Pervasive Myth or Pop Culture Relic? College Students' Experience of the Librarian Stereotype

Kalsi, Anmol

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/47413 Copy

Description

Title

Pervasive Myth or Pop Culture Relic? College Students' Experience of the Librarian Stereotype

Author(s)

Kalsi, Anmol

Issue Date

2014-03-01

Keyword(s)

• librarian stereotypes
• librarian image
• discourse of fear
• librarian myth
• discourse analysis

Abstract

"This study explores the wider institutional discourse from which stereotypes of librarians emerge. The findings shed light on the discursive practices (e.g. the methods, the rituals, and the interactions) that take place between students and library staff, and how these inform the student's perspective and experience of the librarian stereotype. This study utilizes the theoretical framework presented by Radford and Radford's study entitled ""Libraries, Librarians, and the Discourse of Fear"" published in 2001 which argued that it is within this discourse that negative stereotypes of the librarian emerge. The students strongly expressed a fear of the library environment and atmosphere, and being intimidated by a librarian's knowledge but collectively the students did not report being scared of librarians. Rather, they viewed librarians as meek and feeble - which, despite being a negative stereotype, is not the dominant one that persists in popular culture."

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

iConference 2014 Proceedings

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/47413

DOI

https://doi.org/10.9776/14256

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2014 is held by the authors of individual items in the proceedings. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

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