March 31, 2017

Librarians no longer loveless frumps

Improbable Research

Librarians of today may benefit from this re-analysis of old data:

Loveless Frump as Hip and Sexy Party Girl: A Reevaluation of the Old-Maid Stereotype,” Katherine C. Adams, The Library Quarterly, Volume 70, Number 3 | Jul., 2000.

“As computer technology prompts educators and practitioners within Library and Information Science (LIS) to redefine their profession, the old-maid stereotype has yet again become a topic of debate. Previous analyses of the old-maid stereotype have failed to expose how stereotypes work to create meaning at both the point of production and consumption. Without such an understanding, attempts at overcoming the stereotype by willing it away, renaming, or ignoring it will remain futile. Recent poststructural theories, though, allow librarians to understand both the durability and inherent discursive weaknesses in the stereotype and, hence, provide the basis of a more informed strategy for overcoming it. Moreover, the shriveled-prune representation may be part of the fun of being a librarian. This stereotype allows knowledge workers and information managers the opportunity to retain a distinct identity as librarians.”

A Whole New World of Freaks and Geeks: Libraries and Librarians on YouTube

 “The Use of Psychological Defense Mechanisms – By Librarians and the Public – in Response to Traditional and Binary Librarian Stereotypes

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Librarians never were "loveless frumps". They're among the most fascinating people in the world. Of course, one has to have a certain amount of intelligence and independence of mind to see that, qualities on which many people regrettably come up short.