by: Rebecca Tischler
Many people still have the stereotypical image of a librarian stuck in their
head: an older kind of frumpy woman wearing glasses on a chain, her hair up in a
bun, shushing people with one hand while stamping books with the other. I was
even told by most of my classmates in Jr. High that I was going to be
a librarian because I liked to read, and I was very quiet during those years. I
still love to read, but since I’m much more comfortable with myself, I don’t
know if people would still say that I look like a librarian. Ironically, I did
become a librarian, but for completely different reasons.
As a librarian, we help to teach people how to become self-sufficient on the
computer, how to find the answer to patron’s questions (no offence Google, but
while you may come back with a million answers, we librarians come back with the
right answer), develop graphic designs for advertisement, act
as a social media managers, handle reader’s advisory, teach information literacy
classes, act as storytellers, teach children. We wear many many caps.
And here are five things that you may have been unaware that librarians do
(just a few of their caps), or that libraries offer.
1. Librarians are teachers. Many libraries have computer
classes: which can include teaching a room full of people how to use Microsoft
Office, how to use the internet safely, how to set up accounts and stay safe on
social media, or how to use photo manipulation programs. Some libraries even
teach computer programming classes.
2. Librarians are tech savvy. Whatever librarians are
teaching, or when we have to help a patron troubleshoot their own technology, we
have to be computer and technologically literate in order to help. We have to
know the basics of computer technology, at the very least. Most times, however,
we know more.
3. Librarians are advertisers. Libraries mostly manage their
own public relations and advertise their own services and events. They write the
press releases, network and make connections, as well as create their own logos
and graphic design.
4. Librarians are event planners. Libraries have dozens of
events every year, and the staff has to create a budgets and event plans, bring
in volunteers or paid presenters. They plan the activities, the topic, the
refreshments… everything. Sometimes, the librarian is also the presenter, if the
librarian’s outside hobbies happen to be of use.
5. Librarians are researchers. Librarians not only know how
to organize and find information. We know how to collate and analyze
information. We see the patterns and can extract information from it. For
example, have you ever gone to the library looking for the next book that
you would love, and asked one of the librarians what they would recommend? If
so, you were probably asked about what type of books you liked, if you have
favorite authors, of those favorite books or authors, what was it that drew you
in (location, characters, humor…), etc. These were all questions that help the
librarian gather information about analyze your taste in books to hopefully
provide you with your next favorite read.
With just those 5 things, librarians have to learn graphic design,
communications, how to interview, public relations, writing, computer literacy
and information literacy. And yet, there is so much more to librarianship that
even just the 5 items discussed above. This in no way means that the librarians
are ready to march into those other professions fully prepared, but we do have
to study and learn multiple professions so that we can act as librarians.
Librarianship is much more than reading books, and organizing them. Libraries
provide classed, events, public space, access to computers and technology.
Libraries are more than just free bookstores.
from: INALJ
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