Recently, I started following a blog called Ditch the Bun, which is written by a public Reference & Information Services librarian from Sydney, Australia. I appreciate Ditch the Bun’s strong, humorous voice and creative ideas. One idea I liked so much that I asked permission to borrow it for my own blog. 
Back in October, Ditch the Bun wrote a post called What do Libraries mean to you? in which she asked her readers to share a word or words about “what libraries mean to you or words that remind you of libraries and what you can do there.” She used the submitted terms to create a beautiful word cloud. Check it out here.
My idea is similar, but I’d like to explore a different facet of the question. I think most people conjure up positive words when they ponder “libraries”. However, associations around the word “librarian” are often mixed. These associations include many favorable adjectives but some negative, old-school stereotypes as well. I’m interested in how the thoughts we connect to libraries will compare to those we attach to librarians.
So, reader, please tell me what comes to mind when you think “librarian”? What words remind you of librarians, the ways you interact with them, and the role they play in your life? Like Ditch the Bun, I’ll use your input to make a word cloud and share it in a future post… although I can’t promise mine will be as good-looking as hers.
To get us started, I’ll list the three words that pop into my mind when I think “librarian”, though it’s OK if yours are different:
- helpful
- enthusiastic
- superhero
You may submit as many words as you like, within reason. Please be honest, there’s no judgement here, only curiosity. I can’t wait to find out what your words are!
The Adventures of Library Heather 
Dedicated
Sharing
knowledgeable
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Wise.
Intellectually-superior.
Woefully-undervalued.
Okay, so I used hyphens. Sue me!
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Friendly
Helpful
knowledgeable
awesome friends!
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Smart. Helpful. Dedicated.
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Superhero
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Helpful, knowledgable, dedicated
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Resourceful
Intelligent
Dedicated
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generous, adventurous, kind
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Knowledgeable, helpful, better than any computer
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Resourceful
Friendly
Good listener
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Helpful.
Resourceful.
Necessary.
Knowledgeable.
Creative.
That last one may surprise some people but the problems librarians encounter often require creative solutions. And shortly after I started working in libraries a librarian I admire explained why she specialized in serials. She said unlike monographs they’re “alive”. They grow, they sometimes change names, some marry, some have children, some divorce, and sometimes they die.
If that’s not creative I don’t know what is.
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Sleuth, facilitator, expert
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I found your blog on Jenny Lawson’s site. I love this idea and I have a couple of conflicting ones. Mostly I think of positive things but there is one librarian that I know that sadly, does not conjur up a positive attribute. So my words will be knowledgeable, well read, and cranky.
I’ve recently started a blog about the things that I find inpsiring. Many of those things are books! Though I haven’t written a post about any particular book as of yet. I’m also in the very early stages of writing a memoir. I look forward to reading more on your blog. Thanks so sharing!
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Whoops, thanks for sharing I meant to say. Feel free to fix that one and delete this one if you want. 🙂
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Intelligent
Helpful
Well read
Quiet
http://buildinglifelongreaders.blogspot.com/
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Underpaid 🙂
Book-lovers
Friends
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And I agree with Catherine:
Intelligent
Helpful
Well read
But I’ll replace Quiet with Friendly
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libraryheather, i don’t know where you found me or where i found you, but you left a comment on one of my blog posts last week.
hi. happy to see you.
librarians are superheroes. i have been saying that for a long time.
http://furthermoreflask.blogspot.com/2014/01/superheroes.html
also, to many of us, librarians are kinda sexy. i said something about that to a friend of mine and she laughed and told me that her husband LOVES “the librarian look”.
you know it and i know it. librarians kind of have a look, which is similar to what people in the publishing industry look like, only more nonprofitty.
and no, i am not taking about the bun and the glasses. people’s work leaves telltale signs sometimes. i was at a dance one time and i saw a guy wearing cowboy boots and a green sundress and i turned to my friend and said “i bet he works in constructon trades”.
and later that evening i got to dance with joe the roofer.
true story.
anyway,
my list is
superheroes
sexy (you can use this twice because of my friend’s husband)
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1. ME
2. Gatekeeper
3. Intellectual Freedom
4. Book pusher-Warrior
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Well-read
Wise
Helpful
I found your blog through the bloggess
I think we are already friends on twitter
Jenny Gargarello
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Cool. Thanks!
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I think I’m late to the party, but:
Awesome
Helpful
Kind
Intelligent
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