10 Librarianship and Its Many Different Hats
Madeline Steiner
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to…
- Better understand the role of a librarian.
- Reflect upon what types of “odd jobs” you might have to do in your own branch of librarianship.
Introduction:
Have you ever wondered what your local librarian does in their daily life? They do a lot more than refer you to books, shelve those books, and, the usual stereotype, read an endless number of books.
If you are seeing this, you might already know that there is more to librarianship than these tasks listed above; however, you might not be aware of the specialized tasks they are also tasked with, and not necessarily paid more for.
Librarianship has changed a lot since it first began, and we are seeing librarians fill more and more positions every year. Some of the “odd jobs” we might see librarians take on today include:
- Social worker
- Therapist
- Technology professional
- Anything and Everything
These new tasks may be unexpected to some thinking about coming into the Information Sciences, after all, libraries used to look a lot different.
Librarianship in the US: A Brief History:
The first libraries in the US were mainly used by practicing professionals such as ministers, physicians, and lawyers to assist them in their work. A library’s collection was built on authority in literature. In 1607 when materials began arriving in the New World, this authority was found in works such as the Bible, hymnals, and prayer books, or works that informed the practicing professionals. Originally, the first “librarians” were set to guard collections and make sure library rules were followed and because independent reading was not encouraged, there was no pressure to build collections. These libraries would have only been open a few hours a day and a few days a week and borrowing privileges were heavily restricted. All of this made for a very strict environment and, I think it’s safe to say, is the origin of the no-funny-business, shushing librarian (Weigand, p. 100).
Universal Literacy:
With the rush of industrialization, immigration, and urbanization (seen as a problem) came the proposition of universal literacy to preserve the social order. This started a “public library movement that convinced local communities to tax themselves for the purpose of providing good reading to local citizens free of charge” (Wiegand, p.101-102).
Naturally, libraries began to grow into institutions in need of expertise. Library science emerged in the late nineteenth century, staffing libraries with the “right” people. These were mostly women who were “allowed” into the profession because those with authority had already collected the “good reading” (Weigand, p.103).
In 1890, children’s reading rooms started up. This turning point in information access would have created new work for librarians, though, allegedly, the first children’s reading room in the Brookline Public Library in Massachusetts was supervised by the library’s janitor. This increase in value of children’s intellectual well-being means librarians (or those authorities above them) need to begin adding children’s material to their collections.
As libraries enter the 1900s, they are introduced to technology including computerized cataloguing, digitized content, and completely digital newsstands. Getting into the 2000s, libraries begin to offer specialized interests and activities for borrowing, such as board games, certain athletic gear, and so on. And finally, today libraries provide maker spaces for activities such as 3D printing, sewing, and video game editing software.
Important changes in the library:
- 1890: First children’s reading room
- 1932: Technology introduced
- 1970: Computer cataloguing
- 1990s: Open concept for community spaces – more welcoming spaces meaning more people who just come for a place to sit, as a place where they can find help.
- 2000s: More and more technology introduced; makerspaces – librarians need knowledge on more and more topics.
How those changes in the library have changed librarianship:
All of these additions throughout the years require librarians to stay on top of society’s change in interests for all of their patrons. They need to have an understanding of varieties of different technology, databases, software, machines, and specialized topics in order to be of assistance to patrons.
Open concepts for community spaces opened up the library to new members of the community including those who just needed a space to sit for the day. This means libraries are open to anyone and everyone no matter the background. In some instances, community members might use the library as an escape whether it be from an abusive relationship, the fact that they can’t get a job, everyday struggles, or simply an escape from the cold because they don’t have a home. In many of these cases, librarians find themselves needing to act as social worker, therapist, and maybe just a friend.
How these changes effect the future of librarianship and should support your decision to become a librarian:
These gradual changes in librarianship tell us that we need to constantly be ready to adapt to change in order to better serve our communities. They also prove that librarians are so important. As individuals that provide access to information and have the ability to help those in need, compassion leads the role of a librarian. If you value taking care of others in times of need, enjoy sharing knowledge and resources, and can adjust to change, librarianship is for you. All of these different roles prove that no two librarians have the same job, but rather, there is room for individuality and the ability to bring your own expertise and interests to the table.
Activity for Reflection
Think about the library position you want to hold:
- What does this position typically look like?
- What might be an “odd job” that this position entails?
- Do some research on your desired career to figure out what a typical day on the job looks like
- Think about:
- what surprises you?
- how are those jobs important?
References
- “Developmental History of Librarianship.” Become a Librarian, 2016, https://www.becomealibrarian.org/education/developmental-history-of-librarianship/.
- “The Evolution of Libraries to the 21st Century.” Pressreader, 4 Nov. 2021, https://blog.pressreader.com/libraries-institutions/21st-century-library-evolution-timeline.
- This resource has a great infographic that shows the breakdown of libraries’ progression.
- Wiegand, Wayne A. “The Development of Librarianship in the United States.” Libraries & Culture, vol. 24, no. 1, 1989, pp. 99–109. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25542123.
- Original post for the Champaign Public Library maker space, The Studio.
