Breaking the librarian stereotype #iamalibrarian

Those social media fans amongst you may well recognise the hashtag in the title of this post - #iamalibrarian. Exploring this feed on Twitter enables you to see a small snapshot of the lives of librarians and information professionals across the globe - fascinating reading in such a varied and often misunderstood profession.

It seems that despite being one of the oldest professions, there is often a misperception and stereotype that a librarian only stamps books. We know this is not the case. A library is so much more than the physical space it inhabits, and the skill and value of a librarian stretches far beyond the loaning of a book.

“Google can bring you 100,000 answers, a librarian can bring you the right one”

As Kaye says, librarians are search engineers. We are in the midst of an infodemic and search engines such as Google - invaluable as they are - tend to exasperate the misconception that technologically competent Millennials can do it all themselves. Whilst search engine results may be there in number, their quality, accuracy, relevancy and currency remain to be seen.

That’s where the librarian saves the day. We help navigate questionable information:

And find what’s important in and amongst the white noise:

When librarians confound expectations

Despite the incredible value of librarians, the library stereotype means that scepticism and poor understanding continues to prevail.

When users and coworkers don’t believe in your skills:

When you bust a couple of misconceptions:

Or when someone learns that there’s so much more to your role than first perceived:

Wait, what do librarians really do?

We’ve challenged the lack of knowledge as to the value that librarians and libraries bring, we’ve explored some of the ways that librarians have surprised sceptics, and considered a handful of the challenges librarians across the board face each day in fighting for their budgets.

What about what librarians do on a day-to-day basis? By now we are more than aware that it stretches far beyond the perceived stamping and lending of books.

From offering invaluable guidance:

To helping save lives:

Whilst some are working with technology to create something new:

And others aren't even using books: 

They have recently been fighting for marginalised communities:

Why should you be a librarian or information professional?

The most common theme that comes up time after time again, speaking with librarians in person, via Twitter or elsewhere is a passion for the unknown day - not knowing what will happen or how the day will pan out, only that they will surely discover and learn something new.

Adaptability has been on everyone's lips during the recent pandemic. Professionally we are working as best we can, or planning for a time when it is safe to return to a public service space. Our public, our communities, our organisations are relying on our rapidly evolving creativity to imagine a future in a changed world.

It seems that librarians from all sectors - public and private - are united in a passion for what they do and why they do it. It is this zest for learning, discovering and sharing new information that transcends roles and industries to unite all those that say #iamalibrarian.