Librarians angry over unfashionable stereotype

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Thu, 13 Sep 2007 12:00a.m.

This week nearly six hundred librarians gathered in Rotorua for the biggest event in their calendar - their national conference.
  
But before it began, one of the scheduled speakers drew more publicity than the event itself.
  
Style queen Paula Ryan was to give a free workshop about how librarians could update their wardrobes.
  
It prompted a flurry of protest and angry emails from some librarians, who said her involvement only served to support the outdated librarian stereotype.
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Comments

20 Sep 2007 03:54a.m.

Kenneth, Waterloo wrote:

Please Note:
1. They are at conference, not generally a dress up event
2. Consider what librarians are paid – would you take $30k/year with a Masters degree?
3. Consider the dress of librarians profession peers – nurses et. al.
4. Librarians work in a less than pristine environment – books are not antiseptic

18 Sep 2007 05:24p.m.

Jenny wrote:

To be fair, if you hadn't seen the word "Librarians" plastered all over this story, I think you would have thought they were either primary school teachers or civil servants. I think it's just a particular generation and lifestyle-type of women who dress like this, rather than a profession. That being said, doesn't help much that 90% of the library profession fits said generation and lifestyle-type...

14 Sep 2007 02:42p.m.

Michael Henry wrote:

The three above look, stunned,bemused and embarrassed! I knew a really sexy librarian once, well she was breathing!;-)Seriously, they would look better wearing a uniform, some vibrant colour like chocolate brown like the Corrections department. At present this lot look like Helon Earth Clones. Before the stereotypical view of Librarians change, they must change. A woman can look smart, without being 'too out front'.The three above caught in the act almost by this 'stunner' of an advert for Librarians, Jo and Percy are totally correct. They have proved their point admirably. They are dowdy,drab and wouldn't rate a second look. Shame really, they are breathing are they? ;-)

14 Sep 2007 02:29p.m.

Percy wrote:

Woooo.... What can one say. Sorry girls but you dress on enforced the stereotype

14 Sep 2007 07:20a.m.

Luke, Auckland wrote:

this is the biggest controversy for librarians since the introduction of the dewey decimal system

13 Sep 2007 11:26p.m.

Jo wrote:

If the librarians complained that someone tried to update their image then quite obviously they want to continue to look drab and outdated and uphold the outdated librarian stereotype...

13 Sep 2007 10:36p.m.

Garry, Manukau wrote:

Sorry guys. It's a fact, nothing can be done to improve the popular image of librarians.