Mick Jagger, Rock Star Librarian
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2013 is young, but in library circles, “rock star librarian” is quickly becoming the loaded term of the year.
It all started with a post at Hi Miss Julie that sparked debate about gender and librarianship. Since then Stacked, The Magpie Librarian, and other blogs have continued the discussion. Heck, a friend even sent me the description of a proposed ALA Annual Conversation Starter focused on the rock star librarian concept.
You can count me among those who dislike the term. It does always seem to be used in reference to men, and it really just means a person who can engage a crowd. In fact, you could swap out the “librarian” part for any other profession and I would still be unhappy.
So while I’m busy submitting “Rock Star (anything)” to be on the 2014 LSSU List of Banished Words, I hope the gender debate continues and the library world is the wiser for it.
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About Travis Jonker
Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.
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ADHD sort that I am, I am now obsessed with getting Mick to read at our school in March. Do you have his cell number? Was there another point to your post?
I hear Mick is hard to get
Thank you! The only rock stars are our books. And with everyone trying to be stars (teachers, librarians, marketing depts, editors, agents, art directors and bloggers) they push the creators of the books and the books themselves to the back of the line. Been watching this on my FB and it’s absurd. The creators are now dumped with so much responsibility to sell our books. Who knows the even books exist with so many in the business trying to be the star. Get thee behind the stage and help us sell our book or very soon the creators (claimed as being sooo loved) will be gone.
I don’t think the main purpose of libraries is to advocate for authors. Yeah, that’s part of it and I think I’m good to authors. But the star isn’t the books. It’s the patrons and the community.
I’m totally rooster walking at my next storytime.
I support that!
This conversation has been roiling for awhile..not just on rock stars but also the role of gender. Check out a couple of additional posts:
Stacked: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2012/12/to-be-woman-and-speak-your-mind.html
My blog Tiny Tips for Library Fun http://tinytipsforlibraryfun.blogspot.com/2012/12/women-and-girls-power-or-not.html
Nicholas Schiller: http://www.informationgames.info/blog/2013/01/gender-silenc/
And finally Hi Miss Julie’s most recent knock-you-down-powerful post: http://himissjulie.com/2013/02/28/your-silence-is-protection-that-they-do-not-deserve/
It’s all part of the conversation that is far deeper than rock stars and gets at the gendered root of much of what you are seeing in these posts you cited.
Thanks for the additional links Marge
I am going to read these links. The male-female off balance ratio is rampant in picture books. Not only that, I’ve been insulted to my face, called old, had my breasts called out, asked to sleep over at my place for no reason not even a lousy drink in the deal, but the dudes still get treated like rock stars. ps I don’t mind when other call authors rock stars. It’s when the author’s call themselves rock stars that keep me running to the john.
What about rock star rock star? Would that still be acceptable? 😉
Ha – acceptable!
I can bow my arms like Mick!
It’s funny what can be a compliment one second can become near derogatory the next. If I end up being called a rockstar librarian, I’ll know I’ve gone too far.
Also, the comment, “Get thee behind the stage and help us sell our book “. Yikes. Ouch.
Why shouldn’t we be rock stars? I mean, when I think of that term and apply it to other professions – like “rock star teacher,” I think of the teacher that we admired, listened to, had a little crush on – and did I learn a little more trigonometry than I would have otherwise because Mr Whateverhisnamewas was a charismatic, engaged person? Oh my god yes. Trigonometry? What even IS that?
Of course anybody who equates “rock star” with “male,” well that doesn’t make any sense at all. But I don’t have any problem with a librarian striving to be a person that kids think is cool. Travis, I’d rather see your face on a locker-door poster than those bozos in New Direction any day!