Improving the Librarian Image (ALA 2008)

I decided to attend a session (which had people standing all the way out in the hall to listen–125 was the number I overheard on the way out) at ALA on Improving the Librarian Image because I am always interested in hearing about how the rest of the public perceives us and how to facilitate change. Donna Cardillo is a Registered Nurse and so that was also interesting.

A big take home for me was the use of credentials. I know it may be a bigger issue in nursing to show you have the full credentials to be a nurse but I can see a reason in libraries as well. Cardillo noted that, like in hospitals, patrons often do not know who is a librarian and who is a secretary or student assistant in libraries. She recommended having business cards made up with your name, title and credentials. The title also helps to further differentiate you; in this way the public can see that librarians are not all identical. The credentials can also help patrons, students, or faculty realize you have a Master’s degree, possibly adding more respect and buy-in from the communities we serve.

As an introduction she said, “Now some of you may be wondering why an RN is speaking at a library conference. What do nurses have to do with librarians?” My notes (including answers to this question) are below:

• Nurses and Librarians?
  • gender
  • shortage
  • undervalued and underpaid
  • image problems
    • stereotypes
  • genetics?
    • how many of you are former nurses or studied nursing? (10%)
    • How many of your siblings/family members are nurses? (40% in the room!!)
• why does our image matter?
  • budgeting issues
  • legislative issues
  • morale issues
  • recruiting issues
• Personal Image
  • appearance
    • dress well: conveys confidence; sets them apart
    • hair–“serious hair” Working Girl
  • body language
    • you don’t have to feel confident to act confident
    • look in the eye, but not too much
      • don’t be the first to look away every time, just sometimes
    • stand up straight, head up
      • authoritative and assertive
  • speech…
    • most of us talk too much and have trouble getting to the core message
    • say things in different ways hopefully eventually it will come across
      • think of your most important message
      • think of how few words you can say it in
      • say it
      • then stay quiet
    • we have a bad habit: Oh, I’m sorry, I’ll come back…
      • unless you truly have something to be sorry for don’t say it
    • eliminate qualifiers: controlling the reaction of the listener before you say anything
      • you probably have heard this, but…
      • you probably won’t like this, but…
      • Problem: it takes to long to get to your point, lose your audience
    • You need to realize when you do this–self-awareness is the first step to eliminating the bad habit
      • Think before you speak
  • workspace/carspace
  • learn how to take a compliment
    • you did great: don’t mention it
    • thank you for your help: it’s my job
    • Accept it
      • you dishonor the person
      • yourself
      • your profession
    • Say: it was my pleasure; anytime; thank you for telling me that; let me know if I can do anything else for you.
    • appearing modest and humble is okay but you don’t have to be self-deprecating
  • Have a business card
    • have your academic credentials
    • carry the cards where ever you go, not just on your desk
    • have them made from where you work
      • not in the budget?
        • it costs next to nothing–people just never bother to ask
  • peoples’ impression is how they will treat you
    • we believe more of what we see than what we hear about or of people
• Harnessing the power of the media
  • monitor images of librarians in the media–this is people’s perception of you
    • movies
    • sit-coms
  • stories about libraries or librarians
    • library budget cuts?
    • positive? negative? “Hipper Crowd of Shushers” positive but the stereotype is still there
      • let them know why it is detrimental
  • write letters to the media
  • Six Steps to Free Publicity, Marcia Yudin
    • Some people shy away from the media; read about it;
    • How can I say no, my whole profession is counting on me
      • clear communication is important; you are coached on general questions prior to recording
      • break down and eliminate industry jargon and acronyms
  • contact local media directly
    • I am the librarian at…
    • use National Library Week as a spring board
    • “You might be interested to know that…”
    • write letters to the editor if the information is accurate: offer additional resources and offer yourself as another resource
  • Being visible in the community
    • people will know you and your abilities
    • if you are unknown, it will not be hard to discourage bad local legislation
• Promoting the profession
  • people don’t know about us; we don’t talk about ourselves enough
  • brochures and websites are not going to do the full job of educating peoples
  • don’t just say “I am a librarian, staff or MLS student”
    • add a sentence about what you did that particular day
  • get out to community fairs more
    • career fairs
    • scouting troops
    • school groups
