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The Library & Information Science Professional's Career Development Center |
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“But You Don’t Look Like A Librarian”: Bringing Back
Marian the Librarian |
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It’s true, 21st-century librarians are a confusing bunch. We’re silly, sexy, freaky, funky, fun information professionals and this seems to perplex those who are faint of heart when it comes to changes in libraryland. However, perhaps the confusion is not all their faults, the poor dears. Lest we forget, librarianship is a traditionally service-oriented profession so maybe it’s about time we get back to serving up the public a big dish of what they want: Marian the Librarian. Not quite sure how to package yourself as a stereotypical librarian? Never fear; with these ten easy steps you’ll be back to the basics in no time. 10. Cover Up Cardigans aren’t just for Mr. Rogers, boys and girls, so get thee to a shop full of wool and get your sartorial swing on. There’s no need to spend the whole paycheck, though, since you’re going to be rotating through the same sweater and two pairs of pants every working day for years. Unless of course you’re a true lady, in which case one would never think of wearing pants to work. For shame! 9. Fashion Some Glasses It really doesn’t matter that you have 20/20 vision—get some glasses on your face stat! No one’s going to buy the idea that a librarian would set foot outside of the house without some heavy frames (perhaps cats’ eye, with a few diamante accents?). If at all possible, rough ‘em up a little and tape ‘em back together. Let “nerd circa ‘62” be your guide. Just remember that a whiff of irony can be smelled miles away, so absolute sincerity is essential. 8. Put On Your Pearls, Girls Let’s hope you got some Mikimotos as a graduation present because no female librarian is ever really dressed until she has a string of pearls on her neck. What’s that? They don’t complement your trendy blazer and blouse combo? Sounds like someone didn’t follow rule number ten… 7. Show Some Sole And on the topic of accessories, throw away those Docs, Uggs, Manolos or anything else that can be identified in one word. What you want is some heavy, crepe-soled shoes that will make the slightest squeaking sound as you stalk the stacks. White is a perennial favorite for guys and gals, so don’t fold under the pressure of a salesperson pushing purple. Remember, if it matches the linoleum it’s a keeper. 6. Welcome Your Wrinkles But let’s not forget the ultimate weapon in a librarian’s image arsenal: a set of hard-won wrinkles. Ah, the furrows in the brow from deep thoughts! The sweet sign of lines around the eye from squinting at tiny text! The rapture of ravines around a pair of pursed lips! The more wear you can add to your face, the better. Just don’t let anyone call them laugh lines. 5. Can the Laughter Librarians don’t have fun. Ever. If you missed this memo, please write yourself a new one and refer to it as needed. 4. Love the Bun We’re talking the hair variety here, not the hot cross variety. If there’s one way to truly shout “stereotypical librarian” it’s to roll up any and all hair and flaunt a bun the size of a boulder. Men, it’s true, might find this one a little hard so if you haven’t got the locks to roll, consider the tried-and-true comb-over. If Dick Van Patten could rock one, you can too. 3. Avoid the Gym Honestly, no one’s going to believe you’re a librarian if you’re anything but, well, wimpy. Give up the gym membership, avoid pick-up games in the park, and in general, try to stay as still as possible. Lifting a few books while weighed down by sweater sleeves is about the only exercise you really need. A general rule of thumb here: you should only break a sweat when you have a fever (which, given your abstention from healthy activity, may become a more frequent occurrence). 2. Go Beyond the Pale Hey, not everything about getting sick is bad. Take, for example, the pallor that accompanies a particularly nasty bout of flu. If you can master the chalky-white-to-almost-olive-green complexion then you’re a step ahead of the librarians who still think that a touch of tan is somehow attractive. When will they learn? 1. Shhhh, No Talking Please, don’t make me say it. At least not in a loud voice. Librarians should be as quiet as church mice, scuttling efficiently between problem patrons to tell them to keep it down. After all, you can hardly shush someone when you’ve just been talking loudly yourself. Say what you mean and mean what you say, but only in a tone so hushed that it would be hard for a barn owl to hear you. But Seriously … Despite what the public might still describe as a “true” librarian, the truth is that we’re an eclectic bunch. Be as proud of your personal style as you are your information skills and you’ll be a standout in the field in the no time. Beth Morrissey was awarded an MLIS from the National University of Ireland in 2004. She then worked in a variety of libraries before indulging her passion for freelance writing. Visit Beth online at www.bethmorrissey.com. Article published Apr 2008 Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in LIScareer articles are those of their respective authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the LIScareer editors.
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Page last updated
04/27/2008
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