librarians have all the fun

[gurdonark]

Yesterday's Dallas Morning News had a story on page 1 of "Texas Living" called "New on Shelves--Cool Librarians...Meet a few book-smart professionals who buck the stereotype". We learn that
away from the library, Juanelo Moa plays bass with punk-rock band Bedsore and on the club scene, he's known as El Mero, the rocker. We learn about Artis Lovelady III, a biblical studies college librarian who moonlights as "sabbath pastor" of Word of Grace Missionary Baptist Church. Most shocking of all, librarian Julie Todaro actually wears black, with rings on her fingers, lots of bracelets on her wrist, and hoop earrings. What a shocker!
Charlotte Bray dresses in Rensaissance garb and gives flute recitals, lecturing on the history of the slide whistle, the reed flute and the recorder. The director of the North Chicago library association holds forth on how many more positions there are than applicants. Clearly, I missed out on this incredible career. I took a road more travelled, and that has, unfortunately, made all the difference.

Comments

Yes, but...

[nacowafer.livejournal.com]

the stereotype is alive and well. Trust me. Of course, I'm one of the "cool" ones! I find it interesting that so many people are somewhat enamoured of librarians. I suppose it all goes back to that image of the shy lady shedding her spectacles and loosening her bun to become the ravishing sex kitten...rwwwaaaawwwwrrrr.

Re: Yes, but...

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I suppose the issue is not just whether the stereotype is alive, but whether there are men and women who live the stereotype. It's like the little bookstore near the town I grew up, where the owner really did wear cardigan sweaters and talk great books. There are worse things than being subject to a stereotype, however unjust, of having a secret rwwwawwrrr. I find that in my profession, the stereotype is that we tend to be more boring at home than at work. Less rawwwarrr than yaaaawwwwnnnnn.

[procrastinatrix.livejournal.com]

Librarians do indeed have all the fun, but so quietly and unobtrusively that it goes unnoticed by the rest of humanity. And when they've had it, they catalogue it and shelve it in some out-of-the-way spot where you can never, ever find it without their help.

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

That's a good one. I always knew I could find the secret knowledge, if only I knew the damn card index code.

[muse.livejournal.com]

Being a librarian would, indeed, be some mad fun. Think of all those marvelous books for exploration!

mad fun indeed

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I remember reading how Indiana Bloomington or somebody that sounds like that offered a library science master's on line....when I win the TX lottery, maybe I'll do a MLS on line and browse the books in some rural library for the rest of my days.....but first I'll have to explain to my wife how rural library towns may not have good cappuchino coffee shops.