhaps it is because librarians never awed me. I was always comfortable in asking for help. Once a person is engaged with you, the stereotype tends to slide away. And let’s face it, most librarians love it when kids and adults come for real help – whether it’s finding the next book to read, movie to watch, or paper to research.
Stereotypes are there, of course. The best way to bust them is to ignore them and be the person needed in your library for your patrons.
I love surprising and surpassing people’s expectations. I think that’s the real moment where you can turn someone from being “ho-hum” to “HOLY CRAP WOW”. I helped a woman tonight with a tutorial of the catalog and how to manage her account online. She was blown away by it! And at the end of it, she did say, “Well, I’m glad I have this, but I still like to come in to talk to the people here.” Definitely a win-win.
And this doesn’t have much to do with stereotypes, but certainly goes towards breaking them.
I distinctly remember being very distraught when I had to give up my contact lenses (allergies) while I was in library school. I was so ticked that I would have to wear the stereotypical “library lady glasses”. I bought a funky red pair, but – to be honest – they just weren’t me. So I went back to my wire-rims. I am, at my soul, a nerdy, bookish, dog-loving librarian. (No cats, for this librarian. Those allergies, again.) But I’m okay with that. Because I know I’m not boring or timid. I am a defender of freedom with a seriously twisted sense of humor and a (usually) well-hidden wild streak.
There’s always a little bit of truth to stereotypes – that’s why they develop. But most people know they aren’t iron-clad personal descriptors. And those stereotypes just make it all the more fun when you throw a wrench in the works by showing up at work with purple hair. (Yes, I currently have purple bangs. For my daughter’s wedding, no less.)
Amy – you are allergic to cats but not dogs? I’m allergic to about anything that has fur, but cats don’t bother me nearly as much as dogs. I’ve always thought it might be a size thing. My toy poodle was never as much of a problem for me as my German Shep.
Yeah, I have allergies, and animals. I’m also allergic to grass, trees, flowers, etc. So I figure if I’m going to take a million allergy pills anyway, I may as well enjoy the allergens.
I was allergic to cats but not dogs as a kid. I guess the dander is different.
Purple bangs? Is that the color the bridesmaids are wearing? Does it match your dress and/or shoes?
I’ve never understood those who rail against the librarian stereotype. I think it should be embraced! For one thing, it hides many of our strengths and certain people of authority may underestimate the power of librarians. Think back to the hold-up of Michael Moore’s book, “Stupid White Men” in the aftermath of 9/11–he was amazed how librarians got the ball rolling to get the book published. In his own words, “I really didn’t realize the librarians were, you know, such a dangerous group. They are subversive. You think they’re just sitting there at the desk, all quiet and everything. They’re like plotting the revolution, man. I wouldn’t mess with them.” I like being part of that kind of group–someone perceived as being all meek and mild & then “bam!”–they find out just they’re dealing with.
Yes, we do dress alike (there’s a meeting of area librarians meeting today & three of us are dressed almost identically) & we live in our comfortable shoes. I don’t think it’s because we don’t care how we look but we’ve learned what’s important in life and dressing to the nines is not one of them (even if we could afford designer clothes!) One of the funniest things I’ve ever seen on You Tube is “March of the Librarians” because it’s so true! And no one can really accuse librarians for being slick con artists by the way we dress.
And, of course, there are subsets within the library community (I’m thinking of childrens and school librarians with their holiday-themed clothing). But if I see a librarian of either gender who’s dressed in a suit or tailored outfit, my first thought is “hmm, doesn’t get out on the floor to do any real work” and patrons often feel the same way.
I’d rather be known for my intelligence & competancy than for fashion sense (of course, there was that one Halloween when we all dressed up and one patron didn’t notice I was in costume so perhaps I do need to re-think my clothing choices).
And Andy–as far as I’m concerned, intelligence is closely related to sense of humor, at least the kind I like (think Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert types). Great post–look forward to more!
“But if I see a librarian of either gender who’s dressed in a suit or tailored outfit, my first thought is “hmm, doesn’t get out on the floor to do any real work” and patrons often feel the same way.” —-LOL – so true!!!
When I see a librarian in a business suit, I think “job interview”.
