Anne Fosse

Publication Date

1965

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Walther, LaVern||Syverson, Genevieve B.

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Library Science

LCSH

Librarians

Abstract

Purpose. The study was performed to determine the extent of agreement of concepts of the typical librarian held by a group of high school students and the popular stereotype. Procedure. From descriptions of the librarian image in popular and professional literature, thirteen characteristics were chosen for use in the study: sex, general appearance, age, facial expression, hair style, male librarian, marital status, clothing, leisure activities, socio-economic status, education, duties, and library atmosphere. A projective test consisting of nineteen sets of photographs to illustrate variations of these characteristics was designed to evoke responses from 212 students indicating their concepts of the typical librarian. Findings. Data gathered in the investigation revealed that the students' concept of the typical librarian is not in agreement with the popular stereotype in eleven of the nineteen categories tested. Most of these aspects of the image involved physical qualities of the librarian. The student concept appeared to contain more favorable characteristics then the popular negative stereotype. A high degree of consistency of student opinion was evident in nearly every category of the image included in the investigation.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.||Includes illustrations.

Extent

107 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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