Image, Public Perception, and Lego Librarians

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Image, Public Perception, and Lego Librarians

July 24, 2013 by Joe Hardenbrook

I love seeing how the public and the media portray librarians. Whether it’s the shushing/conservative stereotype, “naughty librarian” stereotype, under-appreciated & over-worked public servant (this one is NSFW-but one of my faves!), dealing with inept patrons, or even ones that combine the brainy stereotype with sexiness - I eat it up. I wonder if accountants or architects feel the same way when they see their field portrayed?

Entering Pop Culture

So, how do we know when librarians have hit the big time? Lego has introduced a Lego Librarian – part of its minifigures series line. This line of minifigures is an eclectic group. Series #10, which the librarian belongs to, also includes a warrior woman, sad clown, and a paintball player among others. In fact, the librarian is the only viable career option in the set! How cool is that?

There are 150+ minifigures, only about 10 require a college degree, so the librarian is in rare company!

Here’s the Lego Librarian [screen capture from the Lego website]:

The official Lego Librarian, part of Minifigures Series 10.

OK, so it plays into several librarian stereotypes…but I would expect nothing less. The Lego character must be easily identifiable to the public: “Oh yeah, THAT is a librarian!” So, what do we have?…

Female? Check.
Glasses? Check.
Cardigan? Check.
Sensible hair? Check.
Book? Check.
Coffee cup that reads “Shhh!” Check.

Oranges and Peaches

The creators went to some lengths to add a bit of fun. There’s even an inside joke in regards to the “Oranges and Peaches” book. It’s a reference to the 1995 movie Party Girl starring Parker Posey as a library clerk. In the scene below, a patron asks for Darwin’s Origin of Species. The Parker character mistakes it for “Oranges and Peaches”:

A Biographical Story

The Lego Librarian comes with a brief bio. Again, it plays into some trite stereotypes, but it’s fun:

Books are just about the Librarian’s most favorite thing in the entire world. Reading them can take you on exciting adventures in far-off lands, introduce you to new friends and cultures, and let you discover poetry, classic literature, science fiction and much more. If only everybody loved to read as much as she does, the world would be a better place…and quieter, too! The Librarian feels that it’s extremely important to treat a book with the proper respect. You should always use a bookmark instead of folding down the corner of the page. Take good care of the dust jacket, and don’t scribble in the margins. And above all else, never – ever – return it to the library late!

It’s no surprise that the Lego Librarian is female. It should be. We’re a female-dominated profession. It makes sense. But I wanted to have some fun, so I decided to to see if I could make the librarian version of me – Mr. Library Dude. It was not hard.

I grabbed the Lego computer programmer minifigure. He’s wearing a sweater vest and glasses. Doesn’t that scream male librarian? I actually think I have that EXACT sweater vest! I added an iPhone (those who know me never see me without mine) and I invented the Mr. Library Dude Lego Librarian:

This is Mr. Library Dude.

Lego Librarians on Parade

So besides the official Lego Librarian version and my knock-off, how might we portray other librarians in Lego form? Or what other ways are we perceived by peers or the public? I decided to take a stab at it and had a bit of fun. Maybe you even know a few of these. So here’s my satirical take. What would you add?

Note: Naturally, the LEGO images below are popular with children. Please be forewarned: there is a bit of cursing below.

Update: By popular request, I have added a children’s librarian. Look for the chicken suit!

: The official Lego librarian – comes with a “Shhh!” cup and a book: “Oranges and Peaches.”

: “Why do all the homeless guys hit on me?”

: “Adequately caffeinated and ready for the Reference Desk!”

: “I’m what some people call a ‘fucking bunhead’ – but I wear it as a badge of honor.”

: “I singlehandedly manage the library’s blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and all our other damn marketing projects.”

: “The library profession still needs catalogers.”

: “Ugh. This is how society wants to see me – the naughty librarian with a whip. So passe.”

: “After a long day’s work, all I really want is some quality time with my cat.”

: “I find this focus on female librarians’ appearance to be rather sexist. Let me point you to an article I saw on Jezebel.com.”

: “Even though I’m smiling, I actually hate you. I really, really hate you.”

: “Work, kids, family…yep, I can do it all!”

: “The older librarians don’t enjoy my enthusiasm!”

: “I quote ‘Buffy’ and none of the students get it! Can you believe it?”

: “People are surprised to find out that I’m a librarian. They think I should be wearing a cat sweater or something!”

: Alternalibrarian – “I love my pink hair. Wanna see my lit-themed tattoos?”

: “This is how I see me: a warrior librarian! Protecting the 1st amendment, fighting against library budget cuts. THAT’s what I do!”

: “Only a children’s librarian would don a chicken suit for story time! That’s why the kiddies love me. But once summer reading is done, I’m pawning the chicken suit for beer & wine money.”

