As AALL Public Relations Coordinator, I spend a significant amount of timecons
idering both positive and negative images of librarians generally, and law
librarians in particular. For the past week or so, this topic has hit the
law-lib airwaves in the context of Albert Brecht's observations about the film
"Philadelphia." I have refrained from publicly commenting until now since I
had not seen the film and felt it inappropriate to do so until I had.
Having now seen "Philadelphia," and, of course, being on the lookout for the
"library scene," I can see how Albert's ire was raised. (To be honest, the
stereotype of steely-eyed librarians hunting out devilish food-sneaking
patrons presented more of a problem for me than the confrontation which
followed between the librarian and the Tom Hanks character.) Nevertheless, I
would also agree that in the entire context of the film, it may well be that
focusing on this scene (to the exclusion of others) is a demonstration of
being too sensitive and possibly overreacting.
Having said that, however, let me step away from this particular film, to make
a more general comment. While it may be that "noticing" librarian stereotypes
in what seem to others to be "harmless" portrayals exposes us to criticism as
being overly-sensitive, the fact of the matter is that these images do exist
and they are NOT harmless. Criticize Albert for overreacting in a particular
instance, if you will, but I, for one, congratulate him for reminding us that
no one else will take up our fight. If librarians do not combat these images,
who will? And the consequences of the images--in the overall scheme of things
if not in a specific situation--are less power, less compensation, less
status, and--unfortunately--fewer jobs for librarians.
It is certainly legitimate to pick and choose when and where to fight, and how
to conduct the fight, but I reject the idea that we should give up the fight.
So Albert, keep stirring up the pot!
Frank G. Houdek, Law Library Director (618) 453-8788
School of Law Library, Mailcode 6803 FAX: (618) 453-8728
Southern Illinois University Bitnet: HOUDEK@SIUCVMB
Carbondale, IL 62901-6803 Internet: HOUDEK@SIUCVMB.SIU.EDU
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