During outreach this morning, a man said, "You don't look lke a librairan." I just smiled and said, “Yes I know.” What I really want to say was, how does a librarian look?
Ask anyone what image comes to mind when they think of a librarian, and inevitably they'll say an older woman, with her hair in a tight bun, wearing glasses, a cardigan, and sensible/old lady shoes, and she usually says "Shh" a lot. I have also heard the following statements:
- Librarians are old, have gray hair and are boring.
- But you don't look like one!
- You have a Master's Degree?!?
- I didn't know you had to go to school to be a librarian!
- You're too loud to be a librarian.
- You don't dress like a librarian
- I like to read, I should be a librarian too!
- That seems like a boring job.
- You’re so lucky your job is recession proof.
It’s amazing how many people make comments with and without thinking! A little advice, the next time you meet me, please DO NOT say any of the previous statements, or I’ll have to shush you.
