Comments on: Image and perception (or, why we shouldn’t apologise for our profession) http://enquiring-minds.net/2007/06/26/image-and-perception-or-why-we-shouldnt-apologise-for-our-profession/ Musings on the web, technology, life and everything inbetween Sat, 03 Apr 2010 12:41:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Anonymous http://enquiring-minds.net/2007/06/26/image-and-perception-or-why-we-shouldnt-apologise-for-our-profession/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Anonymous Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:43:00 +0000 http://enquiring-minds.net/?p=37#comment-48 Unfortunately The Hollywood Librarian is showing only at libraries in the USA so far, this fall, 2007. Unfortunately The Hollywood Librarian is showing only at libraries in the USA so far, this fall, 2007.

]]> By: Anonymous http://enquiring-minds.net/2007/06/26/image-and-perception-or-why-we-shouldnt-apologise-for-our-profession/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Anonymous Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:39:00 +0000 http://enquiring-minds.net/?p=37#comment-47 If you want to see the Hollywood Librarian in wider release, ask your local public library or "friends of the library" group to host a screening this fall. See http://www.hollywoodlibrarian.com and http://hollywoodlibrarian.wordpress.com . BTW, it does have some academic and special librarians, including a medical librarian and a business librarian. If you want to see the Hollywood Librarian in wider release, ask your local public library or “friends of the library” group to host a screening this fall. See http://www.hollywoodlibrarian.com and http://hollywoodlibrarian.wordpress.com . BTW, it does have some academic and special librarians, including a medical librarian and a business librarian.

]]> By: Seshat http://enquiring-minds.net/2007/06/26/image-and-perception-or-why-we-shouldnt-apologise-for-our-profession/comment-page-1/#comment-42 Seshat Wed, 27 Jun 2007 21:34:00 +0000 http://enquiring-minds.net/?p=37#comment-42 Hypatia, would you believe that today I had multiple conversations on exactly this? And had someone apologise for being a librarian. <br/><br/>It's ridiculous, but I just don't know how to go about changing. Hypatia, would you believe that today I had multiple conversations on exactly this? And had someone apologise for being a librarian.

It’s ridiculous, but I just don’t know how to go about changing.

]]> By: James Mullan http://enquiring-minds.net/2007/06/26/image-and-perception-or-why-we-shouldnt-apologise-for-our-profession/comment-page-1/#comment-41 James Mullan Wed, 27 Jun 2007 15:31:00 +0000 http://enquiring-minds.net/?p=37#comment-41 Hypatia I'm really proud to be a librarian, especially when I remember all the jibes I got at 18 when I decided that I wanted to do an undergraduate degree in Library & Information Science.<br/><br/>Unfortunately sterotypes are everywhere and were never going to be able to move away from those I epsecially agree with your point about Public Librarians. I recently attended a wedding where I was sat on a table with a LOT of public librarians they were shocked that (1) I worked in a Library outside of the public docman and (2) I was taking home considerably more than them. BTW I don't want you to think I go around telling people how much I earn.<br/><br/>In my first two jobs which were based in further education libraries I did do a lot of telling people to be quiet and shushing and unsurprisingly I got a lot of stick back. I'm still traumatised to this day by some of it, its not everyday you have to call security to your library!<br/><br/>I think it is a real shame that a lot of organisations have dropped the L word from job title but I think this is just a sign of the times. Hypatia I’m really proud to be a librarian, especially when I remember all the jibes I got at 18 when I decided that I wanted to do an undergraduate degree in Library & Information Science.

Unfortunately sterotypes are everywhere and were never going to be able to move away from those I epsecially agree with your point about Public Librarians. I recently attended a wedding where I was sat on a table with a LOT of public librarians they were shocked that (1) I worked in a Library outside of the public docman and (2) I was taking home considerably more than them. BTW I don’t want you to think I go around telling people how much I earn.

In my first two jobs which were based in further education libraries I did do a lot of telling people to be quiet and shushing and unsurprisingly I got a lot of stick back. I’m still traumatised to this day by some of it, its not everyday you have to call security to your library!

I think it is a real shame that a lot of organisations have dropped the L word from job title but I think this is just a sign of the times.

