I am always very pleasant when I go into a library; i've been to many. I've been snapped and treated like a bother more times by librarians to know it's not just coincidence. What's the deal?????????
2006-10-26 03:23:16 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Community Service
OK, sure. We've all got our little preconceived notions about what librarians are and what they do. Many people think of them as diminuitive civil servants, scuttling about "Ssssh-ing" people and stamping things. Well, think again, buster.
Librarians have degrees. They go to graduate school for Information Science and become masters of data systems and human/computer interaction. Librarians can catalog anything from an onion to a dog's ear. They could catalog you. Librarians wield unfathomable power. With a flip of the wrist they can hide your dissertation behind piles of old Field and Stream magazines. They can find data for your term paper that you never knew existed. They may even point you toward new and appropriate subject headings.
People become librarians because they know too much. Their knowledge extends beyond mere categories. They cannot be confined to disciplines. Librarians are all-knowing and all-seeing. They bring order to chaos. They bring wisdom and culture to the masses. They preserve every aspect of human knowledge. Librarians rule. And they will kick the crap out of anyone who says otherwise.
2006-10-28 14:02:28 · answer #1 · answered by Kraftee 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think it would be a generalization to say that all or most librarians are mean. You can find mean people anywhere. My mother is a school librarian, and she's one of the nicest people you could ever meet. She's also worked at public libraries in the past. I know she loves her job and loves to help people out. My whole life I've had people tell me how sweet my mother is. You may have just run across someone who is having a bad day, or just a mean person in general. It happens. Have you ever worked with the public before? It is a very difficult job, no matter if you are a librarian or a server or a telephone operator. There are plenty of mean people these folks come in contact with- and maintaining a pleasant demeanor can be difficult when you come across someone intent on being rude. This is tough for people to deal with, and sometimes it carries over in their work. You may have noticed mean attitudes in other people that work with the public, too. You said you were pleasant with her, but maybe the five people she spoke with before you were condescending or demanding or just rude. (I'm not saying it's an excuse for a poor attitude, just that it's not uncommon.)
2006-10-26 03:58:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've met some pretty wonderful librarians. Most librarians got into that line of work because they like to help people, but the job can be very stressful with people making demands all day and very few of those people bother to thank the librarian for their effort. Libraries are often underfunded and understaffed, and yet the librarians are often expected to do the near-impossible for everyone who walks through the door. Most people expect the librarian to do their research for them. I'm glad to hear you're always pleasant, many people are not. That's not to say that some librarians, like people in general, are unpleasant, but most are terrific, like my wife!
2006-10-26 03:45:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
In the UK I've been a member of least 9 public, 4 college and 2 university libraries in my long life, and I have _never, ever_ met an unpleasant librarian. I was also treated politely and helpfully when I lived temporarily in the USA, both at local libraries in Brooklyn, and at the excellent SIBL establishment in Manhattan. My present local (UK) library staff couldn't be more pleasant and courteous, either.
So, my experience is the direct opposite of yours.
Uhm, I wonder what that tells us? Either your assessment of your approach is not quite right... or you have been most unfortunate in your choice of libraries.
2006-10-26 03:44:47 · answer #4 · answered by avian 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you! I've met some very rude librarians in school and out. I wish I knew the answer but if your suppose to help the public then do so! They act like they are superior and treat the patrons like MORONS! I have a college education I don't understand their attitude either. Good Question!
2006-10-26 03:35:14 · answer #5 · answered by ????? 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
School librarians are a little nutz. But I've never met a mean librarian at a public library. They are always very helpful to me.
2006-10-26 03:25:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Librarians get paid very little and have to deal with REALLY, REALLY irritating people all day long. In many cases, (at least in public libraries) they have to deal with people pleasuring themselves sexually in the library, leaving their feces behind in various "interesting" places, and peeing in chairs. The low pay really isn't worth all of that. Unfortunately, having a master's degree in library science doesn't really prepare you for any other occupation. Many librarians who are unhappy with their chosen professions therefore feel trapped, as they really have no marketable skills outside of the library.
2006-10-28 08:24:48 · answer #7 · answered by Library Guy 76 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
all of our school librarians have been nice...but the ones at our public library are just plain b*tchy
2006-10-26 04:42:01 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
you never been to the neenah wisconsin library then they are very wonderful
2006-10-26 15:54:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the silence gets to them and makes them grouchy.
2006-10-26 05:08:34 · answer #10 · answered by Big Bear 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