For this blog post, I viewed the movie The Hollywood Librarian: A Look at Librarians Through Film. This movie, written and directed by Ann Seidl, examines the role of librarians and libraries through the lens of Hollywood via clips from movies. It also includes interviews with librarians and authors. Seidl examines the various ways that librarians are portrayed in movies, from the grumpy old shusher to the young, relevant professional.
Structurally, I found the movie to be a bit confusing and rambling, especially at the beginning. Some of this comes from the fact that so many clips from movies and interviews are compiled to produce one larger work. It can be expected that this may not always flow easily. After watching the documentary several times I found it a little easier to follow. I also feel it becomes a little more fluid as the film progresses.
Two of the main questions asked and examined by Seidl are "What is a Library?" and "What is a Librarian?" Seidl looks at everything from the ancient library of Alexandria to the modern day library. The library is portrayed as a vital element of the community, as somewhere where knowledge may be obtained and resources acquired. This fits my own ideas about what a library should be. Throughout history, libraries have served as a place to house knowledge and to gather. In in interview in the movie, a library is described as the "life of a city", and I think this is an important image to carry away. Libraries should serve as a living, breathing hub in a city. A thriving library generally is not a quiet, subdued place (though it may be quieter than the local coffee shops or restaurants). It is a place where people meet and discuss, work on projects, do homework, research, read, and create. It is a place where people may be introduced to unfamiliar cultures and activities.
In contrast, some of the clips in the movie portray librarians as grumpy women who do little more than shush the patrons around them. The movie contrasts these images with other images of librarians as professionals who are concerned with the welfare of their patrons and are willing to take the time out of their workday to have a discussion with them. Some of the clips seem to blend these two paradigms, such as the clip from "Matilda" which shows an older woman with grey hair in a bun informing the young Matilda about the opportunity for her to obtain a library card and take books home with her. The librarian in this movie fits the typical librarian stereotype in terms of appearance, but rather than dismissing the young girl, goes out of her way to connect her with resources. I believe the most important aspect of any librarian is that they are willing to connect people in their community with the resources they need. A librarian, especially a public librarian (who will more than likely have the most diverse array of patrons), needs to be flexible, enthusiastic, a good listener and communicator, creative, and a community organizer. They need to be able to shift easily from one task to another, and to prioritize which tasks are most important. They also need to be patient, and like people.
I have heard from several sources that librarianship is a calling, and I do believe this to be true. It is certainly true that librarians are not in this field for the money, as librarians are paid 25% less than other professions (McKesson & Seidl, 2007). It is clear from multiple interviews in the film, however, that this fact is not enough to drive people away who are truly interested in the career. Interviewees cited the excitement of each day providing new experiences and the opportunity to learn new things as reasons why they loved their jobs.
Overall, I felt that the library sparked some important thoughts about what a library is and its role in the community, as well as what a librarian is and isn't. It is clear that many Hollywood movies portray libraries and librarians in an inaccurate light. The important takeaway for the LIS student is that libraries are what you make them, and they are ever evolving and changing. I am excited to begin my career as a librarian and to challenge some of the long standing stereotypes and misconceptions about libraries and librarians.
McKesson, M. C. (Associate Producer), & Seidl, A. M. (Writer & Director). (2007). The Hollywood Librarian: A Look at Librarians Through Film [Motion picture]. United States: Overdue Productions.
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