Traditional discourse tends to anthropomorphize the public library, asking: "How can the library better serve the community?" This effectively leaves the librarian, or any human agency, entirely out of the discussion. The library context may be transforming, but the need for a professional on the frontlines of the evolution remains. Indeed, it is the librarian that authors the evolution. Today, the librarian has an important role to play in connecting a diverse and changing community to information and to each other. As such, it is essential that we shift the framework of our professional discourse to acknowledge and champion this human agent – the librarian – as the change agent.

But once we re-establish this human agent, who is this person to be? How is this person to be constructed in the professional discourse, and how will they be experienced out in the community? As we cannot hope to reinvent the institution without reinventing ourselves, we need to come to terms, once and for all, with the grain of truth behind the persisting stereotype of the spinster librarian: passive, matronly, and ultra-conservative. Significantly, personality testing and profiling provide some interesting evidence regarding those who pursued librarianship between 1940 and 1979. Professional entrants tended to be sedentary, unassertive, disinclined towards initiative or leadership, self-effacing, lacking confidence, and passive to needs for change (Agada, 1984). These research findings tell us something about the kinds of individuals historically attracted to library work.

Conversely, the new librarian, as described by the Urban Libraries Council of Chicago, is a "connector" (ULC, 2005). A connector is a "special kind of community leader who opens doors for other people. A connector is a person who is trusted, is influential, and has a wide circle of relationships." This accurately describes the next generation public librarian who will be able to engage a community within the physical library space and in virtual community spaces; enhancing programming by introducing online forums, open blogs, or digital book lists. The new librarian will be a leader and an advocate, who seeks to provide access across interests, economic statuses, and cultures to create a library that is fully integrated and relevant in the life of the community.

Historically, librarians considered themselves shepherds of good taste, the mediating force between the public and the proper books to read. At other times, they have been considered neutral to a fault, not taking a stand on issues relevant to the society they served. Unrelenting stereotypes are grounded in representations of, and positions taken by, the profession in the past. A librarian, who sheds the mask of neutrality, and shares thoughts, opinions, hobbies, and interests with the community, is a librarian who embodies advocacy for the importance of these institutions. Those who pursue a career in public librarianship now are early adopters of technology who are eager to work with all the available tools to connect people to the information they need, as well as to other people.

A thriving public library today requires a librarian who operates as an active community participant rather than just a facilitator. In order to do this, we must step outside of the library, offering programs in non-traditional spaces, partnering with local organizations, and fostering meaningful relationships with MPPs and decision makers. The new public librarian is informed and passionate about digital rights management, copyright, censorship, and teaching the self-sufficient user to evaluate information. While it is difficult to forecast the future of the public library with absolute certainty, through strategic changes and adaptability we can at least ensure that public librarians and the social good they do remain a relevant and essential part of the community.

Still, it is not enough to embrace technological and social change as it is thrust upon our institution; we must actively seek to create change – change in our communities, in our libraries, and in the perception of the next generation of librarians as they lead the revolution.

Thankfully, a stereotype is not a death sentence; new associations can be created by changing the context, and opening a public dialogue with our communities where we make sure to write ourselves into the stories we want to tell about the future of this venerable institution.

Amber Hutton is a current Masters of Information student at the University of Toronto iSchool, and an OLA member. She has a keen interest in children’s and youth services, but is concerned with all issues relevant to public librarianship and the amazing opportunities to create change and growth afforded by the profession.

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References

Agada, J. (1984). Studies of the personality of librarians. Drexel Library Quarterly, 20(2), 24-45.
Kranich, N. (2001). Libraries create social capital. Library Journal 126:19 (Nov. 15), 40-41.
Radford, M. (2003). Librarians and party girls: Cultural studies and the meaning of the librarian. Library Quarterly, 73(1), 54-69.
Urban Libraries Council. (2005). The engaged library: Chicago stories of community building. abcdinstitute.org/docs/ULCReport.pdf