Librarian stereotypes and their PR implications
Abstract
Just like most professions, librarians and information specialists have got their own stereotypes as well. Whether these stereotypes are positive or negative, it is undeniable that libraries, librarians and stereotypes do coexist. The article examines how the stereotypes of male and female librarians have been changing during the 20th century in movies and literature. The respective research led to the conclusion that librarian stereotypes are present in the mind of today’s Hungarian society, and that most are based on preconceptions, as is the nature of all stereotypes. Most of these false thoughts depict librarians as dusty, bun-headed spinsters, whose most commonly used expression is: ‘Shh!’ The article also discusses what public relations and librarians themselves could do to destroy the aforementioned generalisations, and mentions some foreign and Hungarian attempts in this matter. The author genuinely believes that it is the librarians’ task to act and try to change their image to reflect who they really are. Good image is important because users should know what librarians are capable of, as this would ensure the future and development of the library and information profession.