: “There really aren’t that many fashion options for a male librarian: a button-up shirt & khaki pants is pretty much it.”

: “I desperately want to be a hipster librarian with my pencil mustache and bowtie!”

: “Do you want to talk about bibliometrics? Anyone? Anyone?”

: “I served with Melvil Dewey. I knew Melvil Dewey. Melvil Dewey was a friend of mine. You’re no Melvil Dewey.”

: “I know our EBSCO subscription prices went up 400% this year, but I really just want to go home and brew some beer!”

: “I’m an academic librarian with faculty status. My job is to write pointless peer-reviewed articles til I die. Which is hopefully soon.”

: “I’m an approachable guy librarian. Look at me! I’m on the fast track to Administration!”

: “Am I a rockstar librarian or just a rockstar? Doesn’t matter. L J just named me a Mover & Shaker even though I haven’t done shit. How awesome is that?!”

: “I got a killer smile. All the old lady librarians love me!”

: “I went to library school to meet girls.”

: “What do you mean there’s no coffee?!?!”

“All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.” :)

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Posted in Humor, Librarians | Tagged humor, image, Lego, Lego Librarian, Legos, librarian, librarians, Parker Posey, Party Girl, personality, personality types, pop culture, popular culture, profession, public perception, stereotype, stereotyping | 165 Comments

165 Responses

on July 25, 2013 at 6:29 am | Reply Sandy

I love it! You should start your own Lego Librarians Mini Figure Series. I see endless possibilities.
- on August 8, 2013 at 12:03 pm | Reply Ivonne
  
  Yeah!
on July 25, 2013 at 10:03 am | Reply Image, Public Perception, and Lego Librarians |...

[…] I love seeing how the public and the media portray librarians. Whether it's the shushing/conservative stereotype, "naughty librarian" stereotype, under-appreciated & over-worked public servant … […]
on July 25, 2013 at 10:45 am | Reply Jessamyn West

Totally love this.
on July 25, 2013 at 11:05 am | Reply Denise

Great posting! All we need now is a lego library cat or owl for the side kick of the lego librarian. …
Denise
on July 25, 2013 at 11:17 am | Reply Claudia Thibodeau Gibson

Please, no “Shhh!” Shushing is a prime example of poor people management skills!
- on August 15, 2013 at 7:10 pm | Reply Carol
  
  As the colleague of a shusher, I totally agree…
on July 25, 2013 at 12:27 pm | Reply ekgo

Oh, thank you for the cataloger mini-figure! <3
I was so excited when I found the librarian mini-figure, and all on my own, too. I didn't have to have help from my niece, nephew, or husband (they're pros at this game). I took her picture and used her as my profile pic on all my social media sites and a bunch of my friend wanted to know how I got a Lego that looked like me. So the stereotype is obviously being reinforced daily. By me, apparently.
on July 25, 2013 at 12:33 pm | Reply DrJ

Nailed it. Every single one.
on July 25, 2013 at 12:51 pm | Reply alpajews

So much win. <3
on July 25, 2013 at 12:53 pm | Reply Kristi

Judging from the last one, you have obviously caught a glimpse of me before my coffee.
on July 25, 2013 at 1:51 pm | Reply James Darlack

Brilliant!
on July 25, 2013 at 1:52 pm | Reply Ffion Bell (@bibliotekaargh)

This is brilliant!
on July 25, 2013 at 2:13 pm | Reply Laura Kane McElfresh (@lkmcelfresh_)

This is great! And yes, thanks for the cataloger.
on July 25, 2013 at 2:39 pm | Reply Oleg K.

Ugh, why do all those librarians have to have square feet? Can we PLEASE stop with the stereotypes.
on July 25, 2013 at 3:22 pm | Reply Victoria

I want them all!!
on July 25, 2013 at 3:28 pm | Reply noisy_libraian

Fantastic.
on July 25, 2013 at 4:57 pm | Reply Karin Wikoff

I am sure I see Ingrid Coleslaw in there. Someone needs to direct the creator of the original Lego Librarian to the This is What a Librarian Looks Like site….
on July 25, 2013 at 9:43 pm | Reply Kathy Dempsey

Inspired! Almost too true-to-life. In fact, I think I can attach real-librarian names to almost all of these figures.
on July 25, 2013 at 10:27 pm | Reply Rebecca j Littman

I altered mine so that the mug says “Ahhh!” instead of “Shhh!” I actually wrote to Lego about the stereotype, asking when the last time they were in a library was… since I have been a librarian for 20 years and never said Shhh to anyone (it may help that I’m a Music LIbrarian, so quiet is not generally expected in our area, but still…). That being said, the character looks rather like me – long dark hair, glasses, sensible-ish shoes – though I don’t wear sweaters because I get too hot in them. They actually wrote back and thanked me for drawing their attention to the fact that it’s such a stereotype and they will keep things like that in mind in the future.
- on July 26, 2013 at 8:35 am | Reply Kathy Dempsey
  