That’s funny – I think, Library Director, Faculty or SLA member…
Or “oh, must be a funeral today”.
If intelligence and sense of humor were closely related, then college professors would be the height of hedonism.
So far as comfy shoes go, amen. I used to work at a place (non-library) where I was on my feet for hours at a stretch. Comfy shoes are a must! (Secret fact: my wife is a librarian. I have more shoes than her. I don’t know why this is either.)
…the Imelda gene doesn’t particularly have anything to do w/ Librarian stereotypes.
My husband likes to play “spot the librarian” when I take him along to conferences. Generally involves women loaded down with swag from the vendors, though glasses, sensible shoes and floral prints do enter into the equation.
Never worried too much about the stereotype, too busy having fun at work. That’s how I know I’m in the right profession – life is too short not to have a good laugh every day, and working in a public library will either feed your sense of the absurd or make you nuts (which means you are in the wrong job!).
Glasses wearing, no bun, and sensible shoes but no floral prints – that’s me. Ain’t shushin’ nobody. Deal with it, society. Librarians are three snap FABULOUS.
I can’t condemn all buns. It depends on the wearer! But floral prints… perhaps I can issue such a fatwa against them. =D
Great post, Andy!!
As a single lady I can’t tell you how many stereotypical comments I’ve received from men when they learn that “I work in a Library” (I’m not a librarian yet…but working towards it!). In fact, if I received coin for every comment I’d be able to pay the entire tuition for Library school and purchase a wardrobe fitting on the stereotype…Nerd by day, Sex kitten by night.
“Passionate and intelligent”…I’m gonna use that one too!
I think embracing the stereotype and finding the humor may be the way to go. I notice lawyers do that. I hear most of the best lawyer jokes from them. Police do it. Donuts are actually power rings. Heard that last night. Maybe it will actually strengthen the profession.
I still have my prejudices, Jerry Seinfeld’s library cop was not to my liking. But I can live with it. But I loved the one espisode of the Australian show about librarians and almost every movie that features one, stereotypical or not.
UMHO
Great post Andy! Personally, I embrace the sexy and smart image of librarians. My license plate is infobabe. Well, actually it’s NFOBABE since I only had 7 characters to work with in California. Of course now that I’m 50 and no longer look good in a sweater dress, that may not be so appropriate. However that’s an age thing, not a librarian stereotype thing. My husband’s favorite Law and Order character was the red haired computer geek – because she looks like a librarian and a bit like I used to. Guess we know why he married me, although in the last few years I’ve had Lasik and highlighted my hair blond (in order to transition gracefully to gray). I do wear comfortable shoes all the time now, but only after a case of plantar fasciitis forced me into them 2 years ago. There are a lot of shoeaholic librarians out there.
Absolutely, shoeaholic! Every woman needs at least 45 pairs of shoes.
And if that means 45 pairs of Birkenstocks, so be it….
As I stated in an earlier reply (in case people missed it), I have more shoes than my wife. And she’s a librarian as well. =D
Love Birkenstocks, lime green socks are OK. Just not together, with the cat-hair sweater.
I’m a Dansko woman myself. Fun colors and high arch support, too. Whoo-hoo!
Great guest post, Andy! Thank you for starting us off.
I think there’s a connection between the “cranky old shushing prune” stereotype and the “bookish sex kitten” stereotype. It’s as though we start out as bookish sex kittens, and when we inevitably can’t find the lovin’ we so urgently require (“brimming cauldron!”), we turn bitter and start yelling at teenagers for chewing their gum too loudly.
I might add “thwarted” to your “brimming cauldron of carnal desires.” The stereotype is that we lady-brarians are just burning to get some lovin’. We can’t get lovin’, though, because no one will have us, because we’re so uptight, because we can’t get lovin’…. you dizzy yet? This stereotype may explain the overtures of several patrons who seemed to believe that they were a welcome ticket out of CelibacyLand; so, so many of my female peers share my experiences of being hit on by patrons I wouldn’t have dated if we’d been the last two breathing life forms in the galaxy. Is there some sort of “librarian fantasy” on the part of the general public that leads them to proposition librarians they barely know…?
