Hi everyone,

I really hope people are enjoying this blog-- I've tried to make it as fun and interesting as possible.

The subject of librarians' image in society is interesting to me, particularly how other people view us and how we are portrayed by the media.

If you have any suggestions for the blog or something you'd like to see posted, just let me know!

Melissa

Conan the Librarian

For any male librarians worried about their image, just check out Conan's attitude...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZHoHaAYHq8

"Don't you know the Dewey Decimal System?"

Stereotypes of Librarians

This link presents an overview of the stereotypical image of librarians in society.

http://home.earthlink.net/~cyberresearcher/stereotypes.htm#media

It's an interesting site-- looking at how librarians are portrayed in the media, how we perceive ourselves, and what we need to do in order to break the stereotype...

"Are we responsible for our own image? Is there anything we can do about it? Remember, although it may not seem altogether fair, we are, ultimately, responsible for our own image, our own reputation. Only we, as individuals, can alter this rather dismal portrayal. We have to move beyond the bun, and show the world there is more to us than our perceived stereotype." (Hall, 1992)

Here is an interesting link to a site about male librarians and their image within society...

http://besser.tsoa.nyu.edu/impact/f01/Focus/Image/DarLynn/dntopic1.htm

Librarian quotes...

"The librarian of today, and it will be true still more of the librarians of tomorrow, are not fiery dragons interposed between the people and the books. They are useful public servants, who manage libraries in the interest of the public . . . Many still think that a great reader, or a writer of books, will make an excellent librarian. This is pure fallacy.”
William Osler (Canadian Physician, 1849-1919)


"As a child, my number one best friend was the librarian in my grade school. I actually believed all those books belonged to her.”
Erma Bombeck (U.S. humorist, 1927-1996)


"Write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow...”
Lawrence Clark Powell (American Librarian, Writer and Critic, 1906-2001)

"The librarian must be the librarian militant before he can be the librarian triumphant."
Melvil Dewey

The Librarian?

During my Internet-surfing, I came across this interesting 2004 movie called THE LIBRARIAN: QUEST FOR THE SPEAR. It's about a young man (Noah Wyle) who goes on a quest for an artifact stolen from his library. Sounds corny, but looks like a combination of Indiana Jones meets National Treasure.

Here's the link if you want some more information:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0412915/

Lockwood Library

This is the link to the University at Buffalo's Lockwood Library...
One of my favorite places on campus!

http://ublib.buffalo.edu/lml/

:)
Melissa