  That’s great that you wrote to Lego about the stereotype! I’d like to end that whole thing.
  Then again, if it was a woman in smart clothes carrying a tablet PC & coffee cup w/o the Shhh, people would mistake it for a teacher or a techie… (both of which librarians are, anyway…)
on July 25, 2013 at 11:04 pm | Reply ldausch (@fraulein666)

one thing i noticed about all these lego librarians is that they lack noses. Why?
on July 26, 2013 at 1:46 am | Reply Helen

I’m the “smiling but I really really hate you” library assistant!
on July 26, 2013 at 8:32 am | Reply Kristina

I am DYING! Thanks for the laugh.
on July 26, 2013 at 9:04 am | Reply “Rockstarism” and Librarianship | A Blog on LIST

[…] Am I a rockstar librarian or just a rockstar? Doesn’t matter. L J just named me a Mover & Shaker even though I haven’t done shit. How awesome is that?!” – Mr. Library Dude […]
on July 26, 2013 at 12:47 pm | Reply amandadinscore123

Brilliant!
on July 26, 2013 at 1:31 pm | Reply russianmartini

Where’s the sexy librarian?! This is awesome. I worked at the university library for a year in college and loved it.
on July 26, 2013 at 1:53 pm | Reply Friday fun: Librarian stereotypes and legos | Ink and Vellum

[…] Hardenbrook has created a parade of library-themed Lego characters, most of which I identify with in some way. Though if asked to choose, I probably fall somewhere […]
on July 26, 2013 at 2:09 pm | Reply segmation

I love Legos but never thought up a Legos librarian. What does Lego think of this?
on July 26, 2013 at 2:37 pm | Reply Apple Hill Cottage

Librarians everywhere are laughing! But I gotta say, where’s your children’s librarian in an outrageous costume and a puppet sidekick?
on July 26, 2013 at 3:03 pm | Reply sortaginger

Suddenly I want to be a librarian.

Signed,

Seemingly boring, unfeeling, cold-hearted but actually well-meaning HR person
on July 26, 2013 at 3:13 pm | Reply A.K.

I loved Lego as a kid, but back then the only face options were “smiling man” and “smiling pirate with eyepatch.” We’ve come a long way.

Great Lego figs, anyway!
on July 26, 2013 at 3:27 pm | Reply boredlandia

I now wish to have a collection of lego librarians.
on July 26, 2013 at 3:34 pm | Reply Sutar, Chirag

Interesting. This is a fine example of what Jacques Ellul identifies as sociological propaganda.
on July 26, 2013 at 3:46 pm | Reply awax1217

We are all stereotypes. And yet just when you thought you have seen everything and everyone is different you find out you are wrong. A male librarian. Good one.
on July 26, 2013 at 3:49 pm | Reply Paul Bowler

This is awesome, love the one that quotes lines from Buffy!
on July 26, 2013 at 3:52 pm | Reply Jason

“My job is to write pointless peer-reviewed articles til I die. Which is hopefully soon.” – Bahahahahaha, Best blog post I’ve seen in a while. This totally made my week, thanks
on July 26, 2013 at 4:21 pm | Reply Ms. Roberts

If I become a librarian do I get my very own “Shhh” coffee cup too?
on July 26, 2013 at 4:38 pm | Reply princessfairyzooboo

Epic.
on July 26, 2013 at 4:50 pm | Reply Jean

Hilarious! You should depict the librarian who has alter egos –knowledge management specialist, document /records manager, etc. I am/have been both + in former life/years, a librarian.

Lego identities have been great to expose our psyches and work!

For other professions: accountants get tired of being portrayed as numbers dweebs, etc.
- on August 8, 2013 at 9:43 am | Reply Beth
  
  My firm decided to kick the accounting stereotype to the curb. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1osnKQ9lHI
on July 26, 2013 at 4:57 pm | Reply Fiona McQuarrie (@all_about_work)

This is TOO funny!
on July 26, 2013 at 5:13 pm | Reply Rachelle @ Sweet Home Pasadena

OMG, love it!!!! My son lucked out with the librarian mini-figure a couple of weeks ago. And I think I may know each of those librarians, hahaha!!!
on July 26, 2013 at 7:51 pm | Reply lanaminas

Great post. Love the book reference, would have never known otherwise.
on July 26, 2013 at 7:53 pm | Reply sparkle385

I absolutely love all of your captions, lol. Especially the ‘no coffee’ Lego librarian.
on July 26, 2013 at 9:55 pm | Reply Mei-Mei

Love it! My dad is a librarian; he’s the “button up and khakis” one for sure. Except when he’s the “no coffee?!?!” one ~_^
on July 26, 2013 at 10:41 pm | Reply Lady M

