WILL UNWOUND #567: “Celebrate Banned Books Week with The Men of the Stacks”
September 29, 2011Been struggling with what to write for Banned Books week and so I kept procrastinating, which is one of my core competencies.
As often happens, my procrastination was productive. Yesterday an Unwinder (who prefers to be unnamed) sent me a link to a new beefcake calendar of librarian hunks in various phases of undress. I clicked on the link…Men of the Stacks…and instantly smiled. Then I chuckled. Then I laughed. Then I laughed out loud.
Here’s my take on the calendar. It has just the right ratio of skin and irony to make it something that I thought was impossible: another beefcake calendar that is not a hackneyed cliché.
The reason behind the calendar is expressly articulated with these words:
We know what people think: Dewey, glasses, shushing, books, hairbuns, Party Girl and card catalogs. Yes, we know what people think. We know that the American, library profession is approximately 80% White and 72% female; and we know that tens of thousands of librarians are expected to reach age 65 in the next 5 years. We also know that this is not us.
There is an entire population of professional librarians out there who disagree with the way the library profession is perceived in contemporary media outlets and in the historical consciousness of the American mind. Different people and different associations will use different means to try to change those perceptions. This is ours.
The Men of the Stacks project was first conceived a couple of years ago after learning of the publication of another library-themed calendar. Our first reaction to that calendar? “Well, cool but…where are all the men?” There was another, earlier calendar that featured only male librarians, but we felt it didn’t quite capture the way we saw ourselves. In both cases, either the stereotype was reinforced or it didn’t go far enough in breaking free of it.
One of our models, Von, captured the spirit of this calendar beautifully:
“We can’t just leave it to others to tell the people who we are; that’s why the stereotypes about librarians continue to flourish. We have to be the ones to go out there and tell people who we are. It’s not enough to complain about inaccurate images of librarians; we must be able to present alternative, positive images in movies, books and, yes, blogs.” — Filipino Librarian
Now, he adds, calendars should be added to the list. So, who are we? What do we want to tell you about who we are? What are these alternative images? Easy. We are, or course, professionals. We are educators, programmers, project managers, entrepreneurs, program coordinators, contractors, consultants, and speakers. We are academics. We are authors, diversity officers, historians, administrators, deans, professors, and researchers. We are creatives. We are musicians, bakers, painters, and storytellers. We are athletes, yogis, gym-rats, runners, and hikers. We are passionate. We are dog-lovers, radicals, conservatives, Christians, and Buddhists. We are in our twenties. We are in our forties. We are in relationships. We are perpetual bachelors. We are privileged beings who try to use their advantages to better the lives of others.
Who are we? We are The Men of the Stacks.
So why do I like the calendar? Simple. I like it because it is an image buster with a sense of humor.
Questions of the day:
- Who is your favorite model?
- Do you like the calendar and why or why not?
- Do you think it is appropriate to display on the bulletin board on the staff lunch room or on the bulletin board in the public area next to the reference desk?
Have fun. What better way to celebrate Banned Books Week than to ogle librarian hunks?
Oh…I almost forgot…as lead lab rat in the Unwinders Tavern (and by the way as I write this Boris is hanging the calendar up behind the bar) I’ll answer the questions first.
- I like Mr. September the best because his dog looks exactly like my old dog Hansie who chewed up my baseball glove and gave me a dog complex for life.
- Yes, I like the calendar because it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
- Both! The public should have some fun with this too.
But they’re all sooooooo cuuuuuuuuute!
…because their librrrrrrrrrrrrrarians.
1. Well, I’m a little disappointed that I can’t see the, um, title of Zack’s book because that might help me make up my mind. I have to say, though, Will – I love Mr. September and his dachshund, too.
2. I love the calendar! A library here in WI did a similar thing – much more along the “Calendar Girls” model – as a fundraiser and I thought it was a hoot! I did buy a copy, but I can’t remember if I had it up at work or not. I am curious how they did the photographs for the Men of the Stacks. Some look very professional and others look like they were taken with a camera phone…
3. My buddy Zack might make it a little inappropriate to hang it in a public area and there are those who might object to it in a workspace. But I think everyone where I work would enjoy the humor. If you can’t laugh…
Zack is “wearing” a book…what could be more appropriate?
