Not Your Ordinary Librarian: Debunking the Popular Perceptions of Librarians

Chandos Information Professional Series

Not Your Ordinary Librarian

Debunking the popular perceptions of librarians

Ashanti White

Table of Contents

Cover image

Title page

Copyright

List of figures and table

Acknowledgements

Introduction: You don’t look like a librarian

Chapter 1: In the beginning: the origin of librarian stereotypes

Abstract:

Contemporary history of librarianship

Women, libraries, and the origins of the stereotypes

Libraries during the Great Depression

The old maid, policeman, inept, and psycho librarians

Belle da Costa Greene and history’s forgotten librarians

Chapter 2: Hollywood love affair: the librarian in American film

Abstract:

Marian Paroo, also known as Marian the Librarian

Classic films that feature librarians

Mary the Librarians

The mean, uncooperative, and unseen librarians

The Pagemaster

Chapter 3: Heroes, vigilantes, and rock stars: the librarian on television

Abstract:

Television’s heroes: Barbara Gordon and Rupert Giles

Librarians in children’s programs

Chapter 4: Not your ordinary library: the librarian in literature

Abstract:

Children’s literature

Adult literature

Chapter 5: How true are the perceptions?: examining the common librarian

Abstract:

The truth of exclusion

The truth of underrepresentation

The truth of appearance

Chapter 6: Perception is reality: the effects of stereotypical images

Abstract:

Stereotypes interfere with service

Negative images adversely affect funding

Underrepresentation hinders recruitment efforts

Chapter 7: Diverging images: the sexy, author, and friendly librarian

Abstract:

Stereotyping in advertisements

Claiming and changing our image

Using the love of books to our advantage

Bridging

Active recruitment is essential

Reconsidering policies

Maximizing technology’s influence

Getting to the root of the profession

Chapter 8: The end of stereotypes: a new beginning

Abstract:

Appendix A: Films featuring librarians

Appendix B: Films featuring minor librarian roles

Appendix C: Films that mention librarians

Appendix D: Foreign films featuring librarians

Appendix E: Good librarian websites

Bibliography

Index

Copyright

Chandos Publishing

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First published in 2012

ISBN: 978-1-84334-670-8 (print)

ISBN: 978-1-78063-296-4 (online)

© A. White, 2012

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List of figures and table

I.1. The stereotypical librarian 4

I.2. The librarian action figure 6

I.3. Librarian dress-up 8

1.1. Benjamin Franklin: one of America's first librarians (Joseph-Siffred Duplessis) 13

1.2. Drawing of a 19th century spinster librarian 22

1.3. In some instances cats have been considered demonic 25

1.4. Belle da Costa Greene (Paul Cesar Helleu) 28

1.5. Giacomo Girolamo Casanova (Alessandro Longhi) 31

1.6. Pope Pius XI 32

1.7. Mao Tse-Tung (Zhang Zhenshi) 32

2.1. The Mummy original movie poster (1932) 42

2.2. Clarence and George 52

2.3. Sophie's Choice: a Woman Fractured 56

2.4. Greer Garson, star of Adventure 59

3.1. Dragon Con 2010 - attendee dressed as the iconic Batgirl 67

3.2. Rupert Giles 68

3.3. Child watching television 70

3.4. Olivia and Mom in a live production 74

3.5. Protest against the Patriot Act 77

3.6. Phineas, Ferb, and their sister, Candace 81

3.7. The creators of Phineas and Ferb; Jeff Swampy Marsh (right) served as the model for Swampy 83

4.1. Mary Titcomb 94

4.2. An early Bookmobile service 95

5.1. Conference between Native Americans and Frenchmen (Emile Louis Vernier) 111

5.2. An example of segregation 112

5.3. Jacquelyn White 120

5.4. Orange County Library, 1957 121

6.1. UNC-Greensboro Library School Students at the Unhushed Conference 134

7.1. The sexy librarian is extremely recognizable 142

7.2. Comedic actress Tina Fey 143

7.3. Advertisement for the Honda Accord 146

7.4. The talented Katharine Hepburn played a strong librarian in Desk Set 150

7.5. Harry Potter tattoo 152

7.6. Children's books 153

7.7. 2009 Academic & Cultural Enrichment (ACE) Scholars and Professors with Former ALA President Camilla Alire 157