We can’t of course pay attention to you Jessa, you’re not wearing glasses – can’t be the real deal
LOL, good point, John! My bad. I will work on getting a believable librarian photo up…
PS–I really look forward to your comments. They often make me laugh, and always make me think. You’ve got a keen ability to cut through to the core of an issue that I admire greatly.
Yes, there is a “librarian fantasy” among a surprising number of men. As for the undesirables hitting on you at work, that’s more a case of guys who can’t separate a pleasant public service demeanor from encouragement. Many, many years ago I supervised a media desk staffed by college students. My staff training with the young women always included trying to teach them that good public service doesn’t mean they can’t send a clear “I’m not interested” message when needed. The librarians who fit the somewhat shy stereotype often have a hard time clearly discouraging these guys, and some of the guys know it.
Ooh, good point. Why is it that being pleasant in a public service sort of way seems, to some people, to equate to welcoming advances? A sad mystery. Props to you for training your staff to say “no.” I imagine they were grateful for your willingness to support them.
Gahh – now I have to try to be bright and funny and not a curmudgeon…
You want stereotypes – lol – us Indians have got em that too…
Do you remember the Microsoft Ms. Dewey campaign? Talk about a male fantasy. But I occasionally enjoyed the idea of being able to pull a large gun from behind my desk and commit mayhem.
I wouldn’t say it’s a ‘suprising’ number. Fantasies abound in all sorts of forms. As a guy, I would say it plays into a “things aren’t what they appear” sort of fantasy. There is a certain amount of authoritarian nature to the librarian as a keeper of materials. There is also an anti-hussy sort of vibe to it from the physical appearance (also plays into the “things aren’t what they appear” sort of fantasy.)
jessa…WELCOME BACK! YOU WERE MISSED!!!!
Great guest post! I don’t really have much to add, just that I’ve really enjoyed reading the comments to this post – amusing and enlightening! LOL!
Glad you liked it!
I wish I could concur, but I can’t. Have you actually looked around at how people dress at ALA? Good lord, some are still wearing their polyester wardrobe from the 1970′s… LOL.
I think the poorly dressed, glasses wearing, shushing stereotype still rules. Also that it takes no skill or professional training, if you are just brainy or nerdy you can do it.
I merely point to a very recent popular “funny” movie called “Furry Vengeance.”
The “librarian” looks like a fugitive from the 1930′s – elderly, glasses wearing, dumpy, dressed umm badly and of course shushing.
The nubile youth love interest works in the library, and wait for it, calls herself a Librarian.
As far as nerdy or brainy – if we were all that bright as a “Profession” the collective we should have grabbed the Internet w/ both hands back in the early or mid-1990′s and not let go – instead we got marginalized and are still trying to regain the ground.
While I realize the “newbies” in the profession are way more techie – everyone still hires the Computer degree geeks for the big money…
I await the revolution and the turning of the wheel…lol.
As a profession we have been ambivalent about the Internet for years. Back in 1995 when my library first started offering public access Internet (on dial-up) the attitude even from State Libraries and ALA was that “the Internet” was something that we librarians needed to control so our patrons wouldn’t find “bad information”. One of the recommendations we got at the time from other libraries and librarians was to prevent patrons from going to sites that we as librarians had not vetted in advance – i.e. filter it (please feel free to marvel at the irony here). We still have librarians in our system who don’t think that blogging is a good idea. Not that I’m a techno-wizard; I may have been a system programmer in a past career, but I really don’t want to turn my few remaining waking hours over to twitter and facebook. So much for the nerd stereotype. (See, I really was going somewhere with this.)
That’s amusing Deb – about 1991/92 I recall being told in my library I was in that time – that “PC’s are useless toys.” For real work a mainframe was needed. Naturally we still all had IBM Selectrics near or on our desks too…lol…and all the youngsters probably are thinking I’m speaking in tongues “?Selectric?”
From what I understand, the big discussion in the mid 1990′s regarding the internet was around the medium (books vs computers, essentially). I think the profession looked at it as a tool for moving and finding information rather than a format, we’d be playing a different tune these days.
@ Andy, There was that element to it – however I recall it was more of a “It’s useless as it has no way to authenticate information, there is no controlled vocabulary and who is going to be able to index this anyway? It constantly changes!”
Much horror at the mutability of the beast.