Each of the models were asked to submit a photograph, so the quality varies slightly. Because we are in different parts of the country – of the world – it wasn’t easy to get us all together for a photo shoot.
Trevor
tadawes…Do you know the title of the book Zack is holding. Enquiring librarians want to know?
I just asked Zack to provide the title of the book. Will share when he responds.
Trevor
I believe it is… “Nightwood.”
Too freaking funny!
I shudder to post this, so I’ll just share a link to the title that Zack said he’s “wearing.” [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightwood]
Uh-oh.
1. I’m torn between January, February, and November. (Embarrassing aside: I complimented November on Twitter, and he actually responded.)
2. I like it because it’s intelligent eye candy for a good cause.
3. I already have this bumper sticker in my office (NSFW, cursing) http://www.northernsun.com/Read-A-Fucking-Book-Sticker-(5127).html, so I’m sure I could put it up in my office, but I think I’m going to buy it for my house instead.
Oops. Didn’t realize the curse word in question was in the url (should have). Sorry.
“intelligent eye candy”…great observation.
* I think I like Mr. August. There is a devil of delight shining in his eyes.
* Yes, I like the calendar, it looks like fun
* Appropriate for the staff, sure. Not sure about the public out here in the “red states” where every little thing is examined to death.
pma…so you think Mr. January would shake up the red states?
Thanks! I like Mr. August also.
Some things *always* shake up people in the red states — especially if it is something they think they can censor.
Okay, now I know which calendar I’m going to purchase for 2012!
My January is my favorite but I like all the pictures — all the guys like relaxed and pleased as if working in a library is a fun thing — or maybe they were just having a good time having their pictures taken — but either way — what a great calendar!
Thanks for sharing!
And I don’t follow models at all — I don’t think they look real. I prefer to look at pictures of regular people as I think they have more depth and substance than the usual stages model style pictures.
Linda…very good observation. Most models really look like computer aided mannequins.
Or rather “Mr. January”…
Freudian slip…maybe.
Could be!
1. I have to say that Mr. January is my favorite; I feel the “nastier”, the better.
2. I have to admit that I do; I think this profession (and a lot of libraries) really could use some sprucing up.
3. While I have no problem seeing that in a public space, I can see where you would have a lot of uptight members of the community who would always be “thinking of the children” (although children see & hear much worse all the time at school, with friends, etc.)
BTW, this is sort of a spinoff of a idea I had for a calendar called “The Hot…” (with those from different professions who are considered, at least by me, the studs of their profession). I got the idea from a friend of my older sister’s who walked up to her congressman & said, “So, you’re the hot congressman.” I loved it. This guy would be The Hot Congressman. Then my Hot Environmentalist would be Phillippe Cousteau (yes, Jacques’ grandson; he’s definitely no stereotype) & the Hot Journalist would be Jeremy Scahill from The Nation mag. Just my two cents worth.
I like this idea. I had a Hot Anthropology Professor in undergrad whom I would nominate.
On #3 Zack is wearing a book instead of a bathing suit. Very appropriate for a library.
And I would add that, if there are those that object to such a plan, we can always donate (at least part of) the proceeds to public libraries (a la Michael Moore’s book tour); they can certainly use the help.
This calendar was a welcome relief, especially since, at the public library here, there’s a man who works there who is screaming stereotype with his Fred Rogers sweater (although I don’t think I’d want to see him without clothes). I was tempted to yell at him (Oh, c’mon, do you HAVE to scream stereotype?!).
My grandkids love Mr. R.
“We know that the American library profession is approximately 80% white and 72% female…”
The latest figure I’ve seen (2008) says the split is about 85 percent female and 15 percent male. Despite pronounced changes in gender distribution in other professions since the 1970s, the 85-15 distribution among degreed librarians has remained remarkably constant from decade to decade. Ain’t much different now than it was in 1970.
I don’t know what to say about the calendar. I know I’m glad that I’m not on it, and I also know that you’re glad I’m not on it: On the rare occasions I have visited the beach attired in swimwear, women at the scene have felt compelled to mentally dress me.