7.8. A smile goes a long way 169

8.1. The father of modern librarianship, Melvil Dewey 175

8.2. Seattle librarians in the Fiestas Patrias Parade 179

Table

5.1. Percentage of librarians by age group 117

Acknowledgements

Many people generously provided me with assistance, advice, and encouragement as I prepared this book. I especially thank Marion Ingram, my first library supervisor and the individual who inspired me to pursue a professional career in librarianship. Without her guidance, I would not be where I am. My gratitude is extended to 2009 Academic and Enrichment (ACE) Scholars for motivating this book with their multifariousness. Special thanks is given to Alesha Lackey, Jacquelyn White, and Ingrid Ruffin for providing thoughtful suggestions and contributing your experiences to this project. The UNCG MLIS faculty, Julie Hersberger, Clara Chu, Sha Li Zhang, and Gerald Holmes challenged and encouraged me both as a student and professional; I thank you for showing me how I can positively contribute to this profession. This book would not be possible without Keon Lewis, Jackie Case, Laurie Williams-Troutman, Robin Reed Paschal, Colleena Washington, Kyle Gross, Judy Gann, Cassandra Hamilton, Jason Alston, and Misty Conger Williams, who proved the exceptionality of library employees. My parents, Eric and Gail Haith, and my aunt, Georgette Reid, deserve consideration for attending to my infant daughter during much of my research. Most importantly, this book would not be possible without the immeasurable support of my husband, Terrence Jackson, and my gratitude to him is fervent and unending.

Introduction: You don’t look like a librarian

The server at the hotel told me I didn’t look like a librarian. My response: you should see my friends!

Alesha Lackey

Abstract: Often librarians that do not fit the stereotypes are confronted by comments that they do not look and/or act like librarians. This chapter provides the background experiences of the author which serves as a catalyst for the composition of this book. It briefly discusses the elements that perpetuate librarian stereotypes, events that led to the current revisiting of the stereotype discussion among professionals, and offers a concise summary of the following chapters.

Key words: librarians, stereotypes, library action figure, Nancy Pearl

You don’t look like you work here. In my nine years as a library employee, I have heard this comment on numerous occasions. Initially, I stood baffled at the statement. After all, I had wanted to work in libraries since I was a child and never did my looks play into that decision. As time passed, I began to ask questions in return. What does that mean? What am I supposed to look like? What look were you expecting? My questions were never challenging, but the answers that I received were very revealing.

Where’s the glasses and the bun?

You don’t look like any librarian I know.

You were not what I expected.

Admittedly, I did have a unique look that is typically unexpected of one in the library profession. The brightly colored, frequently changing hair, the blatant tattoos, and eccentric clothing often confounded people who expected more inhibited attire and less self-expression. I was a known pageant queen, which further confounded people, yet customers seemed more astonished by my sunny disposition. Rarely was I sitting behind a desk; I was more than willing to cease my current task to locate items for which the patrons were searching. In fact, I preferred the shelves so that I could enjoy the collection while completing my tasks; one only had to ask a Readers’ Advisory question to ascertain my love for my work. I passed our customers with a hello; I asked if they needed help finding anything.

Others were simply unaccustomed to seeing cultural minorities in professional and paraprofessional library positions. A few years ago, while working as a Library Associate, I encountered a middle-aged gentleman. He wore baggy jeans, a worn windbreaker jacket, and a navy baseball cap that fit snugly to his head. His Spanish accent was unmistakable when he finally stepped to the desk and reluctantly asked, Do you work here?

Yes Sir, I answered.

You… really?

When I nodded, he realized that his stupor may have offended me.