This is brilliant! As a librarian, I have come in contact with every one of these types and can claim a few for myself. Despite my own buttoned-up appearance, my favorite co-workers are the those with the pink hair . . .funny how that works out. . . Seriously, want to collect all of these.
on July 26, 2013 at 11:10 pm | Reply anerdatlarge

Hahaha! Seems as though in Legoland as long as you possess the standard issue SHHHHH! mug, you’re a librarian! Do they bestow those upon you when you graduate library school?
on July 27, 2013 at 2:26 am | Reply Reblog: Image, Public Perception, and Lego Librarians | wadingthroughbooks

[…] Image, Public Perception, and Lego Librarians by Mr. Library Dude […]
on July 27, 2013 at 2:49 am | Reply quixoticsemiotic

This is hilarious.
on July 27, 2013 at 6:59 am | Reply girlseule

Love this! Lego rocks! And so do libraries and librarians. Interesting what you said about how it’s interesting to see how librarians were portrayed, I used to work as a nurse and always found it interesting how we were either angels or ‘naughty’.
on July 27, 2013 at 11:51 am | Reply Which Lego Librarian are you? | Allegany County Library System Director's Notes

[…] MrLibraryDude’s post multiple variations of librarians in the form of a minifig, which one fits you […]
on July 27, 2013 at 2:17 pm | Reply sweetsound

As an accountant, I can’t say I enjoy our stereotype as much as you do yours
on July 27, 2013 at 2:17 pm | Reply Lisa Chesser

The librarian at my school kept me from going crazy. This was the least that Lego could do. Great post.
on July 27, 2013 at 3:39 pm | Reply Theena Theen

Angry Librarian is my favorite!
on July 27, 2013 at 3:46 pm | Reply smkelly8

Reblogged this on Ruined for Life: Phoenix Edition and commented:
So now I’ve got an array of personas I can adopt when I finish library school.
on July 27, 2013 at 4:13 pm | Reply jensine

oh how I love Lego, Libirarians, glasses and yes even cardigans … now all i need is the shh mug
on July 27, 2013 at 5:30 pm | Reply Anne Bonney

These characters are wonderful! And Lego!
on July 27, 2013 at 6:02 pm | Reply thenotsosophisticatedlife

I would so ask someone to get this for me as a gift. Love this post! Very clever.
on July 27, 2013 at 7:27 pm | Reply mathieupnt

Nice post
on July 28, 2013 at 2:42 am | Reply erisa1602

Dude, that is so freakin cute! Do you portray yourself as one of them? I think it’s great how you are so open-minded to these many perceptions of a librarian… You are really not the average librarian! Plus that Sssshhh thing is so stereotyped……….
on July 28, 2013 at 3:32 am | Reply rameshalve

beautiful logo
on July 28, 2013 at 5:59 am | Reply iftheshoefits

Love the post, loved the customised mini-me’s too.
on July 28, 2013 at 10:18 am | Reply thegreatnodnarb

This gives me a desire to collect Legos. I need an entire set of librarian Legos! Pronto!
on July 28, 2013 at 10:24 am | Reply suzie81

Just fantastic… I loved every bit of this…
on July 28, 2013 at 11:00 am | Reply zoesays

Your Lego Librarians are amazing! I could easily see these as a real collection.

Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
on July 28, 2013 at 11:18 am | Reply carrythemessage

Well done and congrats on the FP! Damn funny – loved the captions. “Bibliometrics”…lol. Great job. Winner.

Paul
on July 28, 2013 at 12:41 pm | Reply John

How about the awkwardly introverted Research Librarian who decides to jump right into an Elementary School Library?
on July 28, 2013 at 6:48 pm | Reply Linkubator Sunday Roundup | July 22 – 28 | Library as Incubator Project

[…] Mr. Librarian Dude totally nails quite a few public perceptions of librarians using LEGO people. I think they pretty much cover most of my grad school […]
on July 28, 2013 at 7:27 pm | Reply merrildsmith

I loved this–so much fun!
on July 28, 2013 at 9:00 pm | Reply Kat Kan

Heh. I often have my hair up in a bun, secured with hairsticks. The kids love it, and at least five of them have drawn me with my bun. You need one holding a comic book, though … ^_^
on July 28, 2013 at 11:11 pm | Reply Let's talk about it

Haha! I love legos! Thank you posting!
on July 29, 2013 at 7:10 am | Reply Robin

ok, this is hysterical and makes me want to overturn my son’s lego box and start designing. thanks for the laugh!
on July 29, 2013 at 8:21 am | Reply takingthingsliterally

This is brilliant!
on July 29, 2013 at 10:06 am | Reply MetaCircle

Awesome. Really cool and funny, too.
on July 29, 2013 at 10:29 am | Reply ebybabyyy

Oh my god. A friend saw this post and forwarded it to me.. Seeing as I actually look like Alternalibrarian! (https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/q71/s720x720/944273_10201243994167369_1888652930_n.jpg)

