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Permalink Reply by Jyothi Babu G on July 29, 2013 at 20:38

Please read following portion  of an article.It is relevent in this context

All recognize the librarian stereotype. The caricature that shows a woman, not especially young, probably a spinster, wellread, humourless, sensibly but boringly dressed – probably in a tweed skirt, cardigan, comfortable shoes, old-fashioned spectacles (with a neck cord), stern expression and always saying ‘shush’. We all recognize the librarian stereotype. The caricature that shows a woman, not especially young, probably a spinster, wellread, humourless, sensibly but boringly dressed – probably in a tweed skirt, cardigan, comfortable shoes, old-fashioned spectacles (with a neck cord), stern expression and always saying ‘shush’.

From cardigans…

This stereotype is common in newspapers and magazines and often features in literature and films. A recent example in current literature can be found in Denise Mina’s novel The Dead Hour (2006): “The clippings library was a pocket of calm order in the chaos of the newspaper. Helen, the chief librarian, dressed like a real librarian would, in tweed pencil skirts and jerseys. Her glasses hung on a red beaded chain around her neck.” Just why female librarians have become a favourite motive for caricaturists is a matter for speculation. Could it possibly be that women are rewarding subjects of ridicule? Or is it simply because the profession is dominated by women?

The profession of librarianship has a long tradition. (Remember Alexandria). But it was first during the early 20th century that women were able to gain employment as librarians. Prior to that, men monopolized the profession. The male librarian has never, however, been subject to stereotyping the way female librarians have.

Admittedly the male librarian has occasionally been represented as geeky, or tired and reclusive, or, in a more modern variant, a hip person with a pony tail. But none of these stereotypes have had the same impact as the image of the woman in the tweed skirt.Male librarians have been overshadowed by the ‘the real librarian’.

Another limitation of this stereotype is that it one-sidedly reflects Anglo-American cultural values. The existence of female librarians in African or Asian libraries doesn’t appear to have registered with caricaturists. Of course the climate in these countries is hardly conducive to the wearing of woollen skirts and cardigans. That’s one explanation. Another more probable explanation is that an overly nuanced caricature becomes conventional and thus less humorous.

Generally speaking, the profession is not overly receptive to an image that communicates a misleading representation of libraries and librarians. Efforts have been made to correct, modify and modernize this image, albeit without noteworthy success. The stereotype has proven to be tenacious and endures despite fashion trends. Clothing styles and fashion trends change but the image of the female librarian remains the same.

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Permalink Reply by papanna s Abi Dore on April 4, 2014 at 6:03

In the field of academic institutions the word Librarian is very poor word. some other teaching faculty members have given the lowest position for the librarians. Hence, Professor of Library and Information Science/Associate Professor of Library and Information science and Assist.Professor of Library and Information Science these are suitable designation for Librarians. I kindly request you to all seniors and eminent professionals of Library Science we will struggle for the changing of our designation as a Professor/Associate/ Assist Professor of LIS.

Thanks to all

Yours faithfully

PAPANNA S

Attachments:

• desig lis.doc, 24 KB

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Permalink Reply by ASHIM KUMAR PAUL on April 10, 2017 at 6:45

Designation of the librarians should be change and redesigned as Prof/Assot prof/Asst prof in library and information services instead of library and information science.
Is there any chance to redesignation in 7th PRC?

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