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Librarians 'should be sexier'
Last updated at 11:07am on 16.11.06
A shake-up of Britain's libraries has been called for by a senior spin-doctor - including a ban on the word "librarian".
The Westminster council official said libraries should also spice up their reputation by using "good-looking" staff for press and marketing work and by stressing their range of "racy" titles.
The proposals were met with disgust by librarians, who dismissed the idea that they are not glamorous or exciting.
"Librarians come in all shapes and sizes - and that includes the very photogenic," said one library chief, adding that some of his colleagues are "incredibly exciting".
The call for an improvement in the reputation of local libraries came from Westminster head of communications Alex Aiken.
Mr Aiken, a former policy director for the Tories, told a conference of the Public Library Authorities: "The concept of the librarian has to change and perhaps a start would be to abolish the title itself, with its connotations of middle-aged conservatism."
Telling the librarians how to get pro-library articles into the press, he said: "From racy books to photogenic librarians and new services that counter outdated perceptions, media is a powerful tool to shape image."
Reader views (9)
If we got rid of the term "librarian", required headshots, and designer duds in order to reach for reads, how would my overactive schoolgirl imagination flourish with fantasies of the buttoned up bookworm caught after hours?
And if there is no one worth fantasizing about? Even better then, as I was supposed to finish this term paper a week ago! In this age of constant commercialization, I rely on the library as the one place I do not have to worry about being marketed, judged, or dazed (for too long) because the guy behind the counter looks like a model.
Think of our youth, think of our future, and please keep librarians bookish,brainy, and with a sexiness that is best boiling just under the surface.
- Kamryn, Seattle, USA
I think we should all see a photograph of Mr. Aiken so we can rate him on his sexiness.
- Susan Downes-Borko, Rangeley, USA
I am a senior Library Assistant and I am very funny, charming and sexy. In fact I have been on dates with some of the customers and regularly flirt with cute women that pop in during their lunch breaks to pick up a holiday read. This goes down well with a lot of the customers, but we have to remember the miserable sods that come in too. They just want their books and no conversation and we must think about these people as well.
Perhaps we should have separate queues, one for intellectual debate, one for no nonsense customers and one for sexy flirting. But there's also the dressing to be sexy problem too. I would love nothing more than to walk around in tight fitting trousers and a Armani shirt with two buttons undone, but it gets a bit filthy in the reserve stocks (and not in the way I'd personally like) and cumbersome. I am sure I would rip my tight trousers bending down to shelve the bottom shelf Mills and Boons. Great for the grannies, but not great for going home on a cold night. Especially if like me, you don’t tend to always wear underwear.
However getting rid of the term librarian seems ludicrous. They change Royal Mail to Insignia and it quietly got changed back again. Libraries are still considered the one place that uncommercial and free of 21st Century bulls**t and that is a large part of its appeal. Plus what’s so wrong with being called a librarian. I can think of a lot of worse things I’ve been called over the years.
- Mike Belgrave, London
So sexism is alive and well then?
- Rebecca, Middlesbrough
No no no! I am a library assistant and would be proud to be qualified as a librarian. I would not be proud to be a 'knowledge management professional' or whatever the next trendy title is. If they stop employing people because they are good librarians and instead employ them because they are photogenic, they will end up with a place full of pretty airheads who have less than no idea what a book even is let alone how to find one on the catalogue. The character and quirkiness and most importantly variety of people in the library will be lost. The customer is the most important thing, not the media, and they do not want photogenic librarians, they want librarians who can find the book they are looking for regardless of what the librarian themselves looks like.
- Lizzie, London
Younger Librarians are ensuring that the traditional stereotype is all but dead. However, we are not there to be 'sexy'! There are many other titles some organisations use. One of the funniest I've seen is 'Information Choreographer'. Most people deconstruct job titles and revert to the terms, 'library' or 'librarian,' anyway.
- Dmk, Female Librarian, (No Glasses, Bun, Twinset, Tweed Or Cat!), London
Good grief where has he been?
I work for an academic library in Westminster and I'd say the librarians in my office look pretty hot, but first and foremost we go to work to do our job not dress to attract customers.
- Nibs, London
This seemed a great way of getting pro-library articles in the press! If a spin doctor tells me it's sunny, I carry a raincoat; if they say a politician has the full support of the prime minister, I know a change is on the way; and if they say librarians aren't sexy enough, I know where I'm going to be spending my lunchtimes!
From personal experience, some of the best looking and fun people I know work in library services.
So I know that if I spend time in the library I'll meet great people. (and absolutely no spin doctors!)
- Chris, London, UK
Don't worry libraries all your troubles are over now a spin doctor is involved. Don't worry about things like checking book availability online, or keeping your selection up to date. Spend the money on flashy ad's instead. Promote your staff based on their physical appearance and make sure the soft porn is prominently displayed.
- Ian, London
