I WOULD LIKE TO PUT IN MY TWO CENTS WORTH ON THE DISCUSSION
WE ARE HAVING REGARDING THE PORTRAYL OF THE LAW LIBRARIAN IN
PHILADELPHIA. LAST WEEK, I SENT MY COMMENTS TO ALBERT, AND
WE HAD A VERY NICE EXCHANGE.
I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT BEING OVERLY-SENSATIVE
TO OUR IMAGE. WE ARE NOT THE ONLY GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
STEREOTYPED. IN FACT, MOST GROUPS OF PEOPLE (AUTO MECHANICS,
DOCTORS, PROFESSORS, AFRICAN AMERICANS, ABORIGINEES, ...)
ARE STEREOTYPED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
ALTHOUGH I ADMIT THAT IT IS DISHEARTENING WHEN I TELL SOMEONEE
WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING, AND THEY ASSUME THAT MEANS I SHELVE BOOKS
ALL DAY, THERE IS AN INCREASING AWARENESS OF WHAT LIBRARIANS DO.
OFTEN TIMES I MEET PEOPLE, AND THEY SEEM SINCERELY INTRIGUED
IN LEARNING ABOUT THE PROFESSION OF LIBRARIANSHIP.
I THINK BY OVER-REACTING TO NEGATIVE PORTRAYLS OF LIBRARAIANS,
WE ARE FURTHER PROMOTING THE VERY STEREOTYPE WE DISLIKE.
(THAT OV BEING HYPERSENSATIVE, ANAL RETENTIVE ...)
-- LAURA E. OLSEN
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