The other focus I recall was, how can we use this to deliver “our” information from “our” collections – in other words “micro-focus.”
Right. I get it now, John. Rather than figuring out ways to deal with this enormous undertaking, it was shoved aside.
…and Andy – yea! thanks.
John B
When I became a librarian in my mid-career I was a bit worried that my tattoos and multiple earrings might be a bit much. Obviously I hadn’t been ion my local public library for awhile. Then I found TheTattooedLibrarian and discovered I had many compatriots, most with more body art than me. I don’t think I fit any of the stereotypes, though my feet do demand sneakers or Crocs.
I like being seen as intelligent and knowledgable. My unlamented ex used to aks me a question and then say, with attitude, “you’re the librarian – don’t you know everything?” To which I would reply, no, I don’t know everything but I know where to find it. Too bad it took me so long to lose his number once I had it.
That should be “in my local public library”; and ask not aks.
When I went to law school for a year, there was a professor who talked about the same thing in regards to hiring experts. He didn’t need to become a microbiologist, but he did need to know the terminology for examining documents, witness deposition, and oral arguments. He told me something along the lines of, “There isn’t enough time in the world to learn everything, but the key is to be able to locate and assimilate information quickly.”
Yeah, I don’t know everything, but I’m pretty damn good at finding it.
For $400, Andy, I’ll take intelligent and passionate *and* bookish, brainy and nerdy!
I enjoyed your guest post and all the comments that have followed. I think it just goes to show that no matter how we try, we can’t get away from that darned stereotype – but using humor and irreverence can sure help illustrate our reality. (At least that’s one of my approaches.)
I think having a sense of humor goes a long ways towards diffusing it. Imagine what the stereotype will be in 25 years from now!
I can only hope (nay, fervently pray) that it’s come further than it did in the last 25 years… folks don’t seem to realize that Marian the Librarian is 53 years old. (Not to dis Marian, but if one more person bursts into that song when I tell them I’m a librarian I may not be responsible for my actions.)
Andy, congratulations on kicking off the guest posts so well. Intelligent and passionate works for me too.
Incidentally, it is *not* true that I wear nothing but orange tweed. We just have a cat who sheds a lot.
I’m glad you liked it!
I, too, embrace some of the supposedly negative aspects of the librarian stereotype. What I *don’t* embrace is the idea of librarians as inherently conservative – in terms of fashion, sex lives, other cultural mores, and politics. In general, this notion is far from the truth.
RCN in The Greater San Francisco Bay Area
Given our slant on freedom of information access and freedom to read, I certainly would not describe us as being conservative.
Exactly. But you’d be surprised how many people continue to remain unaware of our efforts against censorship! When I posted elsewhere about Banned Books, readers were genuinely surprised that we aren’t busy trying to keep “racy” materials from kids and teens. And I was surprised by their surprise.
Maybe it’s because personal freedoms are end of conservatism that people aren’t exactly aware of these days. (See also: Ted Olsen)
I think this probably deserves it’s own day as a topic.
Many community members look to us a “gatekeepers” for the safety / status quo maintenance for the community.
So, yes they are surprised when we “fail” at that level in their eyes. It’s also why so many libraries/librarians wind up not being supported by their communities.
Then you are unemployed and/or your library is closed because they won’t pass additional support, and what good have you done then?
A little reality check is a good thing. Martyrs are not welcomed…
Thanks Andy for a great guest post. Because of my background, I am used to stereotypes. So I relish shattering people’s notions of what a librarian is/does and whatever “typical” image most people associate with librarians. When I reveal my occupation I usually receive the typical responses “you certainly don’t look like a librarian” e.g. I am too young, too attractive or too black.
What is fascinating to me is how many men admit that they have a “librarian” fantasy. The notion that we are repressed within our library setting and then become these sirens after work; it makes me chuckle! People’s perceptions or misconceptions about librarians and libraries in general. Then again, I feel that perhaps we are to blame that they continue. We don’t get out into the communities enough and we don’t promote ourselves or the services we provide enough. If I have heard this once, I have heard it a thousand times…
The “you don’t look like a librarian” thing in regard to being “too black”: is this by other black people, white people, or people in general? I’m just curious.
