I’m trying not to be frustrated by the design of this librarian action figure, but of all the things that librarians do, shushing isn’t our most useful action. If we are superheroes because we “make sense of the world of information,” then why not make an action figure that represents that?
I do have a sense of humor, but sometimes I get tired of the same old stereotype being drug up time and time again. Couldn’t they have modeled this action figure after the Librarian Avenger?
[added note: Apparently, I’m not the only person having this reaction.]
I have close ties with Accoutrements, and I feel a need to defend their decision. I think you should consider this.
Tell me exactly how a hunk of plastic (made with approximately $1.23 of materials) could be modeled to show how it makes people “make sense of the world of information”, because I’m at a loss for ideas how it could do that.
They wanted a cheap, amusing action figure modeled after an underappreciated profession. They also wanted a cheap, easy-to-manufacture sort of quirk or action they could add to make it more fun. A simple lever that makes her go “shush” was the final idea. In no way are they saying “all librarians do is shush people”. It’s just something librarians do from time to time, no? They didn’t want some $20+ talking action figure. They wanted one that the average person could afford to buy for a chuckle. If YOU can think of a way to make the action figure do “real data entry” or something, feel free to e-mail Accoutrements.
P.S. : Making the Librarian Avenger action figure would violate copyrights.
The company comes up with their OWN original products. 🙂
“They wanted a cheap, amusing action figure modeled after an underappreciated profession.”
So that people could laugh at the idea of this underappreciated profession being represented as an action figure. It does nothing to break the stereotypes that have held librarians down, both in respect and in pay, and if anything it furthers them. The reason why you are at a loss to come up with an idea of how to represent librarians accurately is because it isn’t something that can be done with a cheap piece of plastic. Frankly, what has pissed me off more than the action figure itself is that I’m being told that I should appreciate this gesture as a salute to the work I do every day. I don’t appreciate it and I don’t appreciate being told that I should.
I got my first library card when I was six, and that was a long time ago. I think librarians are great; I spend a lot of time in libraries looking things up, and without librarians I’d be sunk. However, I’ve got to tell you, many of you need to develop a far better sense of humor. This action figure is great, a light-hearted, Norman Rockwellesque tribute to you all, and all the carping about it is not only absurd, but detrimental to your professional image.
Hannover Fisk
I have a well developed sense of humor, and I can see how a librarian action figure is funny to most people. However, what set off all rant/commentary on it was the fact that it was supposedly created to show the world that librarians are superheroes because we “make sense of the world of information.” I guess we’re extra special superheroes now that we have an action figure that does really cool things like a “shushing” motion and wears an awesome costume that kids everywhere will be clammoring to wear on Halloween this year.
note: The last sentence is dripping with sarcasm.
I too grow weary of the tired old stereotype but would consider buying the doll just so my students and I could share a laugh.
Hello–
Here is a quote from an Associated Press article regarding the librarian action figure:
“The shushing thing just put me right over the edge,” said Diane DuBois, library director of Caribou Public Library in Caribou, Maine. “We’re so not like that anymore. It’s so stereotypical I could scream.”
Anyone who is offended or annoyed is reinforcing the stereotype of librarians having absolutely no sense of humor whatsoever. What a joyless life for anyone to take offense to this. The doll is spoofing the stereotype and apparently some don’t get it!!
Kudos to Nancy Pearl for having a great sense of humor and being able to have fun!!
My mother is a retired librarian and I currently work for a library consortium. I just about died laughing when I read the article and saw the picture.
Remember, the doll is protected by the First Amendment and all the silly whining by librarians only gives it more attention and reinforces the humorless, dull and austere stereotype. Frankly, I thought the majority of librarians would be smart enough to understand the humor.
For those of you offended or annoyed, lighten up!! Life is too short. Learn to laugh, learn to live!
Aren’t you tired of the constant complaining? For once, lighten up and have a laugh…and librarians, if you don’t believe me about the complaining, video tape your next meeting and play it back after a beer…you’ll see….LAUGH for the sake of LAUGHTER…it’s good for the soul.
I’m more weary of being told that I have no sense of humor. If you want to post another comment here telling me to lighten up, please don’t. I’ve heard enough already.
I think this “sense of humor” argument is flawed, really. I’m personally unclear as to whether the action figure is meant to be a satirical laugh at librarian stereotypes (in which case, ha ha!) or if it’s supposed to represent a real and worthy professional, in this case, Nancy Pearl. You can’t have it both ways, and yet I’ve seen some people applauding the figure and talking about how it was modeled after a real professional, and then some of those same people talking about how it was meant to be laugh-worthy. Which is it? Does Nancy Pearl feel she was asked because she’s such a cariacature? That’s not the impression I got from her statements to the press. She felt she was representing her profession proudly. As she should, certainly — but then to argue that it’s something we should all be guffawing at is actually an insult to Ms. Pearl.
Listen, there’s a librarian action figure and it’s a stereotype, and a bad one. It’s not the end of the world, obviously. I, for one, was just disappointed that it wasn’t something more fun and hip and truly celebratory of the profession. My disappointment doesn’t mean I don’t have a sense of humor — especially since, I’m not so clear on whether we were supposed to be laughing in the first place.
I’ve seen a picture of the librarian action figure and I thought it was funny…if you know
any librarians nowadays they ARE NOT typical of
this character. I think she is good for a laugh
and that’s something we all need to do more of
these days…LAUGH! I know several librarians with a sense of humor…show yours!!! I would
be proud to display this action figure on my
desk at the library and you should too!!!
Llinda:
Why not try reading back through the archives of this blog to find my sense of humor? I have displayed it many times. Or, if you are at all interested in parody, check out some of the parodies I’ve written over at Chartreuse Girls. I’m not taking kindly to being told I have no sense of humor by people who obviously have only read this particular blog entry of mine. Nor am I taking kindly to people who tell me what I should think is funny.
Great action figure – any ideas about library directors?