I’m sorry, he began. It’s just that you’re. you know. like me—different. He ran his fingers across the back of his opposing hand. I smiled, and he laughed with ease before asking his questions.

As days at the branch became months, I noticed the young brown-skinned students who waved away my fellow co-workers to seek my assistance instead. Or the Vietnamese woman who often asked me specifically for suggestions of interesting novels. Another man leaned in close and whispered, "It is good to see one of us here. He knew that I knew what us" meant.

I also received a similar surprise when working with teenage customers. I became the go-to person when they needed help with or suggestions about assignments. The anxiety that appeared when working with older librarians (some of which was caused by stereotypes about librarians and some stemming from discrimination against teenagers) was nonexistent with me. Eventually, I was hustled into becoming the Teen Representative for my branch. The Teen Advisory Board grew, and attendance at teen events burgeoned. I was only six or seven years older than most of them; I also looked more like them, so the comfort level was high.

In one meeting, we discussed the stereotypes surrounding librarians. I asked, What words come to mind when you hear the word ‘librarian’?

Old!

White!

Hair in a bun!

One participant did not even bother to say a word. She simply placed her index finger against her lips and exhaled, Shhhh.

Not cute… ugly, one girl answered with a nervous giggle before looking at her peers for validation then back to me. You know what I mean?

Sadly, I know exactly what she meant.

I have seen the stereotypical librarian—old, white, and female with dowdy, bland-colored clothing, ill-fitted glasses, and sensible shoes. So had the students who easily answered my questions about librarians.

Figure I.1 The stereotypical librarian

One shared that until he met me and my fellow worker, who sat seemingly stoic yet very aware with his royal blue and red plaid shirt, gray pants, and black Chuck Taylors, he had never thought of librarians as cool: Most people who work at the library are not like you guys.

Because of the extensive amount of time that I spent in libraries, I recognized that librarians were not like the images splashed across the television screens. My first experience working in a library challenged my already open views. I was a library assistant at an academic library at a mid-size, liberal arts university. I expected to be out of place in my holey jeans and peasant top on the first day of classes. Instead, I found myself surrounded by hippies, punks, homeboys, goths, and outcasts. One of my supervisors was a flower child of the 1960s. Her braided ponytail stretched nearly the length of her petite body, which was almost swallowed by her full Navajo patterned dresses. The finance manager conjured images of Minerva McGonagall from Harry Potter. She so loved the series that on the days of the film and book releases, she would dress as a professor from Hogwarts. Another co-worker was a friend from Charlotte, North Carolina. He was cool, popular, and majoring in Pre-medical. His dark skin was accentuated by his brightly colored t-shirts; his booming voice resonated when he worked at the circulation desk. On Monday mornings before the doors to the library were unlocked, we would convene to discuss the pageant in which I competed. We were a bunch of characters and comfortably at home.

Unfortunately, most people will not have the experience that I had with libraries. They will never have the opportunity to see the varying styles and personalities. They may never see the cataloger with the short, spiky haircut who fire dances on the weekend or know of the archivist who was once a CIA agent working undercover to disband the Italian mafia. Librarians, like the rest of the general population, have a range of interests that extend beyond reading. Our duties also encompass more than sitting behind desks. Too often, the public will only see us at our desks; they will rarely see us outside of the library. And for those who do not visit the library, the only images of librarians that they will see are those in films and on television. In each of these instances, the stereotypes trump the reality of information professionals.

Very recently, Accoutrements, the parent company of Archie McPhee’s in Ballard, created an action figure modeled after popular Seattle librarian Nancy Pearl.¹ Information professionals were elated at the news. Nancy Pearl is one of the most well-known contemporary librarians. She developed the program If All of Seattle Read the Same Book in 1998, which was later adopted by other libraries across the country. Pearl is also the Women’s National Book Association Award recipient and author of the bestselling Book Lust series, recognition of which led to the Seattle Channel’s Book Lust with Nancy Pearl. She is a regular commentator about books on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition and NPR affiliate for the Seattle and Tulsa areas.² She is a librarian and book lover rock star.