]]> By: Dan http://enquiring-minds.net/2007/06/26/image-and-perception-or-why-we-shouldnt-apologise-for-our-profession/comment-page-1/#comment-40 Dan Wed, 27 Jun 2007 15:13:00 +0000 http://enquiring-minds.net/?p=37#comment-40 As someone who went from the public to corporate library world, I think a lot of that misperception starts among librarians themselves. Back in my library school days (only the '90s), one was expected to go into public or acadmeic work...corporate libraries were looked on as "a breath away from a lay off" and not really helping the needy. Even when I left the public library, I was looked upon as selling out. Even though I now earn enough from one job to be active in charities and donate to good causes, as opposed to my public library job, where I had to have two (yes two!) extra PT jobs just to pay my rent, I'm still looked on as an oddity among the larger library gang. It's ridiculous As someone who went from the public to corporate library world, I think a lot of that misperception starts among librarians themselves. Back in my library school days (only the ’90s), one was expected to go into public or acadmeic work…corporate libraries were looked on as “a breath away from a lay off” and not really helping the needy. Even when I left the public library, I was looked upon as selling out. Even though I now earn enough from one job to be active in charities and donate to good causes, as opposed to my public library job, where I had to have two (yes two!) extra PT jobs just to pay my rent, I’m still looked on as an oddity among the larger library gang. It’s ridiculous

]]> By: hypatia http://enquiring-minds.net/2007/06/26/image-and-perception-or-why-we-shouldnt-apologise-for-our-profession/comment-page-1/#comment-39 hypatia Wed, 27 Jun 2007 07:11:00 +0000 http://enquiring-minds.net/?p=37#comment-39 Yes - it seems very hard to get people to understand what we do, when their only frame of reference is a public/education service. <br/>And also, yes. My service kept the name librarian, just because we knew that we were going to have to keep using the term anyway. It's not the best frame of reference for what we do, but it's better than no reference at all - 'information officer' and the like really aren't terribly descriptive titles :/ Yes – it seems very hard to get people to understand what we do, when their only frame of reference is a public/education service.
And also, yes. My service kept the name librarian, just because we knew that we were going to have to keep using the term anyway. It’s not the best frame of reference for what we do, but it’s better than no reference at all – ‘information officer’ and the like really aren’t terribly descriptive titles :/

]]> By: Sue the librarian http://enquiring-minds.net/2007/06/26/image-and-perception-or-why-we-shouldnt-apologise-for-our-profession/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Sue the librarian Wed, 27 Jun 2007 06:53:00 +0000 http://enquiring-minds.net/?p=37#comment-38 Solutions- I don't have any but I relate to everything that you said.<br/>As someone who as always worked and wanted to work in Specials (formally Law and now Science) this always irks me. I get "oh you're a librarian- which library?" When they obviously expect a local library response I tend to fruitlessly try and educate them by explaining about a corporate libraries. But then it leads to puzzled expressions as though they can not figure out, then, what I actually DO.<br/>The stereotyping is so pervasive. Even my husband, when I try to discuss this subject, just says we are being overly defensive.<br/>My clients still apologize if they think they are talking too loudly or ask if they can eat their lunch in the library when there is no-one else around to be bothered but me.<br/>My organization, when they recently restructured, now doesn't even call any of our positions "librarians" which still leads to me adding that tag to lots of my communications with my clients so they can figure out who I am. Solutions- I don’t have any but I relate to everything that you said.
As someone who as always worked and wanted to work in Specials (formally Law and now Science) this always irks me. I get “oh you’re a librarian- which library?” When they obviously expect a local library response I tend to fruitlessly try and educate them by explaining about a corporate libraries. But then it leads to puzzled expressions as though they can not figure out, then, what I actually DO.
The stereotyping is so pervasive. Even my husband, when I try to discuss this subject, just says we are being overly defensive.
My clients still apologize if they think they are talking too loudly or ask if they can eat their lunch in the library when there is no-one else around to be bothered but me.
My organization, when they recently restructured, now doesn’t even call any of our positions “librarians” which still leads to me adding that tag to lots of my communications with my clients so they can figure out who I am.

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