Correcting Librarian Stereotypes Essay -- Library Career Profession

What do picture when you think of librarians? Librarians are often stompd as being conservative, orderly, thorough, and passive (1, 2, 3)? Perhaps the best known librarian stereotype is the spinsterly and authoritarian naysayer over-concerned with regulations and maintaining a hushed library environment (4). But where do these stereotypes come from, and are they really true? Perhaps librarians professional invisibility is to blame for some of the stereotypes. Most people think that everyone who consorts in libraries is a librarian, and that librarian duties consist mainly of shelving and checking out books (5, 6). Think over againLibrarians are not usually involved in shelving and circulation responsibilities. Much of the work librarians do isnt visible to library users. And even a childrens story m involves behind-the-scenes work and knowledge. The memoir of libraries and librarianship may also contribute to these stereotypes. ordinary libraries were often started to improve working people, and librarians often really were goody deuce shoes (7). But although they still take their social responsibilities seriously, the librarians (and libraries) of today are very different. Keep reading to find out what librarians really do and who they really are. But first, follow me on a technological history of librarians.Where did the original stereotype of librarians as bun-wearing shush-ers come from? Lets think low tech--before the years of advanced communication technology, ideas were spread through word of mouth and writing. So did these traditional images come from interactions with real librarians which were then communicated amongst people and accepted into our societys perception of the librar... ...w.outsights.com/systems/dikw/dikw.htm. In faculty 3 Introduction to Information and Digital Representations. LIBR euchre Foundations of Information Technology, web CT Reading, Mary Sue Stephenson.22. Stephenson, Mary Sue. Module 3 Introduction to Information and Digital Representations. LIBR 500 Foundations of Information Technology, Web CT Reading.23. Rybash, John M., Paul A. Roodin, and William J. Hoyer. Adult Development and Aging, 3d ed. capital of Massachusetts McGraw-Hill, 1995.24. Scherdin, Mary Jane, and Anne Beaubien. Shattering Our Stereotype Librarians New Image. Library Journal 12 (1 July 1995) 35-8.25. Houdyshell, Mara, Patricia A. Robles, and Hua Yi. What Were You Thinking If You Could Choose Librarianship Again, Would You? Information Outlook 3 (July 1999) 19-23.