This is brilliant!
on July 29, 2013 at 2:08 pm | Reply Elizabeth Leonard

Can I use one of these as my profile pic???
- on July 29, 2013 at 2:25 pm | Reply Joe Hardenbrook
  
  Absolutely! – Joe (Mr. Library Dude)
on July 29, 2013 at 3:21 pm | Reply GalOnTrip

i love lego and all their versions, from a soldier, starwars, brides to librarians. that’s so creative. are they, the librarian versions, still in stores? great post!
on July 29, 2013 at 4:39 pm | Reply Christopher Hogsett

Where are the black librarians lol
- on July 31, 2013 at 12:25 am | Reply beautifuldaymama
  
  Good point. Maybe this needs an addendum.
- on July 31, 2013 at 8:19 am | Reply Joe Hardenbrook
  
  Not saying I disagree, but here’s this bit of info: “According to LEGO.com, most minifigures are coloured yellow to display equalization in ethnic society.”
on July 29, 2013 at 7:43 pm | Reply LawLibrarian

I am most definitely an amalgamation of many of these images, which just goes to prove that you can’t quite typecast “a librarian”. BTW, I linked to this story from the Librarian Images page in the Librarian Resources section of my site.
on July 29, 2013 at 9:20 pm | Reply Raxa Collective

Hey Joe, we believe library lovers must unite! http://raxacollective.wordpress.com/2012/09/14/fighting-fire-with-fire/
Congratulations!
- on July 29, 2013 at 10:16 pm | Reply Joe Hardenbrook
  
  Love that!
on July 29, 2013 at 9:22 pm | Reply Image, Public Perception, and Lego Librarians | Adventures of a Blonde Librarian

[…] just had to re-blog this from the very perceptive and funny Mr. Library Dude. These hysterically stereotypical Lego Librarians are great. I think I need […]
on July 30, 2013 at 3:59 am | Reply bookmarkpeople

Love it!
on July 30, 2013 at 4:13 am | Reply bookmarkpeople

Reblogged this on Bookmark People and commented:
My kids’ love the bods from the library… now they can play librarians!
on July 30, 2013 at 9:12 am | Reply super s'moore

Sheer genius.
on July 30, 2013 at 2:09 pm | Reply lrg514

I can quote from Buffy. I actually read the books I recommend. I desperately want to retire. I’m grossly underpaid for my skill set and education. Yes! I am a librarian.
on July 30, 2013 at 2:47 pm | Reply Hal Cline

Funny Blog…enjoyed reading the posts…..
on July 30, 2013 at 8:20 pm | Reply barbara

OMG love all of these . i just graduated from library school and i lgot a huge laugh at all of these. can i add all the figurenes to my wishlist
on July 30, 2013 at 8:30 pm | Reply Notes on Lego Librarians & Shout-Out to Children’s Librarians | Mr. Library Dude

[…] « Image, Public Perception, and Lego Librarians […]
on July 30, 2013 at 11:20 pm | Reply tellmeastory2day

I qualify for 2 of these – I’m the one in the chicken suit that all the older librarians hate for my enthusiasm! This was sooooo funny – and scary, I recognised many colleagues in this!
on July 31, 2013 at 12:23 am | Reply beautifuldaymama

I’m a super patron of our local library. And a fan of legos, too, of course. Who isn’t? This is so quirky and funny. Loved it!
on July 31, 2013 at 2:16 am | Reply Jackson Williams

Reblogged this on Homie Williams. and commented:
– J.W.
on July 31, 2013 at 10:04 am | Reply rkb665

So accurate! It reminds me of my years as a librarian, and the stories I hear from my friends who still are.
on July 31, 2013 at 4:52 pm | Reply Jo

Want this as a BIG poster please!!! Perfect to have at my desk.
on August 1, 2013 at 7:21 am | Reply Carolyn Malsher (@CarolynMalsher)

You must have kids, right? Otherwise how did you manage such an amazing collection of mash-ups? Or did you spend a fortune just for this one post?
- on August 1, 2013 at 4:42 pm | Reply Joe Hardenbrook
  
  I had a few…but asked some co-workers to scrounge around their homes. Then I mixed & matched pieces and voila!
on August 1, 2013 at 12:28 pm | Reply Impybat

Reblogged this on Impybat's Emporium and commented:
As one who is in the process of applying to a School Library Media Studies grad program, I approve I also love quality time with my cats.
I’m not trying to be cliche, it just sort of happened…
on August 1, 2013 at 3:08 pm | Reply Nancy Hallowell

I want at least one of each!!
on August 2, 2013 at 7:29 am | Reply Noctisaura

I love all of them. Although I have a bad feeling that I’m too close to the alternalibrarian one…
on August 2, 2013 at 7:54 am | Reply Flapjack Friday Faves [08.02] | Upon a Sunny Day