I suppose it is nice to have visual evidence that there are sharp-looking young fellas in the profession. Some of us, alas, betrayed by the genome given us, are spuds… kinda lumpy and looking like we’ve been in the dark too long.
“Mentally dress me”…Joe, you do know how to make me laugh!
Hubba-hubba, Mr. August, and the brother looks like he can cook too! Funny stuff and sales benefit the It Gets Better Project too.
Deborah…another vote for Mr. August. He’s getting popular.
Can’t decide between September or November.
Yes, I like the calendar. I think it creates good publicity for libraries and librarians.
I would hang it in my office but I can guarantee that someone would claim sexual harassment. This actually happened to me before- the ladies I worked with gave me a hunk calendar for my birthday, I hung it in my office and the IT guy; who came to fix my computer, complained to the director. It was similar to this calendar, no body parts showing- just suggestive.
Gretchen…please, please, please tell me you are kidding us about the IT guy. Please!
No, not kidding. I got a call from the director asking if I had a calendar hanging by my desk. I told her yes, explained what it was. She told me I had to take it down because he complained of sexual harassment. He had gone straight from my office to hers.
This was the same guy who didn’t have to work 1 Sunday a month (like everyone else) because he would have to leave church before the service was over and that violated his religious beliefs.
Having just completed my mandatory “sexual harassment prevention training” I would have to say that this calandar would definately be considered as harrassment by the rules we were just trained on.
Re: IT guy. See Mick.
I think Brett (Mr March) is my favorite. Doing yoga and reading? Awesome!
I think the calendar is fun. The guys all look like they’re having a good time (as opposed to the more common female pin-up calendars, where the women often look as though they’re bored or in pain). My boss and I were discussing whether or not we could get away with hanging this in the office…probably not. But I’d like to work in a library where this was in the staff room!
Hmm…December is awfully cute too. I like tattoos. And look, a picture on the wall from the best-ever Very Serious Book About Gnomes! Can’t resist a Wil Huygen fan.
Diana…serious question – can you read and do yoga at the same time?
I am not that talented. But I bet my yogi cousin can.
O.K. Just to be the devil’s advocate I will say something. I don’t give a hoot about the calendar but as for hanging it at work … I’ve worked with women a long time and I have noticed a definite double standard that appears at times. Women get away with saying things about men that men would never, ever get away with saying about women. And if men can’t hang calendars of women the same should go for the other. Fair is fair.
Don’t worry, my undies are unbunched and this is never a big issue for me. Just something I’ve noticed.
Matthew…I’m curious…very curious. What kinds of things do women say about men that men could not say about women?
1) Mr. September, because he’s featuring his dog over himself (literally & figuratively). Would have preferred a retriever but just about any dog is better than no dog.
2) Yes, I like the calendar but then anything that makes me smile is a good thing.
3) I could put it up in my office but not in a public place. Heck, we routinely get complaints about the covers of Cosmo, GQ, & Rolling Stones from a handful of patrons so as much as I might want to provoke them, it’s easier not to. Got to pick my battles.
I just don’t understand why Will wasn’t asked to be a part of it. Perhaps next year an Unwinders calendar? Joe can wear multiple layers so as not to scare people (really, though, as librarians haven’t we seen just about everything? I doubt that we’d be very shocked by anyone’s appearance. And there’s something to be said for those who have been around the block a time or two–I find that age goes with wisdom, which is almost as big of a turn on as humor)
Will is too old…he’s in the social security cohort…not pretty.
Unwinders Calendar please!! I love my current calendar (Cake Wrecks), but I’d totally replace it with yall.
Love this idea!
I am not sure I can be unbiased and answer the first question. You see, I actually know some of these guys personally. The ones I do know have personalities which shine through in their photos. (And, yes they are among the most popular ones chosen here.)
I do like the calendar, and am working to get back into a shape which might make me eligible for another version (as long as gray hair is allowed). I also knew the person who inspired the calendar. Locke Morrissey was active in ALA, and was a distance colleague of my wife.
I am not sure it should be in a public area, and even in an office there could be issues. It is a little “racy” for some parts of this country.
