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Agreed Lynn, However, change to the stereotype needs to go deeper than the physical trappings. TLs and Librarians need to get back to school, upskill themselves and start producing credible research in the area of information science. We need to be on the IT committee, the PD committee and the teaching and learning committee in our schools. If you don't have the technology skills then you need to acquire them - this is now so much a part of our profession. As a profession we need to be more pro-active and we can't be credible unless we do start getting our PhDs, doing research and publishing. We need to show how much of a diofference we can make. We need to belong to our professional associations, attend conferences and be active not just to the converted (ourselves), but to educators and administrators, politicans and tertiary institutions. Otherwise we will be forever relegated to the bun, glasses, pearls and twinset stereotype. Even Madonna dressed down to this steroetype when releasing her first book (heaven help us!) :) BC Convenor for the Transforming Information and Learning Conference http://www.chs.ecu.edu.au/TILC Barbara Combes, Lecturer School of Computer and Information Science Edith Cowan University, Perth Western Australia Ph: (08) 9370 6072 Email: b.combes@ecu.edu.au "Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation." Walter Cronkite This email is confidential and intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify me immediately by return email or telephone and destroy the original message. -----Original Message----- From: School Library Media & Network Communications [mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Lynn Butler Sent: Thursday, 3 November 2005 4:38 AM To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU Subject: Re: [LM_NET] Librarian's image I found the remark about Mary Kay makeovers somewhat out of line. Who doesn't love a makeover? <SMILE> Seriously, if the librarian image that prevails in our society is one of a frumpy woman wearing sensible shoes, and hair in a bun who goes around saying, "Shh!" then we might ask ourselves how that image came to be? Only we can change our image and reinvent ourselves personally as well as professionally. The question was asked, "So how DO we go about changing our image?" Personally, that is up to each individual person. Manner of dress and hairstyle is a personal as well as a professional choice. Ask yourself, "Am I comfortable with how I dress? Do I look like a professional who knows her stuff or do I look like some ancient creature who wouldn't know a good book from a dark hole?" "Do I have a pleasant expression on my face and seem approachable to students or do I have an, 'I'm busy. Don't bother me.' look?" To change our collective image from the stereotype involves not only knowing how to teach but how to reach. To reach our students we must stay on top of the latest research skills as well as the latest fads. We need to know who's who in American history as well as who's who in pop culture. Librarians need to know who the hot characters are in children's literature as well as the hot stars in movies. I just returned from a professional librarians' delegation to Russia and one of the places we visited was the University of Art and Culture in St. Petersburg. Librarians who train there go through an intensive six-year program of not only library, technology, and information skills classes but literature, drama, art, music, and dance. In Russia, librarians are the repository of all art and cultural knowledge. They are respected and admired and particularly in smaller towns, are viewed as the fountain of all wisdom. As librarians of the new century we must reshape our images as we rework our job descriptions. In my humble opinion, the old stereotype has no place in our world and until we work diligently to change that, it is going to remain with us. As we redefine the job, we will redefine ourselves and bury those stereotypes for good. Just my $1.00 worth! Lynn Butler, LMS Lamar Elementary Library San Angelo, Texas "Reading is a Window to the World!" ____________________________________ Confidentiality Notice: This memo and any files transmitted with it are confidential, and are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which this memo is addressed. If you are not one of the named recipient(s) or otherwise have reason to believe that you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and destroy this message. Any other use, retention, dissemination, forwarding, printing or copying of this memo is strictly prohibited. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book. 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