    • Rachel Singer Gordon’s “How to become a librarian” article in Library Journal–this can help you describe what you do
  • Men/ ethnic minorities: people need to see people like them to go and pursue a career
• Networking, getting visible;
  • attend a chamber of commerce meeting
  • a work meeting
  • women business owners in the community
  • promote our services on a regular basis
• handshaking: important social custom; only form of acceptable touching connection
  • • credibility
    • colleagues and clients; even children
    • sign of respect–levels the playing field
    • shake, eye contact, and smile
• Marketing, staying visible
  • Always wear you’re name badge, title and credentials
  • photos of who works in the library with name, credentials and title for your users
    • you have to have the delineation: librarians are all different
  • sell your value on a daily basis
    • you can’t assume
      • people know who you are
      • know what you do
      • know what you have
  • consider writing a weekly/monthly column with your picture
    • tips
    • suggestions
    • different services
    • different materials
  • consider writing competitions
  • offer to speak at a local meeting on your paid work-time
    • propose these to the people you work for:
      • why do you want to go?
        • they vote
        • they donate money
        • they don’t appreciate/know our services
    • if you don’t ask you don’t get
    • even if it is no, it produces awareness
      • repackage it and try again
      • if we can’t do that, maybe we can do this
      • “When the customer says no, the selling begins.”
  • other ideas
    • Comment: in the public: at the gym or the grocery: what do you do: “I am your librarian”
    • Comment: offer comments and questions
      • always identify yourself by names and permissions
    • Comment: contacted local assembly person; they told her about meetings they are looking for speakers
      • if you don’t know your local assembly person is you can find out easily;
    • Comment: a lot of libraries have public meeting space: always make myself known and who I am
    • Comment: we have a speakers bureau and offer speakers in their interests
    • Comment: passed over for promotion; one of the reasons why I came I felt I might need to change my image…but I am becoming cynical and bitter; how do you turn that around?
      • A: changing your image is a good thing; there are a lot of reasons why people are hired; make an appointment to speak with your supervisor; let your goals be known and ask for advice; can you suggest other projects I can get involved in?
    • Comment: new hires get a mentor who give candid feedback and help them in promotion
    • Comment: enewsletter: would you like to sign up for our monthly newsletter with tips on research?
• Getting involved in national/local associations
  • joining isn’t enough, get involved
  • dues are too much
    • ask for help from your employer
      • ask for help to go to conference
      • ask for it every year even if they say no every year
      • if you don’t ask you won’t get
      • nos still create awareness
      • why is it important to be a member?
        • why is it important to go to a conference
        • Comment: when you get back meet with supervisors and tell them why it was beneficial;
        • D: write a report, give the boss material
    • cost is relative to value
    • you can probably deduct this on taxes
  • they won’t listen to me; too much politics;
    • even if you put something out there and they don’t follow, you are still feeling empowered and your voice is heard
  • you will also need to sell this to other people
    • you join associations for what is in it for you
      • you are an informed member of the profession–pipeline of information
      • garner support
      • let off steam
    • join a committee
      • hones your leadership skills
      • your communications skills
      • your networking skills
  • run for office in your organization
    • this holds a lot of wait in your employment evaluations
• Develop speaking and writing skills
  • promotion method
  • it is the good communicators who get ahead in this world
    • articulate
  • anyone can learn how to write and anyone can learn how to speak
    • more technique involve than most people realize
    • develop it and cultivate it
  • start small and start local
    • write about something you love
    • write about something you know
    • write about something innovative
    • write in an association newsletter
    • it is the doing that grows into ability
  • Getting a rejection letter
    • when I got my first one and vowed I would never write again
    • the editor had actually taken the time to make some suggestions
    • I never resubmitted that article, but I went to the public library and got a book on how to write for publication in journals
    • today I am doing a column for that magazine now
      • I almost let one rejection letter keep me from ever doing it again
    • WHEN you get a rejection letter, you celebrate that–it is a rite of passage
      • writing and submitting is the part of publication that is important
    • Speaking? I looked up books at the library on that as well