Andy it is from people in general. It seems I get it from both sides. From whites I hear things like, “you aren’t like the ‘other’ black people” and “you speak so well” and from blacks I hear things like “well you aren’t a ‘real’ librarian” as if a black person wouldn’t be a librarian or the opposite attitude of “you think you are better than me…you have an attitude…uppity b@#ch”
It is a little harsh but these are just the things that I experienced. Unfortunately I have just gotten used to it so it doesn’t surprise me when it happens……repeatedly!
*groan* Heather, I’m so sorry that you’re encountering such ignorance, and delighted that you’re ignoring it and pressing onward.
Please consider writing a blog, or finding some other platform to make your voice heard in library-land. As is pointed out below, the library blogosphere is in need of a greater variety of voices.
Heather, you bring up an AMAZING point! The stereotype for Librarians is also strictly white! So many people are surprised to hear about black librarians or latino librarians. Librarians of Color are completely erased!
Do you keep a blog? I would LOVE to add more librarians of color to my blog roll. I think Librarian Blogosphere (as well as the entire profession in general) is too overwhelmingly white. We need to hear about the issues that librarians of color are facing and hear things from their perspective. Librarians love to talk about diversity but when it comes down to it the “voices” of the profession are almost always from white people.
I’m not shy about being Indian, and sometimes I think you are all insane – umm oh – ummm – reality challenged – yah that’s it! But no blog just FaceBook…
Oh, and for my 2 cents on ALA Governance in that venue. Councilors need to have term limits (no more than 2 consecutive terms), and the ALA President needs to have 2 years to work – not just one.
Was so happy when Lorienne got elected. John D. Berry, UCBerkeley
Thanks for asking Kristen, no, I don’t have a blog. I have considered it. Yes, the stereotype of Librarian is almost exclusively white and we(librarians of color) do have a very different perspective that perhaps needs to be discussed/blogged.
I am considering applying to ALA’s Discovering Librarianship Recruitment program that is seeking librarians to participate in a recruitment initiative focused on bringing ethnically diverse high school and college students to careers in libraries.
You should check out the ALA site.
John,
Well I don’t know what you alluding to by saying that we all are reality challenged. I would say that it is rather arrogant to question the legitimacy of our experience by comparing it to your own.
I never said I was shy about being Black seeing how it is literally written all over my face I am just stating the fact of my experience in this profession with customers and with colleagues. I think it is also very presumptive of you to tell us (or anyone for that matter) what we need. You are beginning to sound a little bit like “the man.” Check yourself!
Do NOT take me seriously at every turn.
Hi Andy,
Very well-written piece.
I like the fact that I can still have passion for our field — despite all of the daily challenges–and lately, the threat of severe budget cuts.
It is important for all of us who work in libraries to find that passion in ourselves and use it to inform our patrons about the threat of cutbacks–in library services, in branches, in materials available, etc.
I totally agree. We need the passion right now to motivate ourselves and the people who support us into taking action to save our funding levels.
Great post, Andy. Have had zero time for posting or keeping up this week. Would just like to say it has been fun to watch the stereotype evolving over the years. When I first started work in the 70′s it was a compliment for someone to say “but you don’t look like a librarian”. While there is still some of the negative—-there is plenty more of the positive and I find telling people I am a librarian brings out big smiles and stories of a favorite librarian they have known. I think the people in the profession change the stereotype—one person at a time. I enjoy the “Public Perception” column in AMERICAN LIBRARIES (I believe was formerly called “How they see us”). If you want to see the evolution of our image—do a random sample of that column over the years. I apologize if I have just covered topics already covered—haven’t had time for a thorough reading this week.
Within the last couple of years, the judges on Project Runway have used the word “librarian” as a derogatory term for a look. I really want to write to them and ask them to do it as a challenge on the show: to update the librarian look.
Hmm… I smell a PR campaign here.
Hi Andy,
I’m with you on Project Runway and I still love watching the show. I think you are on to something. As far as perceptions go, I state that I am one of those “radical librarians” on my Facebook page.
[...] Linda Ueki Absher, a drink. Specifically, I’m thinking of a box of wine. I had written about librarian stereotypes as a guest post for Will Manley’s blog over the summer, but Mrs. Absher’s piece on the image of [...]