Librarian Stereotypes: True or False?
A couple of years back, I wrote a post called “Librarians Read All Day (and Other Misconceptions).” It was all about the myths surrounding my profession and how we actually spend our time. Today’s post takes a different angle — this one’s about the stereotype of the librarian.
If the first post explained what we do, this one tackles who we are (or who people think we are). Put together, the two give a pretty good picture of librarianship from both sides.
These are the most common stereotypes I’ve heard over my ten years in the field, and whether I believe they’re true or false. Obviously, none of this applies to all librarians everywhere, but it’s what I’ve seen, experienced, and confirmed with colleagues. I’m a public librarian, so folks in other specialties may have different realities.
Librarians love to read — TRUE
For the most part, yes. Nearly every one of my colleagues is a fellow book lover, though we all have different niches. That’s one of the perks — we can point patrons to the right person for almost any genre. I don’t read much sci-fi, but I have a colleague who adores it and always has recommendations ready.
Because I order all our adult fiction, people constantly ask me for help. Sometimes they’ll give me only a vague description and I can name the book in seconds. Friends have laughed and said, “How did you know that?!” And I tell them… it’s kind of my job. It’s one of my superpowers.
Librarians are all introverts — FALSE
I am an introvert, and many of my colleagues are too, but not all. Children’s librarians, for instance, are often extroverts. You should see them at story time — singing, dancing, shouting, performing with endless energy. I admire it so much. I did a story time once… let’s just say it wasn’t my shining moment. It takes a special kind of person to keep a room full of kids engaged.
Librarians are mostly female — TRUE
It’s a heavily female profession. At my library, probably 90% of staff are women. We do have a few men, and I give them credit for bringing a different and valuable perspective to the field.
Librarians are stern and shush everyone — FALSE
Nope. I’ve never “shushed” anyone. Libraries have evolved into community spaces where conversation, laughter, and fun are expected. We do have a quiet study room, and I’ve occasionally had to ask someone to lower their voice or get off the phone in there, but it’s rare.
As for being stern? Not really. My colleagues and I have wicked senses of humor and spend a lot of time laughing together.
Librarians love cats — TRUE
Not all of us, but a surprising majority. One day we actually counted staff pets, and about 75% of the librarians here owned cats. I’m a dog person myself, but the stereotype checks out.
Librarians always wear cardigans, buns, and glasses — FALSE
Some of us wear glasses, sure, but plenty don’t. I’ve never worn my hair in a bun (instant headache for me), and cardigans are an occasional thing, not a uniform. Style among librarians varies — some of my colleagues are total fashionistas.
Librarians are smart — TRUE
I like to say that librarians know a lot about some things and a little about everything. Patrons ask us the most random questions, and we’re expected to track down answers quickly:
- How much does a car weigh?
- How do you spell [insert word], and what does it mean?
- How do I format my resume?
- What’s the answer to today’s Jumble? (Yes — that’s an actual daily phone call we get!)
As public librarians, we don’t usually specialize in one field like a medical or law librarian would. Instead, we need to know how to research anything and everything. That’s where our training comes in. In grad school, I had to take multiple courses in research methods and information literacy — learning how to evaluate sources, recognize legitimate sites, and weed out the false ones.
Honestly, I learn something new at work every single day. For someone who loved college and enjoys learning, that’s one of the biggest perks of the job.
And of course, becoming a librarian requires a Master’s in Library Science. That degree adds another layer of truth to the “smart” stereotype.
Librarians are all old spinsters — FALSE
Yes, some librarians own cats. No, that doesn’t mean we’re spinsters. Many of us have families, friends, and social lives. And we’re not all old, either. I started at 21 and work with plenty of millennial colleagues. We’ll be old librarians eventually… just not yet.
Wrapping Up
So there you have it: some true, some false, all a little entertaining. We love books, many of us love cats, and we’re usually pretty quick on the research draw. But we’re not all stern, cardigan-wearing spinsters hiding in the stacks.
What about you — did any of these surprise you? Drop your favorite (or strangest) librarian stereotype in the comments. I promise not to shush you.
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