HIT: Marian the Librarian

[Eliece Edge <medge@ALVIN.ISD.TENET.EDU>]

Last Wednesday, just before I left for the Texas Library Convention, I
posted a query as to how many of you were named Marian (or similar
names).  I failed to realize that everyone might not "get" the
connection.  David J. Nielsen was kind enough to send the following FAQ
site about books and libraries:

<http://faq.sph.umich.edu/faq/files/books/library-faq> as well as this
quote from Grimes, Deborah J. in "Marian the Librarian - The Truth
Behind the Image" in _Discovering Librarians: Profiles of a
Profession_(Chicago: ACRL, 1994), p.3; Scherdin, Mary Jane (ed.)----

"In 1950, Meredith Wilson wrote a musical entitled 'The Music Man', in
which the lead female character is Marian Paroo, a smalltown librarian
and music teacher.  The character is a self-proclaimed spinster, who
must continually resist the exhortations of everyone around her,
including the mother with whom she lives, to 'find a man'.  Marian is
characterized as picky, hardworking, standoffish, bookish, and, by most
accounts, pitiable.  The phrase, "Marian the Librarian", was coined,
along with the image, in a song in 'The Music Man'.  Over forty years
later, the image continues to permeate public opinion and remain the
stereotype of the professional librarian."

The results of my poll are as follows:
Marian - 8 (some wrote to say they knew other librarians who were named
Marian)
Marianne - 4 (one said her son used to refer to her as "Marianne the
Librarianne" and another had changed her title to "Librarianne")
Marion - 2
Marilyn - 2
Mary Ann - 1
Mary Anne - 1
Mary Lynne - 1

A recent MLS graduate from the State University of Albany said it was
incredible how many Marians and Marys were in her program.  She said,
"There may not be many librarians with that name now, but there are a
whole lot about to descend on the profession."  Another librarian wrote
to say that she had once been employed at a school called Marrion, which
made her the Marrion librarian.  A third person whose name is spelled
"Marion", said there are two other "Marian the Librarians" in her
district, and they are contemplating getting some straw boaters and
forming a singing group.

Thanks to all of you who gave me feedback.  It was fun hearing from
everyone.  BTW, TLA was great.  Doug Johnson was a hoot at the LM_NET
breakfast.

--
Eliece Edge, Librarian
Alvin Jr. High
Alvin, TX
mailto:medge@alvin.isd.tenet.edu

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