You have all cheered up my Friday.

I do hope that someone will send the contributions to the offending BBC presenter!

 

Ros Syers

 

Education Centre Library

Southend Hospital

Prittlewell Chase

Westcliff-on-Sea

Essex SS0 0RY

 

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01702 435555 x 2620

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: UK medical/ health care library community / information workers [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Andy Prue
Sent: 26 August 2005 11:14
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [SPAM:KEYWORDS] - Re: BBC Breakfast report on Librarians' image - Found word(s) free guaranteed in the Text body

 

-----Original Message-----
From: UK medical/ health care library community / information workers [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Rimmington Pip - Clinical Librarian
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2005 10:54 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: BBC Breakfast report on Librarians' image

I would say a resounding NO to any Calendar Girls' style stunts, that's a quick fix or publicity stunt that's been done to death. If we really want to change the library stereotype it will take more than that. Like human cannonballs & librarian acrobats? A librarian revolt?

I'm quite frankly raging about this this morning! I even hauled myself out of bed to fire off an email to the usually lovely Bill Turnbull. (I suppose having a crush on him doesn't help the cause!).

Pip

Pip Rimmington BA MA MCLIP
Clinical Librarian
(Gastroenterology, Stroke, Surgical Services &
Anaesthesia, Critical Care & Pain Management)
UHL NHS Trust
Education Centre Library
Leicester General Hospital
Gwendolen Rd
Leicester LE5 4PW
Tel/Fax: 0116 2588078
<<http://www.le.ac.uk/li/lgh/library/clinlib.htm>>

The BBC Breakfast programme featured an item on the image of librarians this morning.  Oh dear,  the usual.

They interviewed teenagers in the street, and got comments on whether they would want to be a librarian in the future.

Comments included the normal stereotyped image:

- They all wear cardigans
- They are always quiet and boring
- Reading books is not for people who are interested in life

Interestingly, the younger kids, sitting in a library in Liverpool, said they loved the library, and one thought she would like the job.

Seems to me Liverpool have done a great job in thinking of things to attract youngsters, but we are still up against the trad stereotypical image.

What do we have to do?!  Perhaps some of us could do a Womens' Institute style calendar? 

John Noakes style antics up the sides of huge chimneys or cage/shark experiences, which are then filmed and shown in the library as an exciting entertainment for the teenagers - see it here!  Shark loses fight against intrepid librarian!

Hmmm....

Well it IS Friday....

Diane
Diane Pritchatt
Senior Information Professional
Scientific and Technical Training
National Blood Service
Research Park, Vincent Drive
Edgbaston
BIRMINGHAM B15 2SG

Tel: 0121 254 0517
Fax: 0121 254 0517

 

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