just call me Bunny
One of the things I have done this summer is take a class for my SILS degree. Summer class was a good idea because it allows me to free us some time next spring when I'm writing (another) master's paper and on the job market, but I was also gung-ho to take it because it's "History of Libraries." If anyone could think of a class that's more up my alley, I'd like to know what it is. Well, maybe "Alaska Reference." But History of Libraries is still pretty damn high up there, and I haven't seen anyone offer Alaska Reference anyway.
We talk of many things, from Alexandria to NC State, and one of the great things about this class is that there are only 10 or 11 of us and we all have things to say. Our instructor lets us go off on tangents, which has been really great cause we manage to wend around to talking about issues in Library Science that we really wonder about or experiences we've had working in libraries, etc. One day we were talking about the changing role of librarians over the 20th century and we got around to talking about librarian stereotypes.
Besides the fact that every one of us in the class actually does wear corrective lenses and those of us who can, DO put our hair up in buns and wear skirts fairly often, the librarian stereotype is, I think, hilarious and (for the most part) enjoyable (I tend to focus on the dedication to the work and the lipstick-librarian image). I actually wish some elements of the stereotypical librarian were still acceptable--for example, the ability to shush people who need shushing. You can't do it now, because it's disrespectful to patrons, and our patrons rule our lives. Maybe it's rude, but sometimes people just need to can it.
Speaking of which, some cranky skinny guy just came in and really yelled at the circulation librarian. Like angry meanness and storming away in a huff. Weird. Who DOES that? I guess I'm moving up in the world when I'm surprised and appalled by something like that, since it was at least a monthly occurrence at Loussac (and often directed at me). It doesn't happen very often here.
Another way in which I wish I could fill the sensible-and-stylish-pumps of the stereotypical librarian is the intimate knowledge of all the resources in the collection--with so many resources and so much attention paid to electronic resources, I am not nearly as familiar as I would like to be with many of the print reference sources especially. But just to remind myself how it's done, I like to dive into reference materials occasionally, or watch inspirational librarian films. Evie from The Mummy and her extensive but sweet know-it-all-ness is a good example, but I found an even better one over the weekend: Katharine Hepburn in the Hepburn-Tracy movie Desk Set.
If you haven't seen this, you should; not just because it's a hilarious 1950s-office-comedy movie, and not just because it features a cadre of funny and capable reference librarians who are worried about being replaced by a machine (and this is circa 1957...downright prescient), but because hey, it's Hepburn and Tracy and they're awesome. And I admit it with pride: I want to be Hepburn's character ("Bunny Watson") when I grow up. She knows everything. She has such poise. She knows just where to go to find the information needed quickly and expertly. She spouts out ballad poetry at the drop of a hat! Despite all that knowledge, she's personable and funny. And most of all, she's the most kickass reference librarian ever. Yes indeed...that's my goal.
But even if that's not your goal, or it makes you point your finger and laugh at me...even so, you should watch Desk Set! It's awesome.
We talk of many things, from Alexandria to NC State, and one of the great things about this class is that there are only 10 or 11 of us and we all have things to say. Our instructor lets us go off on tangents, which has been really great cause we manage to wend around to talking about issues in Library Science that we really wonder about or experiences we've had working in libraries, etc. One day we were talking about the changing role of librarians over the 20th century and we got around to talking about librarian stereotypes.
Besides the fact that every one of us in the class actually does wear corrective lenses and those of us who can, DO put our hair up in buns and wear skirts fairly often, the librarian stereotype is, I think, hilarious and (for the most part) enjoyable (I tend to focus on the dedication to the work and the lipstick-librarian image). I actually wish some elements of the stereotypical librarian were still acceptable--for example, the ability to shush people who need shushing. You can't do it now, because it's disrespectful to patrons, and our patrons rule our lives. Maybe it's rude, but sometimes people just need to can it.
Speaking of which, some cranky skinny guy just came in and really yelled at the circulation librarian. Like angry meanness and storming away in a huff. Weird. Who DOES that? I guess I'm moving up in the world when I'm surprised and appalled by something like that, since it was at least a monthly occurrence at Loussac (and often directed at me). It doesn't happen very often here.
Another way in which I wish I could fill the sensible-and-stylish-pumps of the stereotypical librarian is the intimate knowledge of all the resources in the collection--with so many resources and so much attention paid to electronic resources, I am not nearly as familiar as I would like to be with many of the print reference sources especially. But just to remind myself how it's done, I like to dive into reference materials occasionally, or watch inspirational librarian films. Evie from The Mummy and her extensive but sweet know-it-all-ness is a good example, but I found an even better one over the weekend: Katharine Hepburn in the Hepburn-Tracy movie Desk Set.
If you haven't seen this, you should; not just because it's a hilarious 1950s-office-comedy movie, and not just because it features a cadre of funny and capable reference librarians who are worried about being replaced by a machine (and this is circa 1957...downright prescient), but because hey, it's Hepburn and Tracy and they're awesome. And I admit it with pride: I want to be Hepburn's character ("Bunny Watson") when I grow up. She knows everything. She has such poise. She knows just where to go to find the information needed quickly and expertly. She spouts out ballad poetry at the drop of a hat! Despite all that knowledge, she's personable and funny. And most of all, she's the most kickass reference librarian ever. Yes indeed...that's my goal.
But even if that's not your goal, or it makes you point your finger and laugh at me...even so, you should watch Desk Set! It's awesome.