And It Continues... this time in Pakistan

Ali Usman reports in the Pakistan Daily Times about the demoting of librarians at a staff level, and the outrage that followed. "The teachers and students of Allama Iqbal Medical College (AIMC) have condemned the AIMC and Jinnah Hospital administrations for advertising the post of librarian in BS-8, calling it a humiliation to the coveted post." Read the full article, "AIMC slammed for ‘demoting’ librarians," for the details.

Kudos to the staff and students who spoke up; I'll have my fingers crossed that the situation is resolved properly (i.e., librarians are back at BS-17).

It's an International Thing

Lest you think it's only us Americans who obsess about image and perception, meet Chooman, who emailed me earlier this week: "I'm a librarian at Thammasat University, Thailand. I'm one of us who always get the 'you don't look like a librarian' remark. In fact, my boss is quite annoyed that I don't look like government officer either. I like being a librarian. I got standing ovation telling stories to children at summer camp. I enjoy reference work. I am thrilled doing periodical index. Too bad index is being done by software now."

Thanks for the email, Chooman, and for permission to share your words on the blog!

Astronomy Science Fiction

"Astronomy professor and SF author, Mike Brotherton, had a brilliant idea. A lot of people get their ideas about science from fiction, but the problem is that much of the science in fiction is really bad -- like that whole exploding in vacuum thing. So he decided to put together an online anthology of science fiction specifically to use in conjunction with teaching astronomy. The National Science Foundation thought it was a good idea and funded the anthology."

This is just too cool. Check out Diamonds in the Sky, "an original anthology of astronomy science fiction."

A Compendium of Sexy Librarianness

Ha ha! Over on Library Journal is a great summary of "trope of the lascivious professional in American popular culture" by Heather McCormack and Lauren Gilbert. A great, fun (and occasionally NSFW) collection of web sites, movies, music and books featuring sexy librarians in one way or another! (Be sure to read "Never Mind the Bollocks, Librarians Invented Sex, Stupid!")

Hats off to the authors for a great pre-Valentine's Day treat!

And Now: The Interview!

And finally, I can brag that the Shanachies interviewed me at Internet Librarian! (It has been soooooo hard not being able to mention this until now.)


Internet Librarian 2008: interviews from Jaap van de Geer on Vimeo.

A Momentous Announcement: The Book!

I am simultaneously pleased, nervous, excited, and terrified to announce the forthcoming publication of "You Don’t Look Like a Librarian Shattering Stereotypes and Creating Positive New Images in the Internet Age." With a foreword by the fabulous Elizabeth Burns (of Pop Goes the Library), it'll be available March 30, 2009 from Information Today, Inc. The companion web site to the book will go public on the official publication date of March 30th.

Writing this book has been quite a journey; what started out just being a frequently-heard comment has morphed over the intervening decade (yes, decade!) into a Thing. This Thing has led me to talks and articles, a regular column, this blog, and now The Book. I can't say thank you enough to everyone who's stuck with me, answered my surveys, and sent me articles and cartoons and music videos and so on. Thank you.

Don't expect the comments to stop, though, just with the publication of The Book! There's always more to come!