The Liberations of Librarians: Breaking the Stereotypes in Film and Pop Culture

The Biggest Misconceptions of Librarians in Film

Librarians are stereotyped and misconceived in many ways throughout the film industry. Films and pop culture portray librarians as mean, nerdy, and stern or as shy, mysterious, and sexy. These are two common stereotypes for librarians. The term “librarian” is a recognizable negative label. Hollywood continues to influence the way that we view them. They negatively portray them through film, television shows, and other forms of entertainment.

Examples of Films that Inaccurately Portray Librarians

A woman in most movies usually portrays the librarian. The typical librarian in the movies has her hair up in a bun, glasses settled on her nose, and an old-fashioned cardigan nestled around her shoulders. For years, the librarian stereotype has stayed strong in society. Donna Reed played a perfect role of a stern librarian in the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. She even had her hair tightly worn in a bun. Some males, such as Jason Robards in Something Wicked This Way Comes, have taken on the role of the reclusive librarian.

How Hollywood Could Portray Librarians in Film

Hollywood can stop the stereotype by positively portraying librarians. Films should portray librarians as smart, bold, and resourceful. The role of the librarian does not have to be played by a mean old spinster in glasses. Let's hope we start seeing some librarian characters that are smart, young and sexy emerge. This can change the way that society responds to librarians and the profession.

Links Page

Films

• Index to All Films: A complete listing of movies that portray librarians.
• Film Librarian: Top ten films featuring librarians in films.
• Movie Librarians: A list of movies featuring character librarians.
• The Librarian: Quest for the Spear: All about the movie.
• The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice: The official web site for the movie.
• Librarians in the Movies: An essay and examples of librarians portrayed in movies.
• Libraries and Librarians in the Movies: A complete listing of movies that show librarians.
• The Librarian Stereotype in Current Films: An essay about the librarian stereotype written by Heather Acerro.
• Librarian Movies 2008: A report on librarians portrayed in 2008 films.

Actors and Actresses

• Actors and Actresses: A complete list of actors and actresses who portrayed librarians.
• Noah Wyle as a Librarian: A view on Noah Wyle as a librarian in the movie, The Librarian.

Other resources

• Librarians in the Movies: A complete filmography by Martin Raish.
• Bibliography: A short bibliography about librarians in the movies.
• The Hollywood Librarian: A web site that talks about the librarian in film.
• The Librarian Stereotype and the Movies: A short essay by Stephen Walker and V. Lonnie Lawson.
• Images of Libraries in Pop Culture: A web site devoted to the librarian in film.
• Spectacles: How Pop Culture Views Librarians: About librarians in the entertainment industry.
• Librarians in Pop Culture: An essay about the librarian in pop culture with examples.
• Librarians are SMART: A short essay about the librarian in films.
• Stereotypes of Librarians: The different stereotypes portrayed by the librarian.
• Interviews on the Hollywood Librarian: An interview with Ann M. Seidl about librarians in pop culture.
• Favorite Libraries and Librarians: A listing of films featuring librarians.
• Check ‘EM Out!: EW’s list of librarians depicted in pop culture.