[…] Want a lego librarian? […]
on August 2, 2013 at 1:06 pm | Reply Sonia

The best article I ever read. Thanks for some fun!
on August 2, 2013 at 4:03 pm | Reply Librarian Personality Types, sans Legos: A Look at Real Colors and StrengthsQuest | Mr. Library Dude

[…] satirical look at librarian stereotypes and personalities using Legos got me thinking about the real […]
on August 3, 2013 at 9:37 am | Reply susancnett

This is awesome, but I am struck by the lack of people of color in this collection!!!
- on August 3, 2013 at 11:50 am | Reply Joe Hardenbrook
  
  Thanks…not saying I disagree, but: “According to LEGO.com, most minifigures are coloured yellow to display equalization in ethnic society.”
on August 4, 2013 at 12:02 pm | Reply Why are all your Lego librarians white? | Mr. Library Dude

[…] are all of your Lego librarians […]
on August 4, 2013 at 8:23 pm | Reply collegereadycoach

Reblogged this on College Ready and commented:
Oh this makes me smile for days!!! Thanks Mr Librarian Dude! I def. know a few on the list!!
on August 4, 2013 at 8:25 pm | Reply collegereadycoach

English professors have a lot in common w. librarians! Especially that ever-present coffee mug! (And I speak from experience!)
on August 5, 2013 at 1:41 am | Reply BulgingButtons

You have a great imagination! Thanks for the glimpse into the complex world of librarian genres.
on August 5, 2013 at 4:21 am | Reply Jess

Reblogged this on Crafty Wife and commented:
I have a massive love of all things lego, so when I saw this Freshly Pressed post I just had to reblog it for you
on August 5, 2013 at 5:31 am | Reply roberthorvat30

I love it. Yoda might also make a good librarian !!!!
on August 5, 2013 at 11:31 am | Reply queenfaith

I love this!!!!!!
on August 5, 2013 at 12:10 pm | Reply Kooky Kuckoo

Lego Librarians!! Brilliant!
on August 5, 2013 at 12:43 pm | Reply lau123

also fun… the “Nightvale” descriptions of the library summer reading program.
on August 5, 2013 at 3:02 pm | Reply michelle

This is awesome! Librarians need more attention! I also need to show these to my kid to see if she can get into the fun of changing up all the people in such a creative way. Right now she just likes the lego friends set.
on August 6, 2013 at 10:30 am | Reply Lego Librarian Reinterpreted as Hipster Librarian, Warrior Librarian, and More

[…] see more of Joe’s reinterpretations of Lego Librarian, swing by his blog at Mr. Library Dude. What would you add to the […]
on August 6, 2013 at 11:43 am | Reply Ruthie

AWESOMENESS!!!
Please do a Circulation Supervisor!
on August 6, 2013 at 12:27 pm | Reply Links Galore | Annie Cardi

[…] Fighting librarian stereotypes with Legos. […]
on August 6, 2013 at 3:54 pm | Reply Andrea

i’m officially using the librarian with a whip as avatar from now on! <3

thank you, very much <3

a brazilian librarian
on August 7, 2013 at 12:11 pm | Reply GibsonGirl99

The librarian with a whip will be my avatar for my fantasy football league this year, for sure! Not sure how to do one for my job – database management (you know, I’m the one adding/updating authority files w/death dates!) but these are bloody brilliant! Huzzah for the Parker Posey reference, too!
on August 7, 2013 at 8:03 pm | Reply Librarian Legos! | Paperback Fool

[…] much as I will enjoy my “Shh” mug and cardigans (yes, I wear a lot of them), I do enjoy The Library Dude’s commentary on Lego’s rather stereotypical representation of librarians. Instead, he mixes and matches […]
on August 8, 2013 at 9:01 am | Reply Swiss Army Librarian » Snapshot of a Future Male Librarian :: Brian Herzog

[…] a bit more on librarian gender stereotypes, check out Mr. Library Dude's post on Image, Public Perception, and Lego Librarians. The whole thing is funny, but the male fashion choices minifig especially made me laugh. However, […]
on August 8, 2013 at 12:08 pm | Reply Ivonne

Reblogueó esto en Concepto Biblioy comentado:
Porque hay tanta variedad de Biblios como personas…
on August 9, 2013 at 12:39 am | Reply Lego Librarians | serious fun

[…] Library Dude humour. Joe Hardenbrook’s (aka Mr Library Dude) wrote a thoughtful piece on Image, Public Perception, and Lego Librarians and went on to digitally redesign twenty-eight Lego Librarians – a brilliant assortment of […]
on August 10, 2013 at 9:28 am | Reply Pressing Matters: August 9, 2013, Edition | Candlemark & Gleam

[…] LEGO and librarians – gotta love […]
on August 10, 2013 at 9:40 am | Reply Educating London

