Human Factor in the Library: Breaking the Stereotypes BOBCATSSS 2007

Break it!!!

Opinion.. What image comes to minds when you think of a librarian? Image of librarian Characteristic Joke or story First experience in the library

Stereotypes are made of....

Know-it-all librarians Shelvers-whith-attitude Stereotypes Know-it-all librarians Shelvers-whith-attitude Dragon librarians Meek, weak, geeks Bookworm

Patrons often are saying... No, really, what do you do? You have a Master’s Degree?!? I like to read, I should be a librarian too! I didn’t know librarians could be so young! Isn’t that a woman’s job? You don’t look like a librarian.

Common.... Woman Old fashioned Wears glasses Always in brown or grey All the time is staring at the books or reading them With no special education Very clever – her knowledge comes from books

Communication... Librarians Calm, quite, “Shush!” Out-of-date, old Know-it-all, smart Patrons Loud, impolite Up-to date, young Pointless, dumb

Open your mind for effective communication! Getting over the gap… Assume each other! Be more tolerant! Open your mind for effective communication!

I WANT THAT BROWN BOOK THAT ALL ASKES! Role play.... Librarian: HELPFUL SNOBBISH UNINTERESTED Patron: I WANT THAT BROWN BOOK THAT ALL ASKES!

The truth of the children... Librarians all the day are reading books If there were no librarian than the library would be empty All the knowledge they have, comes from the books

Knowledge, itself, is power! Librarians know... … how to find information … how to collect, preserve, organize, and dispense information … how to work with people … how knowledge and information are connected

Librarian is.... Psychologist Educator Information worker Expert of interaction

Communicative quality Information literacy skills Librarians have... Communicative quality Intellectual quality Quality of willing Attention quality Information literacy skills

Any questions?!