You're a Librarian?

If you read my first post, you know that technically the answer to that, for me, is "no." But I've been in the "biz" for years now, and have had people say that to me more times than I can count. The first time I heard this was actually my first time in library school. And it just went on from there.

So-- what does that mean? I think it means that I don't fit the stereotype. I think what it also means is that the stereotype is still so pervasive that people are surprised when people don't fit into it. And that's sad.

Within the profession we are definitely changing the way we think about ourselves. This is evident with The Lipstick Librarian, You Don't Look Like a Librarian, and other web sites and blogs dedicated to breaking down the stereotype. It's also recognized in the new names we are giving things and people. Now we say things like "metadata", "resource sharing and fulfillment", "information professional", and "How very 2.0 of you."

Outside the profession is where we could still use some help in marketing and branding ourselves. In the spirit of the list, here are some things you could do to help people realize that we aren't just a bunch of old women waiting to chastise you for your overdue books:

• Get a "Metadata Rules" tattoo. Tattoos are cool. Everyone knows it. Everyone will know you are hip if you have a tattoo.

• Next time you are doing karaoke, just introduce yourself as a librarian before you launch into your number. Karaoke is even cooler than tattoos.

• Tell people that your inspiration for getting into the field was Parker Posey in Party Girl.

• Challenge people to a "search-off." Tell them you can beat them without Google.
  

• Go see The Hollywood Librarian at ALA. Then recommend it to all your non-librarian friends. With enough word-of-mouth, it could be this year's An Inconvenient Truth.
  

I really don't have all the answers, but I'm willing to do my part out there. I'm going to get that tattoo tomorrow.