Loved reading this!
on August 13, 2013 at 4:56 am | Reply Karen Butcher

HI, I’m a librarian in the UK (at Kingston Uni, near London, and my colleagues and I love the lego librarians! I think I’d be the one smiling and hating everyone on a bad day! We wondered if we could use some of the characters in our teaching sessions (obviously with acknowledgements to your brilliance in creating them :))
- on August 13, 2013 at 8:45 am | Reply Joe Hardenbrook
  
  Hi Karen–yes, please feel free to use the Lego librarians. Have fun! -Joe (Mr. Library Dude)
on August 13, 2013 at 8:02 am | Reply The Lego Librarian in action « Reel Librarians

[…] And librarian Joe Hardenbrook, aka Mr. Library Dude, has taken the time to craft his own twist on the new toy, with 28 (!) variations on the Lego Librarian. This is all kinds of awesome. Repeat, AWESOME. Click here for his piece for the Huffington Post — scroll to the bottom for the gallery of Lego Librarians — and click here to visit his web site that goes into more detail about each character variation. […]
on August 13, 2013 at 6:04 pm | Reply vagabondia

Reblogged this on Vagabondia and commented:
This may be the most brilliant thing I have ever seen. Love the librarian stereotypes. Which one are you?
on August 14, 2013 at 3:13 am | Reply Melissa

Found this from a link in the latest Australian Library and Information Association newsletter. Why didn’t I know about this brilliant site earlier? I love the Buffy librarian – and yes it looks just like me.
With permission this will now become my profile picture
- on August 14, 2013 at 3:13 pm | Reply Joe Hardenbrook
  
  Yes, please feel free to use the picture! -Joe (Mr. Library Dude)
on August 14, 2013 at 3:05 pm | Reply Becky

Lose the shhh! cup please.
on August 15, 2013 at 11:57 am | Reply Barbara Fister’s Public Voice, Lego Librarians, and Midsummer Thoughts

[…] to a hilarious blog post that my friend and colleague Michael Hopper brought to my attention: “Image, Public Perception, and Lego Librarians” by Joe Hardenbrook at his Mr. Library Dude blog. Besides the wonderful images Mr. Hardenbrook […]
on August 16, 2013 at 2:21 pm | Reply Karen Slaton

Brilliant! Just love the Lego Librarians! My daughter (11) searched and squeezed many a mini figures package to find one for my birthday. She is proudly displayed on my desk and is my profile pic on FB! I’m inspired now to change her look!
on August 19, 2013 at 11:01 am | Reply The Library in Lego Form (aka the absolute last post I will write about Lego librarians) | Mr. Library Dude

[…] the summer of Lego Librarians! When I created my own Lego Librarian personalities, I didn’t quite imagine the wave it would create. People love Lego blocks. People love […]
on August 19, 2013 at 11:32 am | Reply Monday Fun Day: Silly Library Links | AzLA College and University Libraries Division Blog

[…] Mr. Library Dude has a collection of awesome, customized lego library worker figures […]
on August 20, 2013 at 4:41 am | Reply Sue

Can I use one as my avatar? Thank you SO MUCH! Seriously funny!!!! Can non-librarians get this?
- on August 20, 2013 at 11:47 am | Reply Joe Hardenbrook
  
  Of course!
on August 22, 2013 at 2:42 am | Reply Cultural Products and Creativity: The “TMZ” Video and the Lego Librarians | All About Work

[…] And in another great example of cross-product creativity, librarian Joe Hardenbrook, who blogs as Mr. Library Dude, has been having a great deal of fun with Lego on his blog over the past few weeks. Joe discovered that the newest addition to Lego’s line of minifigures was a librarian; however, in his opinion, the minifigure perpretated some of the unfortunate negative stereotypes of librarians (e.g. female, wearing glasses and a cardigan, sensible hair). So Joe grabbed a couple of Lego minifigures and got creative to make his own hilarious series of librarian Lego figures. […]
on August 22, 2013 at 2:17 pm | Reply Be Our Guest For Some Projectile Vomit: Sweltering and Swearing in August, Day 3 | Nerds in Wonderland

[…] stop at the Lego store to see if CP could find this. CP herself is a librarian, and was inspired by this incredible post to pick up a Lego librarian of her own. Like most Vinylmation, however, Lego mini figures are sold […]
on August 23, 2013 at 1:43 am | Reply Alexis Solvey Viorsdottir

Hat dies auf Solvey Viorsdottir rebloggt und kommentierte:
und hier noch einer… als Lego-Fan überlege ich jetzt ob ich mir diese Bibliothekarin vielleicht zulegen sollte
on August 23, 2013 at 9:19 am | Reply Lullaby