Former…maybe I’ve been retired too long, but which month would be considered inappropriate for a public library (staff area and/or public area)?
Who is your favorite model?
Gabriel, because he says his favorite day of the week is “Caturday”, I’m pretty sure that’s a picture of David the Gnome on his bathroom wall, and I’ve also always compartmentalized my sock drawer.
Do you like the calendar and why or why not?
Totally. How could you not?
Do you think it is appropriate to display on the bulletin board on the staff lunch room or on the bulletin board in the public area next to the reference desk?
Staff lunch room – sure
In the public area – no way
Rose…which month would be inappropriate for the public area? The whole point of this is to get the public to regard male librarians in a new light. Rose, we missed you. Welcome back.
Thanks, Will. I went on vacation and got out of the habit of visiting the Unwound tavern.
I just think that extraneous clutter is inappropriate to the public area. If it doesn’t further your mission as a library, it shouldn’t be displayed in the public area. I don’t think the calendar immediately reads as relevant to libraries. I think a better way to improve the image of male librarians is just to let patrons interact with and get to know your male staff. Maybe you could display profiles of the librarians who actually work at your library.
Thank you, Will, for sharing information about the calendar. We certainly appreciate it and, as noted, all the proceeds are being donated to the It Gets Better Project. We hope to raise a lot of money for them.
Trevor (aka Mr. August)
Trevor, you got a bunch of votes for favorite month. Congrats.
The calendar is cute and amusing. But, I’m not so sure about the image busting aspect. Real iconoclasts would dare to not care – not care about whether the chicks (or dudes for that matter) like the eye-candy in the stacks or not. Don’t try to compete with the New York City Fire Department. I dunno?….just sayin’.
But, Bill, we don’t deliver babies and we don’t pull people out of burning buildings…so we have to do something.
I hear you. But I’d like to see the Men in the Stacks take the stereotypes head-on. Spoof yourselves! Don’t play the “we got some eye-candy, too” game. Seems maybe a bit self-conscious. You know what I’m sayin’?
I shared the link on my Facebook page (and that really is saying something, since I normally don’t like those types of themed-calendars). Just to let you know, it got an “international” like (from Villa Cicchi in Marche, Italy).
Wow!
Oh Mr. January by all means — the glasses, the shhhh, the strategically placed book — how perfect.
I love the irony of that photo, Irene.
OK. Reverse this. Put women in the calendar with the exact same poses and (roughly) the same amount of coverage. There IS a woman librarian calendar, but the version I saw was not nearly as revealing, nor were the women that hot. I believe it came out of Canada. So do a female caledar up like THIS one. How long would it take before someone would claim
1. Sexual harrassment
2. Hostile working emvironment
3. Sexist pig
How long would it take before the person responsible for hanging up the calendar was officially disciplined?
A female version of this calendar wouldn’t last a day.
Mick, I will be very interested to see how people respond to your comment because I think you have hit a nerve regarding how p.c. the workplace has gotten. Folks need to lighten up and laugh. A lot of these photos in this calendar (like January) poke fun at the librarian stereotype. It’s all good.
I can see your point. I’m fairly set that I am going to buy this calendar, but I’m going to put it up at home. Part of me wants to say, “well, we put up with it for so long, it’s time for the fellas to take a turn,” but that doesn’t make it appropriate for the work place.
Modern women insist on their right to wear (or not wear) whatever they choose, as a manifestation of their liberation. But men aren’t allowed to look – cause then you’re a pig. That’s the rule….go figure! Whatever. With the exception of the most obvious spoofs, no good can come from guys posing naked (or half) for the ladies. Good cause or not, let’s keep our shirts on,…. please! FDNYC notwithstanding, real men don’t do beefcake.
The calendar is a very clever and fun idea. However, some people just don’t have a sense of humor. So, no public or office display. I like all of these library men, but I have to say “Mr. January” really tests the stereotypical librarian. Another fun discussion.
I’m a fan of Mr. May, myself. I think it is a great shot and he’s adorable.
I am proud that one of our Filipino librarians, Von is part of this international calendar. Thanks Von for making us proud of you esp being a Librarian- in this part of the world. Congratulations! to all the Librarians for being so creative…