Graduate Research Papers

Availability

Open Access Graduate Research Paper

Abstract

Librarians are often portrayed negatively in media. The stereotypical spinster librarian with her hair in a bun and glasses on a chain around her neck has often been portrayed in books, television, and movies. Junior high students are great consumers of all types of media and have often been exposed to this stereotype. This study investigated four questions. What are the characteristics of the librarian stereotype? What are characteristics of junior high students that make them especially easy targets for media influence? Is there a set of characteristics which junior high students attribute to librarians? Can we say that media influences junior high perceptions? The researcher used a perceptual study of junior high students' ideas about librarians. Junior high students are influenced by the media and do have a stereotypical idea of what a librarian should be. However, that stereotype is not as important as the librarian with whom they interact with at school or the public library. It is the librarians' behavior and personality that will have a lasting effect on them. That is what is most important to a junior high student.

Year of Submission

2006

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

First Advisor

Barbara Safford

Comments

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Date Original

8-2006

Object Description

1 PDF file (52 pages)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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