Hello !
I’m a French librarian and have a blog about… well, books, reading, etc !
As I’m writing a short blog post about books & Legos, I just found your blog post (thks Google !).
And I love it ! Ah ah, that’s exactly THIS ! (in France too, same public perception about librarians *sigh*, I even published a blog post about it).
So, just to tell : great post, and I’m gonna link it in my post about Legos
And thank you, I didn’t get the reference for Oranges & Peaches before reading your post (this minifig found a place at home, I love my job, can’t help it ^^”)
Lullaby
PS please be kind about my not-so-good English ^^”
- on August 23, 2013 at 10:45 am | Reply Joe Hardenbrook
  
  Thank you for your kind words! I am loving how Lego librarians have international appeal.
on August 23, 2013 at 11:48 pm | Reply Susan h. hill

I especially like Conan the Librarian…a favourite alter-ego of mine for ages!!!!
on August 24, 2013 at 9:08 am | Reply Tim Capehart

If I could I would clip in the photo of me doing storytime with a chicken hat on…sometimes it’s not a whole chicken suit…just a hat…on a bald head…resembling an egg…doing storytime
on August 25, 2013 at 2:07 pm | Reply Des livres et des Legos | Les histoires de Lullaby

[…] personnage en Lego qu’il s’est amusé à créer (et qui valent franchement le détour), c’est par là ! C’est aussi grâce à Mr. Library Dude que j’ai enfin compris le pourquoi du titre de […]
on August 27, 2013 at 12:50 pm | Reply Librarian Fun | libfanguy

[…] Fun with Lego Peeps: http://mrlibrarydude.wordpress.com/2013/07/24/image-public-perception-and-lego-librarians/ […]
on August 30, 2013 at 9:45 am | Reply Erica M.

I’m a little frightened you know my coworkers so well. Have we met?

(Incidentally, none of the kids ever get my Buffy references either. They’re all too busy watching Glee on their newfangled technologies while nearly running into the checkout desk. Seriously considering putting up a small obstacle to see if they trip.)
on September 2, 2013 at 12:12 pm | Reply Nieves González (@NievesGlez)

Thanks for your work with lego librarians. I have used them for my presentation in Innovatics in Chile. Thanks a lot!! http://prezi.com/aoqufsapaivt/el-nuevo-timeline-del-bibliotecario/
on September 3, 2013 at 7:44 am | Reply Ny bok om bibliotekarien som stereotyp | Peter Alsbjers blogg!

[…] Ett intressant inlägg om sterotypier ur ett annat (Lego) perspektiv har Mr Library Dude […]
on September 12, 2013 at 11:01 am | Reply The Art of Snark: Creative Disagreement | The Daily Post

[…] well on WordPress.com: whether writers are criticizing our contemporary obsession with sharks, sexist LEGOs, rude tourists, or annoying software prompts, many have honed the craft of the subtle (and, at […]
on September 13, 2013 at 6:47 pm | Reply Pen M

Love this.
on September 15, 2013 at 4:33 pm | Reply Bruce Farrar (@BF77008)

But my Lego Librarian looks just like me, and I am a librarian!
Bruce Farrar
on September 15, 2013 at 7:23 pm | Reply aithniesfire

I remember in my first Library class in college we were talking about stereotypes. Sadly, in the end, we were all the same. Hair up in a messy bun, glasses, cats waiting for us at home and introverts. Go figure.
on September 17, 2013 at 5:14 pm | Reply Chris

OK, so how many of you got a Lego librarian on ebay???
- on September 22, 2013 at 8:34 pm | Reply Joe Hardenbrook
  
  That’s how I got mine! Didn’t want risk a guessing game of unmarked packages at the Lego store!
on September 24, 2013 at 4:14 pm | Reply Gjertrud Fludal

My guest lecturer about bibliometrics looked eerily similar to the bibliometrics librarian.
on September 29, 2013 at 12:01 am | Reply Sunday Smiles: Lego librarians | ...As You Like It...

[…] better than the Lego Librarian, however, are Mr. Library Dude’s reinterpretations of the Lego Librarian — my favorites are the Alternalibrarian and the […]
on October 22, 2013 at 5:06 pm | Reply Cities in Dust, or, how I learned to get out there and find our patrons | Somerset Community College Learning Commons

[…] There have been far too many articles lately about how libraries are dead and no one will miss them. “Dusty libraries house print volumes that no one uses anymore and librarians sit at desks and shush people with their cat-eye glasses and cardigans!” they say. Yeah, I’ve heard that one before. […]
on December 11, 2013 at 4:06 pm | Reply Librarian Problems | Allison's Library

[…] And this is also widely talked about on the interwebs. Find some great posts about it here and here (guess why this is my Lego-fanatic husband’s favorite one). There is even a Librarian […]
on January 2, 2014 at 8:59 am | Reply Lego Librarians | Liblog

[…] https://mrlibrarydude.wordpress.com/2013/07/24/image-public-perception-and-lego-librarians/ […]